Like many older homes, this Medina, Washington house had been through many renovations over the years. “There was a mix of styles and materials that were challenging to navigate,” explains interior designer LeeAnn Baker. Her client—a retired Microsoft exec—loves to entertain and wanted a kitchen that not only functioned properly, but she could be proud to show off.
LeeAnn and her team at LeeAnn Baker Interiors LTD. got to work redesigning the kitchen, pantry, butler’s pantry, stairwell. They also refinished floors in living room and dining room, carpeted the back stairway, and made significant changes to the upstairs.
The original kitchen had a large L-shaped island with a giant hood over the range that blocked the waterfront views, and it featured a moody green color made the room feel very dark. It was completely revamped, centering the range as a focal point opposite the new island. “The island was painted a cheerful shade of green [Holiday Wreath by Benjamin Moore] and the Urban Electric Co pendants above were custom detailed to match that same color,” the designer explains. “The wall ovens were moved to a corner so if they pulled down like a normal oven that would be challenging to access them straight on, so we did Thermador’s wall mount ovens that open from the side, so you can open them and stand in front of them. We also love the metal mesh from Katonah Architectural Hardware that was added to the cabinets next to the range and the sidekick cabinet on the side of the island. It really dresses the cabinetry up.”
LeeAnn also upgraded the butler’s pantry. “It previously had a multi-level counter with a desk space,” she recalls. “This was changed to have a typical kitchen counter height with a counter stool on one end, but the entire counter can be used as additional prep space or bar service when entertaining. The glass cabinet doors showcase the client’s collection of dishware and have a beautiful Sanderson wallcovering in the back.” They painted this room to match the kitchen island, which ties the spaces together but gives the pantry its own identity.
As with most renovations, there were a few challenges. “This project was fully planned out prior to the beginning of construction as the client had moved out and wanted to ensure that the project would be complete as soon as her rental was up,” LeeAnn shares. “The biggest challenge was to navigate all the inevitable surprises that pop up when renovating an existing home and not going overboard on scope creep. The contractor did a great job of working with us to navigate this issue for the client.”
