LEAH BECKMAN, Product Designer for Diamond Cabinetry
WRITES ABOUT HER DESIGN APPROACH

SPATIAL ISSUES: First thing was to adjust to the size of the space and figure out ways of making it larger, or at least ways of making the space seem larger. This was done by:

• Opening up the doorway, so the space seemed more like a room and less like a closet. We did this by incorporating an arched entrance that coincides with the rest of the openings in her apartment
• Replacing her existing lighting with much brighter recessed lights in the ceiling and some under-cabinet task lighting.
• Adjusting the appliances. We were able to take the refrigerator out of the space and build it into a closet that was adjacent to the room. This allowed for a bigger refrigerator and more countertop space within the kitchen. We were also able to place the microwave over the cook-top, again allowing for maximized countertop space.

FUNCTION: The second piece to the puzzle was working with Julie to figure out how she, the end user, will function within the space. This involved:

• Not only maximizing storage space with the Logix sku’s, but placing them in key locations so that they work for Julie, and allow her to get the most out of each cabinet
• Keeping within certain “zones” to help the space function to its maximum capacity

BEAUTY/AESTHETIC: The last key focus of the design approach was working in materials and finishes that make the space contemporary, fresh, and inviting. This was done by:

• Taking the cabinets all the way to the ceiling like before, but breaking them up by using stacked wall cabinets rather than just one tall wall cabinet. Adding frosted glass inserts into the upper stacked cabinets also broke up the height of the cabinetry and helps in drawing the eye up to the new bright lighting at the ceiling.
• Lightening the finish of the cabinetry. We used Diamond’s Montgomery door style with their Cider finish applied. The door style uses very clean minimalist lines to provide for the contemporary look we were going for, while the light finish helps keep the space fresh and airy.
• Using a mix of materials. A 1” x 1” glass tile helped in pulling all of the colors of the space together and also created a nice texture on the backsplash. The stainless steel hardware and appliances along with the glass inserts in the cabinetry, and the cork flooring also added to a diverse mix of textures.

CLICK ON LINK TO SEE A VIDEO CLIP OF JULIE’S KITCHEN BEFORE THE MAKEOVER.

http://easylink.playstream.com/mbci/diamond/diamond_before_web_ver.wvx

CLICK ON LINK TO SEE A VIDEO CLIP OF JULIE’S KITCHEN AFTER THE MAKEOVER.

http://easylink.playstream.com/mbci/diamond/diamond_after_web_ver.wvx