Guest Blog Series by designer Chika Aizu
I’m turning over my blog space for the next few weeks to designer Chika Aizu who is excited to provide a glimpse inside one of Dover’s latest home remodeling projects.
MEET CHIKA: She is one of our talented and accomplished designers who joined Dover in early 2014. Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Chika grew up in the construction business: Her grandfather and father operated a mechanical and electrical contracting company for over years. Moving to the United States, Chika earned her degree at Oberlin College.
Before joining Dover, she managed commercial historic restoration projects throughout Northeast Ohio. While she has a trained eye for design, Chika also has a knack for connecting with and understanding our customers, which helps to bring their renovation visions to life.
First in a Three-Part Home Remodeling Series
It’s always nice to get the chance to work with repeat customers because there is already a relationship with a built-in comfort level. This was one such project. Our team at Dover had previously managed three remodeling jobs for this homeowner including a basement and laundry/garage addition. In the interim the homeowners used another contractor for their master bathroom—but unfortunately had a bad experience—so they called Dover back for their kitchen makeover.
Their home is a lovely traditional-style colonial built by Kopf in the 1980s—so while the house was in very good condition, it was time for an update. The homeowners were unhappy with their kitchen because of its cramped size and layout: the island made the pathways too narrow, so they kept bumping into each other every time they cooked, making it more of a chore than a joy to work together in the kitchen. What’s more, the dark cabinets and unwisely placed lighting made the space feel confining.
They wanted a lighter, brighter chef’s kitchen with professional-grade appliances, a large island, along with a full-height wine refrigerator with a TV incorporated in the kitchen. The homeowners also wanted to eliminate a butler’s pantry and desk area to create a larger walk-in pantry.
In my next post, I’ll walk through how we took the homeowners’ direction and ideas—and then cleared a few structural hurdles—on the way to creating a beautiful, spacious new kitchen.
All the best,
Chika Aizu
