Recently, we celebrated the ‘Good Life’ kitchen remodel with an unveiling of the Driehorst’s new kitchen during a party with over 100 guests, and a private cooking lesson with Elias Hajjar (executive chef and owner) from Poco Piatti in Toledo.
The transformation was amazing! I can’t believe the before and after results. The overall size of the kitchen didn’t change, but with the improved Merillat design and storage features, it became so much more functional. This project is a great example of how you don’t have to have a massive space to have a functional kitchen.
Special thanks to KSI (Kitchen & Bath showroom in Toledo, Ohio), one of our dealer partners, for providing the design expertise and project oversight to The Good Life Kitchen.
It was wonderful to be a part of this project, and I’m sure the Driehorst’s had a much different Thanksgiving holiday this year in their new kitchen. For the Driehorsts, the ‘Good Life’ isn’t over, but just beginning as they’ll enjoy their new space for years to come.
Thanks for following this project. We’ll be kicking off another kitchen remodel project soon so stay tuned!
It’s official—the Merillat Good Life Kitchen Makeover is complete!
Just a few short months ago, Amy Driehorst of Temperance, Michigan was dreaming of a new kitchen and how it would make her life easier. Today, that dream is a reality.
Amy and her husband Mike recently saw the finishing touches put on their $30,000 Merillat kitchen. To celebrate, there was only one thing left to do: Throw a party!
Neighbors, family and friends stopped by throughout the day to ooh and ahh over the results. Guests enjoyed a video of the transformation from start to finish and Amy was happy to let them explore the many features of the new kitchen for themselves. To help the family “break in” the new kitchen, Elias Hajjar, a local chef stopped by for a cooking lesson. Hajjar, executive chef and owner of Poco Piatti in Toledo, Ohio, even got the Driehorst kids into the act, showing them how to prep and assemble the ingredients for a family meal. That’s a kitchen moment any busy mom is sure to remember!
The new cabinets were on their way! But before they could be installed, there was more work to be done at the Driehorst home. With the walls stripped down to their studs, plumbing and electrical updates were made to accommodate the new dishwasher and above-the-stove microwave, and more outlets were added along the counter area.
Next, new drywall was installed on the walls and ceiling. After finishing and a fresh coat of paint, the room was now ready for the cabinets.
The new layout included plenty of space-maximizing features, such as a corner cabinet with lazy susan, base cabinet with pull-out trash bins, and another narrow pull-out that’s perfect for storing canned goods. And soft-close drawers mean no pinched fingers, even with four active kids in the kitchen.
Additional cabinets over the fridge, next to the stove and under the cook top meant every inch of space would be put to use for this busy family. A display shelf above the window is the perfect place for Amy’s collectibles. Other important touches aren’t visible at first, but make a lasting impression. Under-cabinet lighting, for instance, illuminates the entire length of the countertop — a sophisticated accent with very practical benefits.
From Ken Darnell, Plant Manager, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
When we found out the Mt. Sterling, Kentucky Team had the opportunity to create the Merillat kitchen for the Good Life contest winners, we were thrilled.
All of the thousands of cabinets we make every week become a part of someone’s home; however it isn’t often we can meet and see the families we make kitchens for and to be a part of their experience. It’s exciting to know we’re contributing to something greater!
While the Driehorst’s kitchen was being torn apart in Temperance, Michigan, their new one was being put together in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.
There, the Driehorst’s cabinets were being built according to the “Kitchen At A Time” (KAAT) process pioneered by Merillat. That means that, instead of building thousands of individual cabinets that are later grouped into kitchens, we build the whole kitchen at once, to make sure every part looks and works as it should.
It was Demolition Day at the Driehorst house, and we mean demolition! This kitchen was stripped—not just of its existing cabinets and countertop, but of its flooring, walls and ceiling.
When the crew began work at 8:00 a.m., there was already an industrial-sized dumpster waiting outside. The crew took some time to explain to the Driehorsts what to expect, including sealing off the kitchen from other rooms to contain the dust and mess that comes with gutting a room.
The Driehorst’s Good Life kitchen project is well underway! It is exciting to think in a short-time that this family will be able to have their kitchen transformed to not only be functional, but beautiful as well.
During the project, the Driehorsts along with Amy from KSI will create an organized space for a growing family of six. Fortunately, with a few storage accessories and some insightful tips this goal is more attainable than imagined. And with a little planning, any homeowner can create a clutter free space ready to accommodate a busy lifestyle.
While Amy Wuest and Team KSI finalize the family’s floor plans, Mike and Amy Driehorst have been busy selecting the actual components of their new kitchen.
Their primary objectives included an updated (but not-too-trendy) style, maximizing storage, and keeping things practical for a busy young family. That meant durable, easy-to-clean surfaces, in colors and patterns that won’t show dirt too readily. (Amy even asked if the floor could be matched to the color of their dog’s muddy footprints!)
The contest is over and reality is setting in! It’s time for Amy Driehorst to start making some key decisions about her new kitchen.
Amy’s wish list includes updated styling, a built-in dishwasher and replacing the brick backsplash.
Fortunately, she’s not alone. Experts from Merillat and KSI Kitchen and Bath will be working with the Driehorsts to help them design a kitchen that works for their space and their life.
The first step is to take some measurements and complete a questionnaire to find out more about how Amy and her family live in their kitchen. And with young four kids and a dog, you can guess that her kitchen is one busy place!
To help this growing family get the most from its modest kitchen, Amy Wuest from KSI is evaluating numerous options, including knocking out unnecessary walls and using new flooring to visually extend the space. While Amy Wuest and the Merillat team are hard at work developing a new layout, Amy and Mike Driehorst have started exploring their style options—including cabinet door styles and stains, countertops, and flooring.
What could be better than someone showing up on your doorstep with a $30,000 check? Not much, according to Amy Driehorst of Toledo, OH, winner of the Merillat Good Life video contest.
In her winning video, Amy showed us how her family makes the most of their small, dated kitchen, and detailed the wish list of simple improvements that play into in her dreams of the Good Life.
After the votes were counted, Amy and her husband Mike were visited by Merillat’s Mark Ayers and Susan Cross, Karin Bottomley of KSI Kitchen and Bath, and several area news crews. The Driehorsts bore smiles as big as the giant check they were presented with.
in Toledo.
