Tryon, NC Kitchen Remodel

The homeowner aimed to transform her 1990s kitchen to better reflect her personal style. She was particularly bothered by the outdated salmon-colored tiles and Formica countertops. While the original custom-made red oak cabinets were of good quality and she appreciated the door designs, it was clear that a refresh was needed to brighten up the space and add a personal touch.

 

One significant issue was the refrigerator, which protruded too far beyond the cabinetry above and left its side exposed. To resolve this, we modified the existing cabinetry to create a niche that would comfortably accommodate her new fridge.

 

Also, there was no venting hood over the range. We installed a hood vent cabinet with a hood vent. We had to run the ventilation through the roof.

 

Additionally, we enhanced the cabinets with crown and light rail molding, and replaced several solid door fronts with glass insert doors. The sink base cabinet was also adjusted to fit a new farmhouse sink, and the cabinets were prepped and painted. Red oak has many natural voids in its grain, which are not a problem when stained. However, when painted, these voids can appear as dark streaks. So, we first filled and sanded the wood to achieve a smooth and beautiful paint finish.

 

We installed quartz countertops along with the new sink, and added beadboard as the backsplash, painted with Sherwin Williams' Emerald line, known for its durability and urethane fortification.

 

The feature I was most excited about was the brick flooring. The client chose repurposed, custom-cut brick pavers. Their aged, distressed, and varied appearance adds to their charm. Our tile installer began by laying down the brick without grout. Afterward, we applied a matte sealer to the bricks until they were fully saturated. The installer then returned to grout the floor, and we sealed the grout as well. This sealing process is crucial due to the porous nature of brick; without sealing before grouting, the brick can absorb grout residue, leading to discoloration and an unsightly appearance.