From the inside looking out, the view of sparkling Geist Reservoir was gorgeous. From the outside looking in, however, it was quite a different story. The owner of this dated and dreary lakeside fixer-upper recognized the potential in the space and opted for a complete renovation, though the project was challenging for a number of reasons.
First, the multi-level floors disrupted the flow of the room, making it feel small and choppy. The layout of the cook top, the sink and the refrigerator was configured inefficiently so that there was no work triangle. Also, due to the number of windows and limited wall space, upper cabinet installation was difficult, as was the ability to fit a 48” range and refrigerator.
“Basically, every direction we turned, our vision hit a roadblock,” says David Decker, owner of ACo, a Carmel company that specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodels, flooring and cabinetry. “So, we had to get creative.”
The homeowner opted for large painted glass upper cabinets with interior LED lighting. To fashion modern, clean lines throughout the kitchen, his company also installed custom drawers within drawers for the lower cabinets — ideal for storing pots, pans and silverware.
“Custom is great because you can essentially do anything you want in terms of dimensions,” Decker says. “If you can imagine it, we can build it.”
Such choices enabled Decker to craft the desired aesthetic without compromising function.
We kept the sink that overlooked the lake so as to not lose the dynamite view. But for the purpose of functionality, he added another full sink and dishwasher in the island to make the work triangle.
“It’s important to have all the necessary pieces in all the necessary places because the kitchen is the heart of the home,” Decker says. “This is where family and friends gather to cook, eat and talk. We wanted to open it up to create a spacious, airy, inviting area that is welcoming.”
Decker had fun mixing multiple metals in the room, including gold cabinet hardware, chrome plumbing fixtures, a riveted aircraft metal countertop and brass inside the rings of the teardrop pendant lights that hang above the island.
Decker says he loves nothing more than to experience the rush of satisfaction that comes from seeing a major renovation project come to fruition.
“When a customer calls or e-mails to express how happy they are with what we’ve done, that feels great,” Decker says. “Knowing we had a hand in a gorgeous transformation is what makes our jobs so satisfying.”
For more designs and ideas visit their showroom in Carmel or to set up an appointment with one of ACo’s knowledgeable designers, visit ACo or call them today at 317-575-9540.
