So, 2020 has had its ups and downs, and almost nobody was immune (pardon the pun). However, as we get closer to the end of the year, we want to focus on some of the good things! Through award season we awarded three NKBA Kitchen + Bath Awards (Texas North Plains Chapter) and two-and-a-half NARI Contractor of the Year Awards (North Texas Chapter). We could not be more proud of our team and our design/remodel partners! We also continued to work on lots of fabulous projects with some amazing clients as always. And now that people are getting back in stride, the industry is booming! As more people continue to be at home almost 24/7, they are realizing the potential – and the need – to redesign and remodel parts of their home. So, we want to share with you, our Kitchen Design Concepts family, some of our favorite projects from 2020.

Chris

Chris – who runs our Partner Channel – is always talking to other remodelers, builders, designers, and architects to provide detailed designs and custom cabinetry to those who don’t have their own! Being able to create great relationships with our friends in the business is just an added bonus. In the 2020 year, her side of the business got so many leads.  Why? Some of the smaller cabinet shops or cabinet makers weren’t working as much, so there was a higher demand for cabinetry. This was especially the case while remodels in progress was deemed “essential” to complete. Luckily, with 5+ different large manufactured lines at our fingertips, 2020 didn’t deter us!

What is Chris’s favorite project from 2020?

She has been working with Cavalry Construction on a Condo community that was destroyed by the tornado of last year. There were 22 units in total that had to be rebuilt. Chris says, “it has been rewarding to work with the homeowners and help them redesign their kitchens and baths and experience their excitement in getting a fresh start, knowing that their condominium will be beautiful and more functional space than they had before.” See some of the cabinet selections they have been looking at from Wolf Classic and KitchenCraft during the design process:

Erica

If you have never heard of the Revive side of our business, you really should. Essentially, we take existing cabinets and either refinish or reface them to make them look brand new! Pair that with new countertops, backsplash, plumbing, and hardware, and you’ve got an entirely different kitchen altogether. The before and afters of our Revive spaces are pretty spectacular. What’s Erica got to do with it? Well, she is our Revive designer! As our resident materials “expert” she guides you through material selections that can transform your space for a fraction of the cost of a remodel.

What is Erica’s favorite project from 2020?

As a designer, it’s always hard to choose a “favorite” space you’ve worked on but sometimes a client finds you that has similar aesthetic tastes. This was true when Erica met this client who had a mid-century modern style kitchen that just needed a little upgrade. The cabinets were stained slightly darker to get a walnut-like color and custom floating shelves were added for additional storage. New Caesarstone Nougat countertops were paired with Walker Zanger Harper Pixie Brick tile backsplash. Check out the before and after of just the shelving area to see how much more contemporary this space looks now. Cannot wait to see more picture soon!

Mary Kathryn

Our fearless leader has kept us strong all through 2020 and we couldn’t love her more. It’s been a trying year, but she has been such a backbone for the Kitchen Design Concepts team. For those of you who don’t know, we consolidated our Gaston showroom (in the Lakewood area) and joined our Carrollton Showroom in Beltline to create one big happy (working) family back in February! Don’t get us wrong. We love working in the Lakewood, M-Streets, Vickery Park, Swiss Avenue, Forest Hills, and surrounding neighborhoods, and will continue to do so! Transitioning to a single showroom just helps keep all of our samples in one place and makes our team even more cohesive than it already was.

What is Mary Kathryn’s favorite project from 2020?

She couldn’t pick just one, so instead picked some favorite products. With cabinetry being a big part of our business, options are essential. Our different manufacturers have NOT disappointed with their 2020 launches. Grays and blues are still trending and there has been a rise in mid-century aesthetics. See the far right Mysa door style below from Elmwood – a truly unique style with recessed finger-pulls. In 2020 we saw more warm colors and tones across the board and Oak is making a comeback. Oak is such a versatile wood and takes stain colors well, and we have tons of new options. Below you can see eight colors from our WW Woods cabinet line shown on either Quarter Sawn or Rift Cut White Oak. We also wanted to share a fun kitchen we installed in Ultracraft’s Rift Cut Oak in a Natural stain color.

Rebecca

In the month of March, we started working from home due to Shelter-In-Place restrictions just like everyone else. “But you are an essential business!” we heard. True, but not everything we do requires us to be in the showroom all day. From job site measures to taking pictures, there are tons to do away from a desk. We’ve learned about half of our designer’s time is actually spent at our clients’ homes – or driving there and back. The only time we really need to meet you at the showroom is for material selection day! Of course, we have reopened the option to do design and proposal meetings at the showroom, but many people are still choosing to do those virtually. Whatever your preference, we are ready to design with you!

What is Rebecca’s favorite project from 2020?

There are always too many to choose from, but this home had a different type of flare. “I have loved being able to design ‘non-white’ kitchens in 2020, and the more color, the better! This kitchen and wet bar were perfect examples of places where we got to play with color, pattern, and texture so it was a blast to deep dive into my creative juices. The homeowners had a very refreshing style and it was fabulous to design alongside their family.” The kitchen got a fun accent tile – Country Floors Antigua 4 – behind the custom Vent-A-Hood and Dacor range, surrounded by Interceramic Emma Aqua subway field tile. And in the living room, the wet bar mimicked the kitchen’s Coastal Gray on Cherry cabinetry from Ultracraft and Cambria Colton counters. The gorgeous backsplash here is Poseidon Glossy Made Mason Brick from Ann Sacks laid in a herringbone pattern. Stunning!

Over 2020? Eager to see more from years past? Look at our designers’ favorite projects from 2019, and sift through our favorite featured spaces from 2018 too!