Peggy and Tony Maimone wanted to update their kitchen to include loads of white punctuated by modern accents and Acclaim Renovations & Design delivered
By Patricia Nugent
When you Google “oak cabinetry,” the first thing that pops up is a story with the headline, “Cringeworthy decor that ruins good home design.” Enough said.
With a recent kitchen and home renovation, Peggy and Tony Maimone wanted to get rid of the oak throughout their 1971 Eastlake home, open up the space and add seating to accommodate their growing family, which includes three sons and four grandchildren ages four through 10.
“We’ve lived in the home for 32 years and it was definitely time for an update,” says Peggy, laughing. “The look I wanted is similar to our Florida home, which is white, bright, clean and a bit modern. We enjoy cooking and family time, so we’re overjoyed with the new space in terms of functionality, storage and how it lends to togetherness.”
Opening Things Up
According to Bob Potocar, COO of Acclaim Renovations & Design, the first order of renovation was to take down the wall that stood between the kitchen and living room/dining room. Not only did this allow for the wide-open feeling, but it paved the way for them to design an expansive L-shaped island with loads of storage. They also built an additional pantry and pulled out the soffits to allow for taller cabinets.
“My kids and grandkids love to hang out at the island,” says Peggy. “And it gave me so much more storage. I’m now able to store bigger things like my air fryer that I used to have to keep in the basement. It’s great that I can see my grandchildren when they are hanging out in the living room and I’m cooking in the kitchen.”
Shades of White
Peggy knew that in addition to opening up the space, she wanted a white-on-white aesthetic. She replaced taupe counters and oak laminate cabinetry with sleek white and pale gray quartz counters called Destino and white high-end Hanson cabinetry. Accenting the look is the glossy white three-by-12-inch backsplash tiles in Hamilton Parker.
“To break up the white, I chose a luxury vinyl tile plank called Prescott Fauna with earthy wood-look browns,” she says
Bob reports the finishing touch of adding bright LED lighting in the ceiling made the materials pop.
For a cohesive look throughout, the Maimones had Acclaim replace all their oak woodwork with white wood, added new white wood doors throughout and renovated an upstairs bathroom with the same white counters and cabinets.
“With every job, there will be a glitch or two,” says Bob. “And with this job it was cracks we noticed in the ceiling before starting work. We took our time and worked it out rather than rushing ahead to take the wall down. Bringing in an engineer, we devised a way to reinforce the trusses in the ceiling. We never rush through problem-solving. That’s not how we operate.”
Bring on the Holidays
Peggy says working with Bob, Office Manager Mari Stone, Project Manager Jake and his friendly crew was a “pleasure from beginning to end.”
“Every day on the job they were considerate, cleaning up, and letting me know what they were going to accomplish that day,” she says. “Sometimes I overthink things and took extra time to make decisions, but they were all very patient with me throughout the decision points of the renovation. Whenever I felt stressed about a decision, their professionalism took that away.”
With the holidays right around the corner, Peggy and Tony can’t wait to throw parties in their stunning home.
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.