A Kitchen Renovation Full of Rugged Colorado Spirit By Becky Harris, Houzz
A Kitchen Renovation Full of Rugged Colorado Spirit By Becky Harris, Houzz A big move across the country to Evergreen, Colorado, inspired this couple’s home renovation. When general contractor Luke Mann remodeled their kitchen, they gained square footage and larger openings to adjacent rooms, which gave the room a more open feel and stronger connections to the rest of the house. Rugged finishes like stone, reclaimed rough-hewn timbers, tobacco pine floors and copper accents imbue the room with a Rocky Mountains spirit. It feels as though all the raw materials could’ve been mined, quarried, reclaimed or felled nearby.
Kitchen at a Glance Who lives here: A couple of empty nesters who are local business owners Location: Evergreen, Colorado Size: 650 square feet (60.4 square meters) Everything from the range toward the back of the photo is new space, acquired from an odd hallway, closet and pantry that were located between the garage and the kitchen. This added about 30 percent more square footage to the kitchen, allowing for two large islands. The one across from the range is a work station, complete with a microwave drawer and prep sink. The second island is next to the kitchen table and provides a casual hangout space.
BEFORE: The portion to the left in the “before” plan shows where there were some space-wasting hallways, a large pantry and a closet. Along the bottom, you can see the small openings to the other rooms. Now these are large openings wrapped in reclaimed timbers.
AFTER: In the “after” plan, note the room’s increased openness and better flow. After buying the home, the first remodeling task the owners took on was replacing the existing flooring with rich tobacco pine hardwoods, finished with a clear coat. The variation in grain and color relates to the surrounding trees outside. The existing windows and doors were in great shape and provide plenty of natural light. All that was required was some light staining to the trim to make it match the new room.
A wine bar is conveniently located next to the hangout island. It includes a wine refrigerator and racks, room for glassware, and an ice maker. The cabinets are knotty alder. A glass mosaic backsplash adds sparkle, balances some of the rougher finishes, and differentiates the wine bar’s style from the rest of the kitchen. The eat-in area enjoys the big views out the windows and doors.
The white cabinet on the right extends from the countertop to the ceiling. “We really needed that white cabinet to balance out the stone range hearth,” Mann says. “Otherwise the stone would have weighed down that side of the room too much.”
Old timbers are a new part of the design and were the homeowners’ idea. The reclaimed wood wraps the two newly widened entries, one between the kitchen and family room, and the other between the kitchen and dining room. Vintage-style wood-and-metal bar stools and barn light pendants add to the rugged Colorado style. The homeowners love to entertain, so having two dishwashers and a large range serves them well.
Here, you can get a good look at the strong patterns in the granite countertops. One detail to note about the islands is that the electrical outlets are tucked on the cabinetry underneath the counters. The inconspicuous outlets are by Sillites. The range hood is copper and steel, and was made by a local Evergreen craftsman. Around the range is a real stone veneer. The subway tile backsplash has a crackled finish that fits in with the more rustic finishes in the room.
The hand-hammered copper sink was made by the same craftsman who made the hood.
“One of the homeowners said that over time he would save a lot of money on Starbucks by installing an espresso maker at home,” Mann says. The Miele appliance can be adjusted so that everyone has their own setting. The high upper cabinets have dark brass grilles that are an elegant update on chicken wire. Extending the cabinets to the ceiling is a great way to add more storage space and avoid dust. The homeowners were very involved throughout the process. One of them installed all this reclaimed barn wood in the back hallway. It really sets the tone for those entering the house this way. “These clients just love the small-town Colorado lifestyle out here,” Mann says. Now they can embrace that spirit in their home as well. General contractor: Luke Mann of Rangeline Homes Interior design: Montagne Interiors Architecture: EV Studio
