Broomfield Kitchen Remodel: Traditional with a Contemporary Twist

This kitchen in Broomfield’s Broadlands neighborhood was ready for a remodel. The boomerang shaped peninsula limited traffic flow in and around the kitchen and the overall aesthetic of the space didn’t fit the homeowners’ vision.

When we first met with this young family to help them re-design their kitchen, we discussed the fact that the space was choppy. The peninsula cut off traffic in the middle of the kitchen and the corner pantry, while large in footprint, didn’t provide useful storage for this growing family.

Broomfield Kitchen Before

Before

As we worked through the possibilities for this space, we realized that relocating the door between the dining room and the kitchen and removing the large corner pantry would achieve two things: 1) Remove a corner — which tend to be dead space — from this kitchen and 2) Give the homeowners a longer wall for functional cabinetry.

Once the functional design was decided on, we got to work on the finishes. These homeowners had a great vision for a timeless space — we used white shaker cabinetry along the perimeter to help with the project budget and used custom walnut cabinetry at the island to provide warmth and depth to this space.

By balancing wood tones and classic whites, we worked with the homeowners to create a beautiful, functional kitchen that will stand the test of time and function for their family for years to come.

Smart Kitchen Organization We Love...And What We Think Is Overrated

When we work on a kitchen remodel with our clients, we are often asked about kitchen cabinet customization to create specific zones and organizational systems. In the thousands of kitchens, we’ve seen and designed, we’ve developed a bit of an opinion on what works and what we think is skippable.


Our Favorite Kitchen Cabinet Customizations for Organized Cabinets

While there is a lot of after-market customization, we can do to more budget friendly cabinetry lines, we find that we get into the micro level cabinetry organization discussions the most with clients who are going with semi-custom or custom cabinetry.

 


Trash and Recycle Pull-Out Cabinet

Okay, this isn’t a customization, per say, but it’s a kitchen add-on that elevates a kitchen’s functionality and aesthetics. In fact, we include a built-in trash/recylce cabinet in every single kitchen we design, regardless of if we’re using stock or custom cabinetry as it eliminates the trash can sitting out in plain view and also puts the trash and recycle closer to the main countertop and/or sink for cutting and peeling scraps.

Countertops in a Walk-In Pantry

If a walk-in pantry is in your dreams, we think that counter height shelving or cabinetry with outlets above plugging in small appliances is a huge win. It keeps small appliances off the countertop of the main kitchen but allows them to be easily accessed (and even used, when safe!) in their storage location.


Charging Drawers

A busy family needs a place for everything - preferably out of sight! The charging drawer is a favorite because it allows families to designate a place for electronics to charge while keeping cords tucked away.

Utensil and Knife Block Pull Outs

Notably missing from this list is a spice pull out, but one thing we do like in a kitchen is a utensil or knife block pull-out. These are a great solution for filling up a few extra inches with functional storage for the things a cook uses frequently in their kitchen.

The Popular Kitchen Customization We Recommend Against

Spice Pull Outs

Don’t get mad: A spice pull out tops our list for the least useful cabinet customization. You won’t see us put these in a kitchen unless the client specifically requests them (and we’ve talked them through the pros and cons so they can make an informed decision). The main reason we don’t love them? These pullouts are usually 6-12” wide and so can help fill space, but they aren’t easy to access. Spices are usually labeled on the sides of jars, so unless you’re looking to decant your spices into special jars with labels on top, you’ll have to squat down and dig to locate the spice you want. And anything on a shelf lower than the top one is even more difficult to identify from a birds-eye view.

But don’t worry! We’re not the type to just tell you you can’t have something. If you really have your heart set on a spice pull out, we’ll give it to you. But not before we lay out your options. Our preferred method for storing spices is to lay them flat in a drawer next to or near your cooking zone. We love drawers in kitchens and add them as often as possible, so you’ll surely have a top drawer at the ready that can hold all of your spices, label facing up.


Permanent Drawer Solutions

We often try to talk our clients out of micro-organizing their drawers before they’re installed. A few custom features, like the charging drawers and utensil pull-outs, need to be planned in advance, but things like wooden pegs for holding dishes in a drawer can be installed after-market, and we recommend waiting. Why? Because plan as you might, you might discover that you actually really like keeping your dishes across the room from where you planned to keep the dishes. Or you might discover that your dishes are heavy enough they don’t slide around at all and the pegs aren’t needed. Things like silverware organizers can all be added once the cabinets are installed and you start to get a feel for how you want to store things in your new space.


