Dave and Sue Saettel have a passion for traveling – especialy out west. They love state parks, so it’s no surprise that Dave has always been partial to the “lodge look” in their own design aesthetic. Working with Miles and Cathy Johnson, of Kitchens by Design, they were able to turn their small kitchen design into something awe-inspiring.
Cathy reconfigured the kitchen so the dining/gathering area now extends into the family room while the main cooking area remains hidden.
While the homeowners were willing to be flexible in the design, Sue did have some deal-breaker, must-haves for the new kitchen: an oven with a microwave on top, storage for pots and pans under the cooktop, more cabinet/counter space, and pullout drawers.
Unique elements like a bear-skinned rug with real teeth and a tongue and light fixtures with moose antlers add a certain interest to Saettel home.
The renovations temporarily came to a halt when they learned that the Italian tile the Saettles previously installed in the kitchen was out of production. But, using some left over from the original placement, Cathy blended the old and the new, leaving a seamless impression.
“That could have completely changed the project,” says Dave.
Perhaps the most unique items of the renovation were tile backsplashes created by The Tile Shop – one sporting a moose.
Dave and Sue couldn’t be happier with this renovation process, which was allowed all the areas of their home to tell the same story.
Sue believes her son described the renovations best by saying, “Before you had a cooking area, now you have a kitchen.”