When Gail Vinje's husband wanted a new Viking range in their kitchen, she knew it wasn't going to work. A change was definitely necessary to fit a large, high-end range into the space. It was just the impetus to get Gail and her husband thinking about remodeling.

Because Gail is in the mortgage industry, she knows many people in the building/remodeling business. She has known Jeff Danberry, of the Danberry Company, for fifteen years and they've worked on many projects together over the years. She chose the Danberry Company for many reasons; it is a small enough company that you deal directly with Jeff, it is a large enough company that they can handle a large project like hers, and previous clients of Jeff's have all been happy with his work and in their dealings with the Danberry Company. With that decision made it was time to start thinking about how to fit that new range into their kitchen.

After many ideas were tossed around, the final decision was chosen for its very creative use of space. An new eat-in counter was extended into the current porch attached to the kitchen. Sometimes it's necessary to think out of the box. Also, the kitchen was bumped out about 4-5 feet. These two changes provided all the space they needed to make everything work.

Jeff recommends that clients first choose their appliances and the design should be created around them. The client then gets what they want and it isn't necessary to re-design as much later in the process. Next he has clients choose their cabinets, door styles, and colors. It helps to have photos from magazines showing exactly what you want to avoid confusion. Jeff's company has a cabinet maker with a wide range of knives that can be used to cut the many different styles his clients may be seeking. He will have a sample cabinet made for clients to see before cutting the rest. For very specific designs, a special knife can be made for an additional cost of around one thousand dollars. Generally people find what they want without this extra step.

"Gail's kitchen isn't huge, but it still works," says Jeff. "It has a good design of working spaces. I try to group food preparation items together, like the stove, the refrigerator and storage cart in one area, while the sink, the dishes, and the dishwasher are together in another area. It is important to have an expert help with a kitchen design so everything will flow well in the end."

After years of experience with people Jeff also advises, "It isn't always necessary to spend tens of thousands of dollars on plans with an architect. Often times on smaller projects we are able to use a draftsman to do a blueprint of what the homeowner wants, and then we tweak that as we go along. It is inevitable that there will be changes made to the plans along the way. Using a draftsman can save a lot of money on this type of project. Try to be open and flexible, allowing for changes as you go through the process." Jeff goes on to say, "Choose a builder you are comfortable with and one you trust to guide you through the process."

Gail likes to decorate and did a lot herself, but she and Jeff agree that it's important to use an interior designer. "I could make the majority of the choices myself, but it's important to be sure you're doing the right thing and that everything is going to pull together in the end. They have a knowledge base that the average person doesn't have. It really helps with the end result," says Gail.

When asked about her favorite part of the kitchen Gail hesitated for a second. It is clear she is really happy with the entire project. She then answers, "I really like the glass cabinet between the kitchen and the porch. It not only opens things up, but the light coming through is beautiful, especially when the sun is setting. I also like the 4" cove molding, and the inset cabinet doors with European hinges. That coupled with the hardware reminds my husband and me of the 1920s homes we grew up in. It feels like home."