Remodeling an Outmoded Kitchen

Incorporating wish-list accessories and funtionality was important to both Jertberg and his wife - Jertberg's big items were a sizeable stainless steel range, John Boos & Co. end-grain butcher block cutting board and a stainless steel backsplash. After photos by Gail Owens Photography

Jeff Jertberg, co-owner of VanBerg Construction and his wife were unhappy with many things in their kitchen: the crumbling grout in the tile-on-Formica countertops made cleaning impossible, and the wood-on-wood glides sawed each other and left sawdust in the cabinets and drawers. Having only one light near the sink added to the cleaning woes.

There was nothing in the space worth salvaging from the homeowners' vantage point. Jertberg was anxious to get remodeling ideas for the kitchen layout from his designer, who did not live in the space everyday and could see it with fresh eyes. The team decided to gut the space and start from scratch.

More cabinets and drawers combined with a credenza anchored by two pantries add storage. The new kitchen also boasts top-end appliances, textured black granite countertops and zoned lighting programmed for both tasks and moods. Jertberg is most pleased with the balance between technically superior appliances and earth-friendly choices that complement the home's style.

"My cabinets are quarter-sawn white oak that are true to the craftsman roots, but the drawer glides are high-tech and soft close. The flooring is linoleum, made from linseed oil that is true to the era of the home, feels better on the feet and is a green choice, but the dishwasher is whisper-quiet," he notes. Jertberg completed his approximately 215-square-foot kitchen in six months.

"My home is in an older neighborhood that is filled with craftsman homes, and that is one of the things I love about my neighborhood. I always consider how well what I am doing fits the spirit of the era of the home," Jertberg says. "I am not, however, a slave to historical accuracy, and it was important that with something like the countertops, for example, that I had elements that were interesting and different.

"My intention with the aesthetic was to use woods and stay true to the craftsmanship and to echo the area without being slave to historic preservation."

Gutting an outmoded kitchen reflected the home's architecture while accommodating the owners' love and skill for cooking