Kitchen Paradise

NWC Construction, Nokomis, Fla.

In a nutshell: In addition to the homeowners’ request for plenty of counter space, a bigger and more functional island, improved lighting, and more available seating in their kitchen, they wanted what the remodeler calls a “Nantucket/North Eastern traditional” look with shiplap textures and beam details.

Solutions: NWC Construction used full-access Omega Cabinetry with beaded inset doors, and matched the look with tongue-and-groove boards on the walls and in the coffered ceiling. They used lit glass cabinets with undercabinet lighting to brighten the space, added a second sink on the island, and expanded it to offer seating for three.

One challenge the team faced was placement of the outlets. “Customers can spend up to $100 per square foot on a backsplash,” president Nathan Cross says, “and lots of electrical outlets can ruin the look. That’s why we undermount our plugs whenever possible.” Still, Florida has some of the strictest electrical codes in the country: a plug for every 24 inches on a backsplash. Cross says the code is meant to deter use of extension cords—a potential fire hazard and all-around eyesore.

Four kitchen outlets are visible; five more are mounted to underside of the upper cabinets, with wiring hidden behind a thin false bottom secured with finish screws for easy removal. 

An additional finishing touch was applied to the backsplash outlets: a wood ogee reveal, which was then painted white to match the cabinetry.

See the full list of winning entries here.