The kitchen is the heart of every home within which the aromas of good food mingle with the laughter of family and friends. From preparing family meals to entertaining, the functionality and design of your kitchen is one of your home’s most important features. Moments in the kitchen crystallize into cherished memories. Moments worth savoring. With a Buckingham Group kitchen such moments can become everyday events.

Easter is much more than a time for egg hunts and chocolate bunnies. In addition to its religious significance, Easter celebrates hope and new growth, the promise of warmer temperatures, and family. The focus differs from one household to another, but honored traditions and casual fun share top billing. Easter ushers in a renewal of mind and spirit, and spring celebrates a return to warmer temperatures, natural beauty and more time spent outdoors.

Custom cedar shutters by Timberlane Wood Crafters surround the Windsor divided light replacement windows on this whole home remodel. Fixed Rogue Valley true divided light French doors finish out two walls of the sun room. Craneboard foam backed vinyl siding provides added insulation and unifies the front, sides and rear of the home.

Background

It didn’t happen suddenly over a cup of coffee or while reading the newspaper. Over a period of time, our clients had come to the conclusion that their existing home no longer fit their needs. It was time to make a hard decision, one that would involve thousands of dollars, should they stay or go? For over a year, they had gone through the normal and frustrating process of looking for a home that would accommodate their vision. After inspecting a variety of homes and the options they presented, our clients came to the conclusion that they would remodel their existing home. Initial factors influencing the decision were the home’s prime location and its proximity to their places of employment. Pushing the decision over-the-top was the unique and irreplaceable topography of their heavily wooded rear yard, which contained a crystal clear stream flowing through a rocky ravine.

There is little doubt that celebrating in the company of family and good friends is what makes the holidays special. But if your home in Tulsa felt a little cramped this season, you may have looked upon the festivities as a kind of mixed blessing. Whether your home is considered the hub of neighborhood activities throughout the year, or it qualifies as "Grandma's house" from Thanksgiving through New Year's, if it's not designed to handle a crowd, your holidays can become less than happy.

It's not too early to begin planning for next year's celebrations. Gaining space doesn't necessarily have to mean a new addition.

A wall separating the kitchen and family room was removed creating a combined space that would become the focus of family activities within the home. The ceiling of the family room was raised from 8’ to 10’ taking advantage of unused attic space. The traditional brick fireplace was replaced with a Cross Cut Travertine fireplace surround. Pella windows were added for additional light.

A hand cut limestone arch supports a standing seam copper roof creating a focal point for this exterior remodel.

Our client, like most of us, had focused their attention for upgrading and home remodeling on its interior. Over a series of several years, their design daydreams had stimulated and provided the impetus for contracting for a new kitchen, powder room and master bathroom. Complementing these major projects were new furniture and paint throughout. As the husband contemplated retirement, there was one thing that still bothered them. It was the exterior of their home which was still locked in the 80’s. They wanted a home whose exterior would make them beam with satisfaction as they entered their driveway.