Katy Families Opt for New Looks With Old Charm When Remodeling
By Lauren Welch

© Katy Magazine - Katy, Texas 2007
December 01, 2006

Gary and Beth Maddock didn't start out with plans to renovate their entire kitchen. "I needed a new fridge and my husband wanted stainless steel," Beth says. "But none of our other appliances matched so we decided to redo the whole thing. One thing leads to another." Now they have an entirely new space for cooking, eating, and planning holiday dinners with their family.
 
In addition to all new appliances, they had their cabinets painted and installed with new hardware, got new lighting fixtures, put in granite counter tops and a backsplash, and expanded their island. Beth's favorite thing about the new kitchen is their new hanging light, which looks like wrought iron. "Before, the lights in the kitchen looked like they belonged in a clinic. When people turned them on I would follow behind and turn them off," she says.
 
She also enjoys the expanded island, which resulted in an unexpected feature that the family has grown to love. The contractors working on the island tried to make it large enough to match the size of the new lighting above it but were somehow left with some extra hangover space. "They said it would make a nice 'chill spot', so we put a little stool there so people can sit down," she says. In addition to the extra counter space their island provides, it gives the room a touch of charm because it is raised on legs and styled to look like a piece of furniture.
 
Today's Kitchen Trends are Classic Additions
 
Suzanne Moore of Thomas Classic Homes believes that kitchen ware resembling furniture is a favorite new trend for homeowners. "Today's trends in kitchen savvy lean towards the old and new combined," she says. "Refrigerators that look like furniture are very popular. As well, the retro look for appliances is in. An example is commercial-look stoves and cook tops, together with built-in wine coolers."
 
Family seating in the kitchen and being able to sit down together and enjoy a meal is another old feature that is making a comeback, although with a different and more modern twist. "Having the family all together for dinner is great," Moore says. "But the dinner location has changed from the tradition table to a table top or bar island." Beth Maddock and her family enjoy eating together in the kitchen, but are able to watch T.V. from their connected family room during meals. "We have to eat at the kitchen table even if we want to watch T.V. because the dogs pretty much have claim over the family room couches," she says.
 
Open Plans and More Counter Space are in Demand
 
Efficiency is another priority for homeowners who enjoy cooking and want a more modern feel in their kitchens. When Jean Godfrey recently remodeled her kitchen, some of the first things she decided to change were her pantry and cupboards so she could have more room. "Our entire kitchen was pretty old and it needed to be more efficient and have more space," she says. "It was really dark in the pantry and hard to see, so we put in folding doors and added more lighting. Now it feels much more open."
 
She thinks changing from tile to granite counter tops made the biggest difference in the room, though. "It feels much cleaner now," she says. "With the tile counter tops it was sometimes hard to clean in between the tiles." Other changes she made include getting all new cabinets, putting in new flooring in the living room and breakfast room, and adding double oven. "I wanted a big island, but because of the layout of the kitchen we would have to knock out a wall to get one," she says. "Instead, we added a desk and an organization area, and these gave me the extra counter space I needed."
 
Prepare for Setbacks When Remodeling
 
When remodeling a kitchen, it is best for homeowners to expect the unexpected at all times and, like Godfrey, have a backup plan. Nixing her plans for an island wasn't the only problem she had during the remodeling process. "Our contractors were great, but it took a little longer than we expected," she says. "One guy on the team got sick and they had to bring in a whole new team, which put us back a few days."
 
Weather resulted in delays for the Maddocks' remodeling project. Beth took an active role in selecting materials to use in the new kitchen but kept getting set back by rain when trying to pick the granite for the new counter tops and backsplash. "It kept raining and the granite had to be dry to show the true colors," she says.

She warns that homeowners who plan to remodel need to prepare for a longer time frame that they may expect. In her home, the actual renovation and labor only took about three weeks, but planning and picking materials took much longer. "Don't think it's going to happen that fast. Don't try to get everything done in a week," she says.
 
Do you Homework to Find What Fits your Needs

Godfrey's advice for those looking to remodel their kitchen is to make sure that they do their homework. "Ask friends what they used," she suggests. "Your tastes may be different, but they can give you great ideas you never would have thought of otherwise." She also thinks it's important to shop around to check out different materials and compare prices. She and her husband spent about six months researching and visiting different stores to make sure they got the best deals. They also got two different bids before selecting a contractor. "Make sure of price. See what charges are for everything," she says.
 
In the end, all the hard work is well worth this beautiful and custom addition to your home. Maddock and Godfrey both say they are thrilled with their new kitchens. "I am relieved that the work is over, but I wouldn't change anything to the kitchen as it is now," Maddock says. Godfrey is equally pleased with her new room and can't wait to show if off to her out-of-state relatives over the holidays. "With this new kitchen, my house looks like a brand new home," she says.
 
Lauren Welch is a 2001 graduate of Katy High School and a 2005 graduate of Baylor University where she received a degree in public relations. She works as a freelance writer and editor and is pursuing her master's.

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