Many of us would love a kitchen makeover, but dread the demo and construction process. At Old Mill Kitchen Design Inc., “we turn it into a more delightful experience,” President/owner Pat Kelly said. “My design job has been highlighted by working with such interesting people, their family and friends, and of course, the ease of decision-making when everyone participates.”

Case-in-point: Crystal Lake resident Mary C. Johnson’s successful kitchen remodel, a result of a client-designer partnership gone particularly well.

“I have met some extraordinary people over the years, and one of them is Ms. Johnson,” Kelly said. “When I first visited Ms. Johnson’s home, you could see that the kitchen was decorated with some very sentimental artwork painted on the drywall, which I found out was painted by her late brother. The room also displayed some family heirloom plates, a world map, many books, and an original, a vintage range and other little touches that made the setting very comfortable for Ms. Johnson and her childhood friends.”

The space was divided down the middle, according to Kelly, which made each single space very small. “It was necessary to open up the kitchen to make it more functional, beautiful and larger,” she added.

After a lot of thought, Johnson decided to forgo the artwork and plates that were on display and found some of her brother’s paintings that she would frame and place on the now-exposed brick wall that was hidden behind the drywall. “The dishwasher sitting in the middle of everything had to go also,” Kelly said. “The middle partition was removed and we had a grand space within with to design.”

Two closed pantry/storage areas were converted into cabinetry areas, which suited Ms. Johnson’s lifestyle. One area became a book case, bar and storage area. The other little closet became a built-in desk/work station.

A large hole in the brick wall was converted to a recycling center with a cabinet front door. “This was a bonus because she could still recycle and the dead space became more useful than just throwing random things in there to hide,” Kelly explained.

Old Mill used Wood-Mode’s Brookhaven line of cabinetry in maple with a glaze. “Brookhaven cabinets are one of the top five green cabinet companies according to a national study of professionals and consumers,” Kelly said. “So Ms. Johnson not only upgraded, but she now has an earth-friendly kitchen.”

Old Mill used specialty glass for the glass doors on the book case,  and cork was chosen as the flooring material.

Granite selection was particularly enjoyable. “We had the most fun when Ms. Johnson invited her best friend and sister, who flew in from California, to help make the granite and backsplash selections,” Kelly recalled. “We always take our customers to choose their own granite and reserve their slabs for when they are ready to be installed. Likewise, we take them to design their own backsplash with help from our designers and the professionals at the tile store that we visit. We search until we get it right. This group method of making selections is very exciting for our clients.”

The island was raised in order to fit the microwave at a comfortable level while providing a little bit of storage and a dining area.

“The installation process usually last about four to six weeks depending on whether there’s any major construction involved,” Kelly said. “We often need to move walls, plumbing, etc., to create a larger and more streamlined space.

“Ms. Johnson’s home – which has been her family since she was a child  – required many upgrades like plumbing, heating and electrical because most of the mechanicals were original,” Kelly continued. “For that reason, her project lasted a little longer than the normal timeline so the needed upgrades could be completed.”