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!

See the Driehorst’s kitchen transformation for yourself. Check out the videos below.

With the remodeling complete and the celebration winding down, Merillat wishes the Driehorst family the best of everything the Good Life has to offer!

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.

With the cabinets installed, a new hardwood floor was next — extending into the dining room. Then came the new appliances in striking black: a refrigerator, stove, cook top, microwave, and Amy’s long-awaited dishwasher!

With the arrival of the granite countertop and undermount sink, the Driehorsts are at last able to see their dream coming to life. Only the tiled backsplash, faucet and trim remain before this kitchen is complete!

Play the video below to watch as this kitchen installation comes together.

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!

The Mt. Sterling Team wishes the Driehorsts the very best in the rest of their kitchen journey. To get that journey started in the right direction, our Team took special care to create a kitchen that they can be proud of and one that’s durable enough to withstand the everyday use for a family of six!

We’re excited to make the Driehorsts’ dream come true. We’re looking forward to seeing all of the progress along the way and, most of all, we can’t wait to see the finished kitchen.

Congratulations Driehorsts!

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.

But we also don’t want to keep our customers waiting. So we build and stock the components of our cabinets — the individual sides, faceplates, doors, drawer fronts and more — ahead of time. Then, all the pieces are selected, assembled and finished to order, usually in 5 days or less.

At our Mt. Sterling, Kentucky facility, the components for the Driehorst kitchen were first selected and taken through the finishing line. This is a complex, multi-step process to make sure that every piece matches perfectly.

The finished components were then loaded onto carts in the required order, and taken to the KAAT line for assembly. There, skilled workers assembled cabinet boxes and drawers; installed rails, hinges and doors and more; and inspected for quality.

Specialty items, such as the Driehorst’s base cabinet trash can, lazy susan and pantry cabinet, were assembled in a separate line at the same facility, and then recombined with the rest of the order.

After a final inspection, the whole kitchen was boxed and loaded for delivery to the eagerly awaiting family back in Temperance.

Watch the video to see the Driehorsts’ new cabinets being built!

Click a photo to see the larger version.

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.

Then the demolition began in earnest. First the cabinet doors were taken off, to make it easier to remove the rest later. The plumbing was shut off in order to extract the sink, which was soon followed by the old countertop and the cabinets. The old paneled brick backsplash Amy couldn’t wait to get rid of was finally gone. Even the dining room carpet was pulled up, to make way for the new wood flooring that will connect the kitchen and dining areas.

Remodelers will tell you that demolition can produce surprises that result in unexpected repairs or design modifications.  The Driehorsts fared well overall. The crew found only a few leaks in need of repair, and an unexpected bump out in the wall where an old closet was removed; nothing that would require design changes. They did, however, find evidence of a former homeowner’s thrifty innovation: instead of insulation, air gaps under the windows were stuffed with newspapers from 1974!

With their old kitchen now officially yesterday’s news, the Driehorsts are now ready to start seeing their new kitchen take shape!

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.

Click on any of the images to see a closeup.

As a designer, one of the first things I consider is making sure to include enough storage solutions. I always look at kitchen organization and storage by viewing the room in sections. All kitchens have a cooking zone and a cleanup zone, and some kitchens may have an island, pantry or specialized niches. Each of these areas lend themselves to various storage opportunities. Click on any of the images shown to see a close up. You can also view all of Merillat’s accessories.

One thought for storage in the cooking zone is including a spice drawer organizer next to the cooktop, or a drawer organizer kit that accommodates everything from tableware to larger cooking utensils, these features can be adapted to any homeowner’s specific needs. Extra wide or deep drawers are a perfect storage solution when installed under a cooktop, as they are ideal for storing and organizing bulky items like pots, pans and mixing bowls. In addition, extra wide pull out trays make retrieving large pots and pans effortless.

Clean-up zones are very important and something homeowners often overlook. Simple things that make a huge difference are tilt-out sink trays, which keeps soaps and sponges out of sight, an under sink tote and base waste basket help to keep things well organized. Also, a cutting board kit close to the sink makes for easy cleanup during food prep.

My favorite tip is to think about items that need special storage and change over time as your needs and family grows and diversifies. Storage solutions like pigeon holes, plate racks and wall lattices can be used to display special items like collectibles, wine bottles or fine china and can accommodate many uses.

People are using their kitchens for so much more that just cooking these days and more than ever before kitchens have to be dynamic and adaptable. Being smart about storage not only brings order to your kitchen, but your life.

Good luck Driehorsts! I can’t wait to see your new finished space.

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 first stop was the local KSI showroom. In her design questionnaire, Amy Driehorst had described the desired “feel” of the new kitchen as “country, traditional, open” and noted a preference for tight-grained woods like maple and cherry. At KSI, the Driehorsts were able to see firsthand all the styles, colors, and finishes available in the Merillat Classic® line of cabinetry, along with numerous countertop samples to consider.

While there, Amy Wuest showed the Driehorsts some space-saving accessories, including a lazy susan, pantry pullouts, base cabinet rollout shelves for garbage and recycling, even specialized storage for lids and cookware.

With so many possibilities to consider, the Driehorsts took some time to reflect on their options before coming back to finalize their design decisions.

In the end, a palette of earth tones proved to be the winning formula. Amy Wuest says, “This palette works well for them because it’s not too dark for the small space, and not so light that it’s impractical for a family with kids.”

But don’t confuse neutral with boring. The mix of materials and textures provides a high level of sophistication and visual interest. The maple cabinets are a medium sable stain, and feature the Seneca Ridge Arch door style with oil-rubbed bronze knobs. The Driehorsts also selected a granite countertop in Desert Brown to complement the rich color of the cabinets. (Granite has distinctive natural variations. So while they based their decision on a showroom sample at KSI, they later traveled to Great Lakes Granite & Marble to select that actual slab that would be used in their kitchen.)

Seneca Ridge: Maple Sable

The old brick backsplash is being replaced with a gorgeous porcelain tile called Pietra D’Assisi. The tile is in variegated hues of Mocha with glass and stone tile accents. A Keruing wood floor from ProSource WholeSale Floorcoverings was selected to replace the old kitchen floor and extend into the dining room as well. The walls will be Sherwin Williams Mexican Sand, with trim done in Biscuit.

With most of the room done in medium earth tones, the room could afford a few dramatic accents. Black appliances from Appliance Center will add an updated appearance, and provide visual anchors that can help create the appearance of a larger space.

You can also follow Amy’s side of the story through her own blog — gotta love the title — My Chaotic Bliss.

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.

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.

Asked how she planned to spend it, Amy admitted, “I wouldn’t let myself think about it during the contest.  I didn’t want to have the disappointment if I didn’t win.”

Instant Celebrities! Amy & Mike were interviewed by local media about their winning video.

No disappointments now, Amy. Time to start planning!

Next: Amy meets with experts from Merillat and KSI to begin planning and design process.