Issue link: https://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/1501374
Model Remodel has a knack for great open-plan kitchens with style to spare. Established in 2002, the Seattle-based design-build company has twenty-plus years of experience in whole-house remodels and an impressive roster of accolades, including several REX/T-REX Awards. To learn more about what goes into these culinary spaces and how they fit into the rest of the home, I interviewed Lead Designer Cat Schmidt and Designer Morgan Bishop. They had a lot to tell me about the work, but more importantly, the value kitchens and dining spaces bring to our lives. Cat Schmidt starts off by giving me the lay of the land. "We rarely take on a kitchen remodel without additional work since most of our clients are looking for whole-house improvements. We work with 30 clients a year with different needs and project scopes. At least a quarter of these include a kitchen." Getting the kitchen right is a big part of making a house a home. As Cat explains, kitchens aren't just about cooking; they're about creating emotional connections. "The kitchen is the heart of the home and a place of comfort. From one generation to the next, we spend time with our family and friends in these spaces. We make food together, learn from each other, swap recipes, tell secrets, and even plan our futures. It's the one place that feels familiar to us in every home." With this in mind, Model Remodel guides their clients towards "features that are beautiful, functional, and stand the test of time." Getting kitchens right is about more than simply having a space to cook. They need to be aesthetically appealing, so people want to spend time in them. And they need to actually work. Designer Morgan Bishop says that a functional kitchen should keep visitors and children out of the cook's way while packing plenty of counterspace. "This means providing room and pathways for guests, ideally at eye level with the cook." This lets the host engage with visitors while maintaining the sanctity of the cooking space, with guests naturally assembling in the open area. Model Remodel and the Heart of the Home We make food together, learn from each other, swap recipes, tell secrets, and even plan our futures [in the kitchen]. It's the one place that feels familiar to us in every home. CAT SCHMIDT, Model Remodel PHOTO: CINDY APPLE PHOTOGRAPHY 14 master BUILDER | SUMMER 2023