Time to update preparing, cooking, baking, eating area

Ken and Deb Lasher acknowledged they were not getting any younger.

Neither was their kitchen.

When their refrigerator stopped working, the Morningside couple decided it was time to update their preparing, cooking, baking and eating area.

"We had talked about remodeling prior to the refrigerator breaking down," Deb Lasher said. "Once that happened, we moved up our planning dramatically."

They were practically forced into refurbishing as other things seemed to no longer work in the kitchen following the refrigerator's demise.

"It just seemed like nothing was handy anymore or nothing was comfortable for me," Lasher said.

The decision was made to pull out all the stops, including the drywall in the kitchen and start from the floorboards up.

"I started to research kitchens at the large retail home improvement stores to get some ideas," Lasher explained. "I also went online."

That's where she discovered Bryan Wise of Le Mars, Iowa, who calls himself the Kitchen Design Guy.

"I contacted Bryan and he came out and did measurements and talked to us about what we wanted," Lasher said.

Thus, began the collaboration on the modest kitchen area, measuring about 18 feet long by 12 feet wide. Like most women, Lasher wanted more storage, more counter space.

"We had soffits above the original cabinets, wasted space literally," she pointed out. "Now, the cabinets reach to the ceiling and we even added a floor-to-ceiling pantry with several cabinets and drawers."

The cabinets from Heartwood Cabinetry in Le Mars are oak, stained in a medium brown, with silver hardware. The drawers have dovetailed corners made of hardwood with full extension drawer guides and soft close features.

"It's just so handy," Lasher said, demonstrating the gliding in and out. "It's particularly great where I have my pots and pans, so I no longer have to creep and crawl on a knee and dig to get something out."

The Lashers wanted to be creative in having the space reflect their lifestyle -- empty nesters with grandchildren who visit.

"We considered granite," Deb admitted. "But for a tenth of the cost, we decided to go with a Wilson HD laminate and I love it. I'd say the new countertops were the best part of the kitchen. Before we had two-inch ceramic tile with grout for countertops. It was very hard to keep clean and very impractical."

Counter space was freed up when the microwave was moved off the counter and installed on a wall. The Lashers decided to go with stainless steel appliances.

"I had white and it was dated," Deb said. "I'm so glad we went with the stainless steel."

Most of the colors are rich in tone, but the backsplash has brighter browns and ivories.

"That was deliberate," Deb confessed. "I like bling and I wanted that backsplash to sparkle. It does!"

The floor has an unusual checkered pattern in various tones of light brown.

"That was another conscious choice," Deb noted. "We went with a laminate on the floor," rather than wood or tile.

The focal point of the kitchen is a rectangular island, complete with drawers and cabinets, and two chairs.

"I wanted an island for more counter space," Deb said. "But what I really like is Brian made wheels for the island so it can be moved anyplace. And because he remembered I like bling, he found wheels that look like crystals."

The large patio doors that open out onto a deck provide natural light, but on cloudy days, the kitchen is illuminated with recessed lights which add to the comfort of the cozy area.

An interesting addition, found at Lowe's, is a retractable fan inside an overhead light with clear ceiling blades.

"This is way fun," Deb said, demonstrating how the fan works with a remote. "And, because it retracts when it's not running, you don't have to dust it."

The finished product with a fresh, modern look, which took about two months from choice to completion, provides the Lashers with easy movement around the kitchen to reach storage, food preparation, cooking and eating.

"I'm within 10 feet or less of everything in the kitchen," Deb said, as she walked from sink to counter to stove to island. "I like to bake and Ken likes to cook, so this has really suited us well."