Outdated, cramped and lacking counter space are reasons many homeowners use when looking to remodel their kitchen and dining room areas.

With the help of the design professionals at Cranbury Design Center, homeowners can say goodbye to outdated and nonfunctional and hello to modern and stylish. Specializing in the design and construction of kitchens, baths and interiors, Cranbury Design Center is a design-to-build  firm that provides all the services needed to complete your renovation project. The firm’s design professionals can also work with your builder to help design and provide cabinetry for kitchen and bath spaces.

Cranbury Design recently completed a remodel for a New Jersey family whose late 1980s kitchen left a lot to be desired: black countertops with wood stained cabinets, aged appliances, an odd shaped island that lacked counter space and storage, and the need to open the space up for better flow and function.

Today, the homeowners are enjoying an entirely new space that accommodates their whole family. The kitchen and family room have been redesigned, with bright-white inset cabinets and a stunning navy blue island that has plenty of room for serving and seating. The appliances have been replaced with new stainless steel pro versions, and a custom wood hood takes center stage over the newly relocated cooktop and oven. Wood beams added to the ceiling emphasize the architectural lines in the room, and a newly designed beverage area offers more storage just off the immediate kitchen.   

The homeowners say they love their new family-friendly design and now spend about 90 percent of their time in their kitchen and family room, which are perfect alternative gathering spaces for schooling and office work.  

Charlie Rini, Cranbury Design’s co-owner and designer, says two-toned designs, like this navy blue island paired with the white perimeter cabinetry, are a strong trend in today’s kitchens.  

 “In another kitchen we finished recently, the homeowner went with three different colored cabinets,” says Elizabeth O’Leary, another designer at Cranbury Design. “She used gray and white cabinetry, and then used a wood tone on one wall for a mixed-medium look.”

Of course, an enduring trend in home remodeling is finding ways to utilize wasted space. For many  homeowners, this means reclaiming footage in your laundry or mud room.  

 “Clients are trying to design spaces that can be used for multiple purposes,” O’Leary says. “We’ve done several laundry rooms that also provide extra pantry space or we’ve added a wet bar and storage.”   

If you are looking to remodel a kitchen, bathroom or other interior space, then now is the time to start planning.  

 “It’s better to start early,” Rini says. “In addition to design time, many projects require township building permits—which, depending on the township, can take several weeks.”

The first step to a home remodeling project is to take a careful inventory of your existing space and consider items like new fixtures, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, tile, etc. The next step is to make a virtual design appointment with Cranbury Design. During your appointment, you’ll meet with an experienced designer who will review your space, discuss your project in detail and provide a general estimate of the cost. The designer may also visit your home.

Once your project starts, a Cranbury project manager will provide you with an initial schedule and plan. He or she will then be available to you to assist with shopping selections, monitor deliveries and handle all trade professionals involved in the project.  

But most importantly, your project manager will provide you with regular updates to ensure that your project stays on schedule and within budget.  

 “At Cranbury Design Center,” Rini says, “our vision is to create inspiring designs, deliver what we promise, and provide a pleasurable service experience that will produce a lasting impact and relationship.”

Cranbury Design Center
Hightstown, N.J. | (609) 448-5600
CranburyDesignCenter.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 21, Issue 3 (October 2020). 
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