When Dale Scheizel-Witmer told her husband, Glenn, that it was time to redo their kitchen, his only comment was, “I can’t believe you waited this long.” Their Lancaster home was built in the 1970s, and the kitchen was stuck in the same era. So when the homeowners returned from vacation last year to find their kitchen ceiling falling down due to a leak, it was clear that Dale had been right: it was definitely time.
Dale Scheizel-Witmer had plenty of ideas for the remodel. Actually, she had so many ideas, the project became overwhelming. A friend recommended Sherry Smith, founder of Design Elements, Ltd. (www.designelementsltd.com). Scheizel-Witmer clicked “Contact Us” on Smith’s website, and the project should have stalled there, since Smith was in the hospital. But Smith is not one to shirk her duties, and nothing, not even a ruptured appendix, stops her from checking her email.
She forwarded Scheizel-Witmer a lifestyle survey. “It asks things like where you like to eat and where you like to shop,” explains Smith. “But the most important question is, ‘What brings you joy?’” Smith gathered ideas, and soon the two of them were scoping out countertops, lighting fixtures, and more.
“Sherry didn’t even blink at my wanting to be really involved,” relates Scheizel-Witmer, who planned on moving in five years. Her choices considered prospective buyers, but also her own evolving taste. “I was very influenced by my traditional family, nice Victorian stuff. I’ve changed in that I see the beauty in simplicity, nice straight lines, and a more streamlined look.”
“Dale had wonderful ideas, and my job was to pull that vision together for her.”
Of course, Smith’s job entailed a lot more than that, but she’s more likely to pass praise off to her vendors. “Wynwood was just incredible in taking my ideas and making them work,” she says of the custom work they did. The result? Downy white cabinets extending up to the ceiling, starring a trio of lead-glass diamond revealers.
Value vs. Splurge
Smith says most people think they can’t afford custom cabinetry. “That’s not always the case,” she explains. “This bid came in right around those for manufactured cabinets. And by customizing, we were able to satisfy the homeowners’ desires.”
“Sherry had this way of knowing when choosing something more expensive would really pay off or when we could go with a bargain,” says Scheizel-Witmer. Appliances were a package deal, while a splurge involved a custom island. Value-priced teardrop lighting became a focal point, as did the glitzy backsplash border. Everything, even the dated peach tile floor they had to work around, was harmonized to create a design showcase.
What Stays and What Goes?
Since the homeowners were happy with the current workflow, appliances were replaced in the same locations. Smith recommended removing the existing peninsula and creating a new seven-foot island, reorienting it to greatly expand the kitchen area. This inspired Scheizel-Witmer to suggest a lightbulb-shaped table/island.
She says, “What was so wonderful was that the granite has the same color as the floor, as well as dark charcoals and light grays; the veining is really beautiful. I just love it.”
The table combines beauty and function, seating up to six people, making it easy to entertain. The seating flexibility helps, since church groups meet in the home, and Scheizel-Witmer’s hospitality- like her tortellini, tomato, and brussels sprout and potato and leek soups- tends to draw people in. “We have this space where friends and family can enjoy each other and help with the cooking, too.”
For the table portion of the island, Smith chose criss-cross stools to echo the cabinets’ diamond motif and recommended two different fabrics. Scheizel-Witmer recovered the stools and made pillows for the adjoining room, weaving the theme into that room as well.
The contrasting fabrics are just one of the surprises Smith likes to incorporate. Another is the dramatic note of the metallic grey sink, which offers a striking contrast to the marbled ivory countertops. Adding function are self-closing drawers and a desk, while elongated handles on several cabinets tie them visually to those on the stainless steel appliances.
The Sparkle Factor
Bling was incorporated with glittery mosaic tile that bisects the backsplash tile. Scheizel-Witmer’s grandchildren always comment on how their grandmother, “Bebe,” accessorizes herself with sparkling jewelry and bright clothing. Looking at her new kitchen, they say she’s “Bebe-fied” it.
Smith describes the new look as “a fusion of different styles that falls under the umbrella of transitional. It incorporates their traditional style, but yet it’s pumped up with some wow factors, a few ‘a-ha’ moments, and contemporary, modern elements. What we have now is a fresh palette that incorporates everything the homeowner loves.
Resources:
Kitchen fabrication and installation: Custom (Wynwood, Lancaster, www.wynwoodfinecabinetry.com)
Granite island: Ivory Fantasy (Natural Stoneworks, Lancaster, www.naturalstoneworks.com)
4”x 4” ceramic tile on backsplash: Tuscany Vermillia and blended clay/glass mosaic (Natural Stoneworks, Lancaster)
Appliances: GE Stainless Steel (Martin Appliance, Quarryville, www.martinsappliance.com)
Pendant lighting: Kichler 14” Clear Glass (Angerstein’s, Wilmington, DE, www.angersteins.com)
Knobs & pulls: Schaub & Co. Positano Pull (www.coolknobsandpulls.com)
Delta pull-down faucet and sink: Blanco Diamond Metallic Grey Silver (Hajoca, Lancaster, www.hajocalancaster.com)
Paint: Sherwin Williams, Downy, SW7002 (on cabinets)
About the deisgner:
Sherry Smith is founder of Design Elements, Ltd., an interior design company that services the Susquehanna Valley.
By Cindy Kalinoski / Photography by Nate Brubaker