Usable Space

Although she loves to cook, spending time in her dark, inefficient kitchen was always something of a chore for Springdale resident Debbie Fiser. When she contacted Tracy Lund of Kitchen Distributors in Fayetteville about new countertops, the project quickly grew into something more. “Before we got finished we'd completely gutted the downstairs and moved every single utility connection,” Debbie says.

Most important in the kitchen renovation was making it more user-friendly for Debbie and her daughter, who enjoy cooking together. “The space did not function at all for someone who really cooks,” Tracy says. Now they each have their own side of the room for prep work, with the oven and cook top in the center. “Her side is also the baking station,” Debbie says, “so she can make a batch of cookies while I do dinner cleanup.” The white Brookhaven cabinetry conceals a multitude of supplies, from the pop-up shelf for the stand mixer to racks for spices, oils and cleaning supplies. “We really planned every inch of this kitchen,” Tracy says.

The kitchen's soapstone countertops were originally chosen for their durability—they don't scratch, stain or burn—but their sleek appearance blends perfectly with the room's overall aesthetic. “I wanted a very clean look, and Tracy says that I never met a white kitchen that I didn't like,” Debbie says. The all-white cabinetry and veined black soapstone countertops are illuminated by a series of windows added during the renovation. “It's bright in there almost any time of day,” she continues. “It's just a totally happy room.”

Renovating the kitchen proved so dramatic that the entire first floor was reconfigured and de-cluttered, with help from Debbie Lechtenberger of DKL Interiors. “Debbie, Tracy and I would discuss the kitchen, Tracy would put it all on paper, and we'd go from there,” says Debbie. “It was really fun!” Tracy agrees that the collaborative nature of the project was one of its real strengths. “Debbie always had a very positive attitude about the entire thing,” she says, “and that helped everybody work really well together.”

Before the remodel: