Kitchen Remodel Revitalizes Suburban Naperville Home

When it was built in 1993, John and Kristina Boytim’s home was the showplace of Naperville’s Stonebridge subdivision. But twelve years later when the Boytim family took ownership, the former model home’s kitchen looked outdated.

When it was built in 1993, John and Kristina Boytim’s home was the showplace of Naperville’s Stonebridge subdivision. But twelve years later when the Boytim family took ownership, the former model home’s kitchen looked outdated.

Although the Boytim’s original kitchen had sufficient floor space, the design wasn’t working. In addition to the kitchen’s outdated look, there were other issues: A window framing a floodlit view filled a corner and blocked out space for wall cabinets. Two doorways led to the dining room: one stared directly into the kitchen and the dirty dishes. Both stood in the way of wall space.

Gail Drury, CMKBD, and president of Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio finds that most kitchen designs in suburban homes have a 10-15 year lifespan unless the design and materials were custom at the outset. “Renovating a kitchen with a client-focused design revitalizes the entire home,” Drury observes. “Homeowners call us when their cabinets don’t function well any longer, they move into a kitchen that doesn’t fit their lifestyle, or they want to build out and expand their kitchen’s functionality.”

Asked about the changes from before to after in they Boytim’s project, Drury said, “The biggest one was closing off the corner window in the kitchen. Kristina wanted the limestone hood to be the focal point so we built the design around the hearth.”

How does an upscale kitchen makeover pay off? In homeowner satisfaction, of course, but much of the investment is recouped as well. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2006 Cost vs. Value report, an upscale kitchen remodel for a 220-square-foot-kitchen in Chic ago averaged $117,881. Homeowners recoup 84.7% of their investment at the time of sale.

After considering several options, including having John, a professional contractor, manage the project, the Boytims discovered Gail Drury had designed several of the kitchens in the Stonebridge subdivision. “When we found Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio, we were looking for somebody who wasn’t just trying to sell cabinets but was interested in listening to my ideas and learning about our family’s lifestyle,” Boytim said. “Gail’s portfolio of work is impressive. A trip to the studio convinced us that Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio was the design center for us.