As owner of AOK Cabinets & Stone, Kai He has helped many Oahu clients with challenging kitchen redesigns and renovations.
During a recent kitchen renovation in a Mililani home, Kai and the homeowner worked closely together to collaborate on a design. This resulted in the transformation of a cramped, dysfunctional kitchen with inadequate workspace and storage into a culinary artist’s dream.
Maximize small spaces
Like many AOK Cabinets and Stone clients, the Mililani homeowner found the company through enthusiastic word of mouth.
“I helped one of his family members renovate their kitchen and the Mililani homeowner saw it and loved it, and asked them for my contact info,” Kai says. “We got together and figured out how to maximize the space in his kitchen for greatest functionality.”
The old cupboards had been shorter, stopping about a foot from the ceiling — a loss of valuable storage space, and not terribly pleasing aesthetically. A shallow cupboard against one wall didn’t provide much functionality. And, there wasn’t any room for a coffee station!
Bright, sleek, inviting
For the new design, the homeowner selected handsome pure white Shaker cabinets directly from AOK Cabinets & Stone. The upper units extended to the ceiling for maximum storage space and a more pleasing appearance. A larger pantry-style cupboard with modern storage was installed, as well as a deep cabinet over the refrigerator.
From demolition to the homeowner’s final sign-off, the project took about ten days. Kai’s team tore out a section of the kitchen wall that had made the room feel cramped. Its removal created space for an enormous island — one with plenty of drawers and shelves on the kitchen side, and shelves on the side facing the living room. Gorgeous Everest Calacatta, a sleek and inviting marble-like quartz product sold by AOK Cabinets & Stone, was used for the countertops.
“The island adds so much storage workspace,” Kai says. “Two or three people can prepare a meal comfortably in this kitchen, and never get in each other’s way.”
A microwave that took up valuable real estate in a corner of the countertop was replaced with a built-in model over the stove. With gorgeous updated flooring, fixtures and hardware; generous recessed task lighting in the ceiling and under the cabinets; and pendant lights to illuminate the island, the kitchen is bright and inviting.
And, there’s plenty of room for a coffee station.
AOK CABINETS & STONE
Contact
808-888-2898
Address
91-314 Komohana St. Unit 1, Kapolei
Web
aokcabinetstone.com
aokhawaii.com
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