Kitchen & Bath
Room for All
Whether a private cooking session for two or an open kitchen for more, this lakeside kitchen can handle it.
BY
Holly Worthy
PHOTOGRAPHY
Matt Kocourek

Click Images to View at Full-Size

When Larry and Judy Merriman first met, cooking together was a favorite pastime. But the couple’s passion soon outgrew the 1970s-era kitchen, and they found it difficult for one person to operate in there, let alone both of them together. “It just was not functional,” Judy says of the 9-foot by 11-foot space.

The Merrimans wanted a simple design with a “craftsman’s touch.” Jim Brooks, a contractor with a flair for creating special spaces, and Larry, a hobbyist carpenter and builder, collaborated to execute a kitchen fit for flow, functionality and entertaining. Lynn Waldrop, an Illinois designer and Judy’s sister, drew up the plans.

Because many lake houses are built with the majority of the rooms on the back facing the water, the structural wall of a guest room was removed and replaced with a steel beam. Electrical and plumbing were updated.

While the work was underway, the Merrimans continued to stay in the house. “We moved the range into Larry’s work room,” Judy says with a laugh.

The couple’s everyday presence allowed them to see the progress and give constant input, which Jim appreciated. “It’s the only way to give them what they really want,” he explains.

And the couple did get exactly what they wanted. Cherry cabinetry and flooring create a warm and inviting space. Much to Judy’s pleasure, every bit of space is utilized efficiently, and a large granite island, the kitchen’s focal point, allowed Larry and Jim to put a custom touch into the room with a hand-bent edge and special stainless steel inlays. Most important, the Merrimans are able to enjoy a panoramic view of the lake. “We love that there is literally no place in the kitchen in which you can’t see the water,” Judy says.

The space also was updated with a few green features. Both sinks are fitted with an on-demand water heater that produces hot water only when the faucets are running. Scraps of copper from the former electrical wires were reused in other applications.

With their new kitchen, the Merrimans are now able to entertain with ease. On Memorial Day, Judy’s family members — all 36 of them — traveled from Illinois to celebrate the holiday on the lake. “There were seven people cooking in the kitchen at once,” she says. And as for the couple cooking together? It hasn’t happened yet, but they’re looking forward to getting back to one of the activities they most enjoy.

Resources

Concept Design/Construction Management: Jim Brooks Construction Services
Structural Engineer: Norton & Schmidt
Kitchen Designer: Lynn Waldrop (Belleville, IL)
Cabinet Supplier: S & K Cabinetry, Wellborn Cabinet Co.
Interior Designer: Holwick Designs
Windows: Pella Products of Kansas City
Custom Interior Doors: Earthwoods
Trim Installation: Jim Brooks & Larry Merriman
Drywall: Wallboard Specialties
Paint: Sherwin-Williams
Painting & Wood Finishing: Matteson Painting
Countertops: Midland Marble
Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance
Hardware: Locks & Pulls
Tile Supplier: Sunderland Brothers
Tile Installer: Artistic Tile
Hardwood Flooring: Floor Decor
Masonry: Jim Brooks & Larry Merriman
Plumbing Fixtures: Dorfman Plumbing
Light Fixtures: Design Lighting, WAC brand
Undercabinet Lighting: Juno Trac 12
Electrical Panel: DG Electrical Services
Stainless Steel Panels on Island: Gieske Sheet Metal Fabricators
Copper Roof on Eyebrow at Patio: Brendon Merriman Roofing
Ipe Exterior Window Trim: Jim Brooks & Larry Merriman