Acclaim Renovations & Design brought an outdated kitchen into the here and now
By Patricia Nugent
Tasked with gutting an 80-year-old kitchen and reconfiguring the footprint to add storage, functionality, square footage and style, Bob Gallese and his trusty crew from Acclaim Renovations & Design had their work cut out for them with the Martin’s Mentor home.
“Since this is an older place, we wanted to retain all the character and charm, while modernizing the cabinetry, counters, flooring and lighting,” says Bob.
Their first task to improve flow was to get rid of the peninsula that jutted into the middle of kitchen. Then they sealed off a door that led to the front hallway to allow for cabinetry to wrap around the corner.
“Moving the stove over to the open wall let us add more cabinetry, a built-in microwave, and even created room for a television,” he adds.
To fill the need for storage (the Martins are both avid cooks with loads of cookbooks and culinary gadgets), they built a wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry by the front of the kitchen, facing the dining table.
A transitional style was created by juxtaposing sleek and modern recessed oak cabinetry with matte finish black granite counters, pale gray luxury vinyl tile flooring, upgraded stainless appliances and a stainless apron sink.
“We were able to remove the soffit over the kitchen sink to allow for taller cabinetry,” says Bob. “For lighting, we brightened up what was a pretty dark kitchen by installing recessed and directional fixtures to spotlight the rich cabinets. We also added LED lighting behind the bridge that went over the kitchen sink, adding a custom look.”
But the kitchen isn’t the only room the Martins put in the hands of Acclaim. Bob says they also reworked walls and bookcases in the dining room, and reconfigured windows and the HVAC system to transform a porch off the back of the home into an artist’s studio with loads of natural light for Mrs. Martin.
“Our goal in this home was to create finished spaces that look like they belong there,” says Bob.
Acclaim Renovations & Design powered by One Man and a Hammer is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. The company has been awarded Contractor of the Year by NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry). Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com to see more photos of this kitchen renovation, as well as many more room makeovers.