I met with Dr. Henry and Shirley Miller on Thursday August 19 just after lunch. They live in a lovely suburban neighborhood by the college. The house sits solidly in the shelter of mature landscaping.
The Millers welcomed me warmly and ushered me into their kitchen. I could see immediately why they were at a loss with the space. The cabinets were dated – painted in the late 1970s perhaps. Strategically placed images of grapes dangled over the doors gave the room the vague aura of an Italian restaurant. But what works in a commercial setting is not always something easy to live to live with, and I could see that they were ready for a change.
I asked the Millers what they disliked most about the kitchen and Shirley produced her list. She hated the old Formica countertops, her oven wasn’t working, and there was limited space for storage. But at the top of her list were those dreadful cabinets! They were actually sagging in places, the hinges were funky, and the laminate on the doors was peeling apart!
One might think the rest of the house might be equally in need of assistance, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, their formal dining room was something I might expect to see in a design magazine. A fabric ceiling framed a sparkling chandelier. Strategically placed mirrors adorned the upholstered walls while custom designed dressings hung elegantly at the windows. Even the dining chairs were upholstered in a style I can honestly say I’ve never seen before.
After seeing my amazement, Dr. Miller confessed that since they entertain often they had hired a very famous interior decorator from Los Angeles to design the main living spaces of their home. The result was a clever selection of timeless fabrics and colors, custom seating and storage, and custom wall coverings throughout. The overall effect was gorgeous.
Viewing those refined living spaces significantly altered my thoughts about the cabinet style I planned to recommend. I was itching to get started.