Recipe for a remodel
The Seattle Times/Seattle Post Intelligencer

Debbie and Lon Turner opted for a kitchen design-build firm to remodel the kitchen in their 12-year-old Kirkland tract house.

The old kitchen was not functional. It had “lots of totally wasted space that could have been used for countertops,” Debbie said. “We hated where the appliances were. There were too few cabinets and they were of poor quality.”

After months of research looking through magazines, visiting showrooms and attending the annual Home Show at the Kingdome. they opted for a certified kitchen designer. “We wanted a specialist,” she says. “We didn’t know a lot about kitchen remodeling.”

They chose Bolig Kitchen Studio [now Kitchen Design & Specialty Shoppe]. A designer came to the house to take measurements and ask questions. What was important to the Turners? How did they entertain? Cook? What appliances did they prefer?

Stressing a strict budget, the couple asked for a country kitchen design with high-quality cabinets because they plan to stay in the house for 20-plus years, and they love to cook and entertain. The designer presented three options.

The Turners chose medium-color oak cabinetry with lots of pullouts, spice racks, a matching refrigerator panel and desk center. They picked a wood floor and tile countertops (after deciding solid-surface countertops were too expensive). They selected well-rated but moderate-cost new appliances in black. Antique lighting, a new bar and a rearranged sink also were part of the package.

Once the design was finished, they got bids from other kitchen studios and contractors. The quotations were all within $5,000 of one another so the Turners stuck with Bolig — neither the low nor high bid. They figure they saved about $900 by doing the easy tear-out grunt work themselves.

Total cost: $30,000-plus

[click to see after photos]