So, tell us what you think? Do you have a favorite kitchen organization hack we should know about? Do you think we’re just plain wrong about the spice pull out? Let us know in the comments! Photos via Julia Zettler Design and Woodland Cabinetry.











Why A Designer Can Help With Your Basement Finish Project

When it comes to finishing your basement, there are so many ways to get a general layout for the space. So why spend money by hiring a basement designer? We’re so glad you asked!

Bright and functional basement design for a family

When you think about interior design, you often think about finishes. What color cabinetry and flooring will you have? How about the tile? We love helping to select finishes with our clients for their basement finishes and we’re just as happy to work with clients with a strong aesthetic design sense as those who say, “I have no idea what I’m doing, tell me what looks good!”. But as much as we love it, finish selections are actually a relatively small part of the overall design process for a basement finish.

Feature Wine Wall in Basement Remodel

At Julia Zettler Design, the end goal is to give you a space that functions for you and looks beautiful but is also buildable! Space planning is so important when finishing a basement, and with our 3D designs we can help homeowners visualize exactly how the space will function. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and thorough construction plans. We spend a significant amount of time talking with our clients about what they want in their finished basement and how they need their space to function in addition to how they want it to look before we ever start a project.

Family Game Basement Design

From the first step in our process - our detailed on-site measure - to the delivery of the final construction plans, we talk through the unique challenges each basement presents and how to design for them. Those tricky basement features - like beams, posts and ductwork - can stand out like a sore thumb if not considered as part of the overall design. Our team of designers puts thought into how to make those “can’t change ‘em” basement features make architectural sense for your space. The result is a plan that is unique to you and your family, not a cookie cutter copy of your neighbor’s basement.

Warm, Family Friendly Basement TV Room

Finally, after helping pick all the finishes you’ll need to help bring your basement space to life, we get to work preparing your construction documents that make the plans actually buildable allowing you to get apples to apples pricing from several different contractors to price your project. Our detailed plans are loved by contractors and homeowners alike and are part of what sets us apart from many other design firms.

Basement Design with Golf Simulator

As basement designers, we listen to you and help to design a space that functions for how you want to live in your home. From space planning to finish selections to the final construction plans, a basement designer will empower their client to have confidence in their project from start to finish.

2023 Design Trends

With the new year upon us, the Julia Zettler Design team is refreshed from the holidays and ready to tackle new projects in 2023. With every new year, the question we receive most often from clients is “What are most people doing for (countertops, cabinets, flooring, you name it!) these days?”

Over the last several years we’ve seen spaces trend from farmhouse to minimalist scandinavian, and it seems that the maximalist, cozy 90s are all the rage this year. From saturated colors and moody rooms to more traditional furniture silhouettes, 2023 is ushering in the “Grandpa’s Country Club” aesthetic. Our Broomfield based design team loves to stay on top of the trends, but our goal when designing your home is to focus on layout, function and finishes that you will love for years to come.

Natural Wood Tones

While a classic white kitchen will never be out of style, we envision a lot more warm wood kitchens this year. We’ve seen a return to warm wood tones and more natural finishes and we’ll see even more of it in 2023. From light, natural woods, to deep, rich wood stains, we expect to see a lot more brown in 2023!


Natural Stone

We’re big fans of quartz here at Julia Zettler Design for its easy living qualities, but we predict we’ll be seeing more natural stones installed this year than in years past. The natural movement of quartzite, soapstone, marble and granite is appealing to that earthier vibe so many clients are after, and we’re here for it! Natural stone comes with its upkeep, and your designer is happy to talk you through the pros and cons of natural countertops.

Deep, Saturated Colors

Be it dark blue, moody green, bright raspberry or rich burgundy, color is back in a big way in 2023. This can be bold, like custom paint on your cabinets, or as simple as adding a color you’re drawn to right now into your space in pillows, the dutch oven on your stovetop, and other decor.

We’re excited for all the design to come in 2023. If you’re considering a remodel, we’d love to talk to you about what we’re seeing, where we think the trends are heading, and how you can create a space you’ll love for years to come, even as trends come and go!