For this Mentor update, the team at Acclaim Renovations & Design took it down to the studs, then added a heaping dose of splash
By Patricia Nugent
This 1970s ranch home in Mentor desperately needed to escape its triple threat of dark, dingy and dated.
The dynamic duo of Scott and Scott bought it in 2021 with a stylish vision in mind for lightening, brightening and modernizing the kitchen/great room space.
They collaborated with the creative minds at Acclaim Renovations & Design to take it down to the studs and rethink every square inch.
“It was Time...”
According to Acclaim’s COO Bob Potocar, the homeowners enjoy cooking and entertaining, so counter space, storage space and ample room for a crowd were top priorities.
“It was time to update, getting rid of faux brick laminate flooring, older oak cabinetry and laminate counters and replacing them with high-end materials and custom work,” he says.
State-of-the-art appliances were also important. In addition to the professional-grade stovetop and oven, the couple opted for a “slim” microwave, which is trending.
“This compact low-profile oven saves on space and boosts functionality,” says Bob. “It fits perfectly within the cabinetry. Positioning it at the far end of the kitchen from the stovetop, where people traditionally place their microwaves, allowed us to install one of my favorite focal points of the room, the ultra-modern stainless-steel range hood. To draw added attention to it and visually expand the space, we ran the backsplash all the way up to the ceiling. Tearing out the dated soffits so we could install taller cabinetry with custom woodwork on top also seems to enlarge the room.”
Playful Dimensions with a Classic Feel
Let’s touch on that beguiling backsplash—2-by-8-inch glass subway tiles by Virginia Tile add a playful dimension opposed to the customary 3-by-6-inch size. Highly reflective, sophisticated and posh, the name of the shade is Powder, a perfect descriptive of the dreamy pale blue hue. And setting them in traditional brick bond pattern retains a classic feeling.
“It’s the perfect pop of color to break up the custom shades of gray (Dovetail and Reposed Gray) in the Daso Cabinetry,” says Bob. “The colors are picked up in the large-format porcelain floor tile they chose, which is 12-by-24-inch, with darker gray grout. It all comes together with the sophisticated counters in white and pale gray quartz.”
Easy access and storage were accomplished with a sizable island with drawers that open from both sides, allowing plenty of room for larger serving pieces. A utility closet custom made to fit brooms and mops also opens from the doors on the kitchen side and adjacent hall side for the ultimate convenience.
He mentions that a corner of the 15-by-20-foot kitchen wasn’t getting much use—the kitchen desk nook.
“We chose to repurpose this into a cool bar area, sinking a wine refrigerator and building glass-front cabinets on top with a lighted curio feeling to showcase their collection of spirits,” he says. “It adds another focal point and provides a nice bridge to the great room.”
Lighting it Up
“Adding layers of lighting, including ambient wafer lights, drop pendants for task lighting and subtle under-cabinet lights made all the difference in this renovation,” says Bob. “Lighting is one of those considerations where the homeowner can really put his or her stamp on the finished space. This is a great example of that. The simple, pear-shaped glass pendants fit nicely into the clean and elegant esthetic here.”
Acclaim Renovations & Design is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. The design-build firm has won numerous industry awards. Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com.