Before photo courtesy of PMI Builders.
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Turning a homeowner’s kitchen remodeling dream into a reality takes teamwork: the homeowner provides the vision, the designer crafts the plan and the contractor builds accordingly. Input from all three is what makes a kitchen remodel a success.
When it came time for these homeowners to remodel their kitchen (along with a master bedroom and bath) they turned first to Randall Omoto, of Homeowners Design Center. A family member had recommended the veteran kitchen designer and company, which offers a full range of cabinetry, flooring, countertops and appliances to complete its kitchen designs. In turn, Omoto suggested PMI Builders, a contracting company that focuses on residential renovations and remodeling. Omoto had worked with David and Misty Wheeler, the husband-and-wife team who lead PMI, on several other projects. “We work well with people we feel comfortable with,” David says of Homeowners Design Center. “We like their designs; we click.”
With the team in place, the homeowners were ready to bring their kitchen out of the dark ages. David describes the previous room as a den, cut off by four walls from the rest of the home. The homeowner wanted to get rid of the ’70s-inspired floral wallpaper, avocado-color appliances and dark cabinetry. Following the current trend of opening the great room to eating and living areas, they requested tearing down a load-bearing wall that divided the two spaces. A central island and beverage and snack center for the kids were also part of the vision.
PMI’s first structural challenge came with the removal of the load-bearing wall. This posed two problems—the adjacent dining room featured an open-beam ceiling that would need to match the kitchen and David and his team would need to find a new way to support the roof. The new space required metal beams and posts to hold the weight. The homeowner’s metal-work skills aided in the solution. The result is a higher ceiling that helps connect the two spaces with no stifling wall in between.
Once the new layout was complete, the kitchen designer based the aesthetic on two ideas: simplicity and functionality. To create a simple feel, Omoto and the homeowners chose natural materials. Homeowners Design Center’s signature cabinetry line, Canyon Creek, provided the perfect Shaker-style cabinets in maple. Travertine tiles cover the floor and complement the granite countertops.
The homeowner’s favorite aspect of the new kitchen design is the island. “We can see everything in front of us, from the dining room to the living room, out to a great view of the city and ocean,” he says. An island cooktop provides the perfect vantage point for watching the kids play while fixing dinner.
During the remodeling process, David and the PMI team offered their own design suggestions. Specifically, PMI helped add recessed lighting that made the room look bigger. “[The lighting] completed the look,” the homeowner says. “It was very easy to work with them, and they were flexible to our needs,” he adds. Working with the customer and solving problems as they go is what sets PMI Builders ahead of the pack, David says. “Every job has something that goes wrong. We take care of everything. Problems are always remedied and solved.”
The homeowners are certainly pleased. “We were shocked by the outcome. It was like night and day. It is even more than we hoped for and we absolutely love it.”
