Million Dollar View!

With a name that says it all, “Million Dollar View” is the perfect spot to gather with family and friends. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch across two walls in this spacious kitchen. The walls of windows offer an enviable and unobstructed breathtaking view of the serene Peace River. The two walls of floor-to-ceiling glass doors maximize the room’s main asset. The lanai which boasts a lovely pool, right off the kitchen, expands the living space and is ideal for BBQs, stargazing, and relaxing in the sun. The river’s edge is just steps from the door, so it’s easy to enjoy on-the-water fun.

When Donald and Gayle had the chance to purchase a slice of paradise they jumped at the opportunity. Their stunning ranch style pool home in Punta Gorda came with access to Peace River, which leads to the Charlotte Harbor, and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s the perfect solution to their desire for a coastal lifestyle. The 2,765 sq. ft. single-family home is a 2 bed, 2 bath property. The home was built in 2007. They love their neighborhood for it’s a quiet and peaceful community. They have the convenience of stepping into their picturesque backyard, and onto their boat for quick excursions. They love watching the first trace of light as it begins to streak across the sky, when the sky wakes up to the morning sun on the surface of the river. They have a sweeping view across the river. Don and Gayle get to experience the beauty and magic of the sun rising long before many people do.

At sunset, Don’s and Gayle’s eyes turn once again toward the river, where just before vanishing point, the sun lights the water in brilliant shades of oranges and flaming reds. Don and Gayle will never need to travel when they own a piece of paradise.

The homeowners are an active couple who wanted to give their tired looking, dated kitchen a fresher, and more modern look. Their biggest complaint was that the only way the homeowners could see the backyard killer view from the existing kitchen was through the previous 5-foot patio door.

“We live in our kitchen. The kitchen is our home’s hub. This is where our family comes together when we entertain,” Gayle commented. Because Gayle envisioned everyday cooking and family life taking place in this room, she felt the existing kitchen was on the not-big-enough side. “Whenever I stepped outside, I always felt all this land was wasted space,” said Gayle. “I knew we could only build so close to the water.” So, the homeowners decided to take the plunge. They added on a 502 sq. ft. room to the back of their home. They decided to make this new addition their brand-new sprawling kitchen. Whew!

One of the top items on Don’s and Gayle’s wish list was to have a real link to their outdoor area. We’re not talking about merely adding more glass windows and doors to get a better view of the breathtaking water view. No, we’re talking about making the back wall of the house completely disappear. This was accomplished by utilizing two walls of sliding glass doors, which slide into a pocket wall system that eliminates the physical and visual barriers of conventional fixed panes of glass and traditional glass patio doors. Once the sliding doors were installed, the homeowners were rewarded with a luxurious view they envisioned.

Don and Gayle knew if they could find a way to design an enormous kitchen to fit their lifestyle, this big challenge would bring them enormous rewards. So, the first step was contacting me at Just Counters & other stuff, inc. to design a new kitchen for them.

I clearly remember Gayle having a concise wish list and a clear idea of what she wanted to accomplish. This list included a farmhouse sink in the corner with an enormous counter-to-ceiling mirror, and a beautiful light fixture overhead. The other must-haves were banquette seating. Gayle said she loves the casual coziness of a banquette seat. Gayle also asked for all white cabinetry, countertops with “bling-bling” and built-in refrigerator-freezer.

I went to work. The room was large enough to provide accommodations for L-shaped wall cabinetry and a huge L-shaped island. This created the perfect place for the enormous, gorgeous L-shaped banquette seating. There’s room for more people to squish in and congregate around the movable table and chairs. The luxurious banquette seating with lots of cushions and pillows is a perfect place for curling up with a laptop or smartphone. I accommodated the space underneath the banquette seating with pull-out drawers.

The kitchen was designed with Aspect Cabinetry. The cabinets are a Shaker-style door finished with “Ice Cap,” a bright white paint. The double stacked cabinets draw the eye upward. Since these cabinets are quite high up, they are an excellent place to store seasonal or rarely used items.

Since the homeowner’s request for a strong countertop material with a lavish touch, Whitney by Cambria was ideal for my design. Cambria describes Whitney as “reminiscent of the quaint, snow-covered cottages in this gateway town to the Cotswolds. Whitney gleams like tiny snow crystals cast adrift in the deep, winter sky.” The quartz countertops look just as magnificent as described. Gayle wanted an ogee edge on the island and on the perimeter of the kitchen.

Gayle selected contemporary stainless steel handles for all the large drawers. The decorative hardware by Richelieu was the finishing touch that puts the punctuation mark on Gayle’s style statement. Gayle wanted something different for the wide island drawers. She selected 21-inch length pulls to accomplish the look she desired.

Gayle’s thoughtful and strategic placement of the corner wall mirrors was an easy way to reflect light and visually opening up the room to make it appear even more spacious. The mirrors reflect the beautiful views behind her whenever she uses the corner farmhouse sink.

There is no mistaking what the homeowners’ theme is when the minute you step into this beautifully completed kitchen. After Don brought home the enormous flamingo area rug, Gayle has enjoyed accessorizing with beautiful pink flamingos.

The homeowners now have the perfect space to sit and relax with a cup of coffee and watch the sunrise. Or sip a glass of fine wine while watching a romantic sunset.

This beautiful transformation couldn’t have been completed without Just Counter’s Tommy McCaffrey. He truly is an artisan. Imex Tile installed the countertops.