In today’s world, where life often feels like it’s moving at a million miles an hour, many of us are on the hunt for a little slice of sanctuary. Snowbirds, John and Ali, found their little corner of paradise back in 2019. In March of 2022, I had an opportunity to meet with John and Ali at their little patch of heaven.
Once I arrived at the palm tree-lined entrance of Burnt Store Marina’s terracotta roof gatehouse, I was given access to the community by the security guard. After my vehicle passed through the wrought iron gate, I found myself traveling down winding streets. Burnt Store Marina is made most interesting by the creation of a mixture of high-rises located right on the water, single-family homes, carriage homes, duplexes, and condos. John and Ali’s lovely first floor condo was located on a corner lot. Just as I arrived at the screened front door, three egrets with snow white feathers and graceful slender legs, strolled right by me.
You might think that my in-home visit was for a typical kitchen and bathroom makeover. But no, this wasn’t the case. Before we go any further with this story, we have to go back to three months prior to my in-home visit. John and Ali were staying in their New York home when there was a brief power outage in the Burnt Store Marina community. Thankfully the power was restored swiftly and everything went back to normal for the residents. Or so it seems…
Two weeks before the snowbirds planned to return to their sunny Florida home, Ali phoned her friend who cleans homes. Ali asked her to spruce up the condo. Ali’s friend unlocked the front door, but then immediately closed it! The lovely condo was covered in mold!!! Apparently when the power outage happened, it automatically triggered the air conditioner switch to flip to the “off” position inside the fuse box. And because no one was staying in the condo, not one person switched it back to the “on” position. That meant the air conditioner was no longer operating for three full months. A closed house with the air-conditioning turned off will have higher humidity levels than an air-conditioned home. If the air conditioning had been left running, it would have cooled the home and removed moisture from the air and circulated and filtered the air. Mold does not occur immediately. Under certain conditions, it will take a few weeks for mold to develop. So, by the time John and Ali had arrived, mold had spread everywhere and the fungus covered everything: walls, flooring, and furniture! Enough said.
After the mold remediation, happenstance initiated the opportunity for John and Ali to upgrade their kitchen and guest bathroom. Let’s take a trip back in time to the old kitchen. The before photos show the original dark midcentury-style flat-front cabinetry, solid surface countertops from the early 1980s, busy diagonal backsplash tiles, and dated stone-look floor. Our clients knew the kitchen was simply outdated and needed a breath of fresh air. They wanted to keep the same footprint, so designing it was a breeze. The only thing staying from the old kitchen was the appliances and layout, everything else had to go. Sometimes a kitchen works well but looks dated, or its cabinets or appliances are worn beyond repair. Or sometimes moving plumbing or walls simply isn’t in the budget. Whatever the reason, often it’s sensible to keep a kitchen’s size and shape essentially the same as the original during a renovation — but that’s not to say it can’t feel like an entirely new room. This was the case for John and Ali.
Ali wanted a brighter kitchen. Ali and her longtime friend, Rosemary, visited the beautiful showroom at Just Counter’s & other stuff several times. One of the first design decisions was narrowing down the cabinet color. Initially, Ali was going to purchase all solid white cabinets. But, at the last minute, Rosemary suggested she change colors. Rosemary loves decorating. “While a white kitchen will never go out of style, don’t blindly follow trends,” was my advice. So, Ali chose Shaker-style cabinets made by Aspect Cabinetry. The kitchen cabinets were American poplar wood with “White Rock” stain. For the guest bathroom vanity, the two friends chose a stain called “Surf.”
Renovating your home involves careful consideration of various elements, and one critical decision is selecting the right flooring to complement your new cabinets. The flooring choice can significantly impact the overall aesthetic and functionality of your kitchen. Randy Byrd, vice president of Color Tile CarpetsPlus, recommended installing Mohawk Discovery Ridge waterproof luxury vinyl planks. Lamb’s Ear is the color name.
After the homeowners had the walls painted a neutral warm color, the kitchen was stripped of everything. Then Just Counters’ Tommy McCaffrey installed all of the cabinets and trim keeping the same footprint. Tommy’s attention to detail is really impressive. I have to admit that the new kitchen cabinets complement the wood-look planks. It’s a perfect match! They were meant for each other. Good job Rosemary! Ali and Rosemary both have great taste! The slightly darker countertop called Montgomery by Cambria in the kitchen and guest bath, gives the rooms depth and makes it a focal point. Brushed nickel Richelieu pull hardware with a tapered end makes a statement. Another relatively small change with a big payoff was swapping out the diagonal 4 x 4 stone backsplash tiles with teal glass subway tiles.
Kudos to Pucci Tile & Marble, Inc. and Imex Stone who also worked on this project and helped bring our client’s vision to life!
The completed project is a stunning transformation from the original kitchen and bathroom! Our clients love the new look! Seeing the transformation in person made me want to cry with joy and pride. There’s nothing like coming home to a space that’s beautifully designed and works for your lifestyle.
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