Cooking Up New Beginnings

Through loss and transition, the Ketzers created a bright, open space where family and friends gather to cook, celebrate and heal.

Remodeling a living space is a big undertaking, even under the best circumstances. Plans rarely unfold perfectly; there are often delays, permit hurdles or supply challenges that most homeowners come to expect. For Jill and Lucas Ketzer, however, their remodeling journey began during an especially tender time: the unexpected loss of Jill’s father.

“We were talking about it for years and were finally going to start the process, but my dad passed unexpectedly and I didn’t have the bandwidth to ‘deal’ with the kitchen remodel until I had settled everything related to my dad’s estate,” explains Jill.

Balancing the responsibilities of settling her father’s estate while carrying the weight of loss was no small task. Yet, with patience and determination, Jill found her way forward, turning a season of hardship into an opportunity to create something meaningful and lasting.

“Once I had [the estate] taken care of, we started the ball rolling on the kitchen,” she says. “We did not want the kitchen to be in shambles for the holidays because we love to cook and host.”

With a renewed sense of purpose, the Ketzers began demo work on their existing kitchen, chasing their goal of having their remodel done in time for the holidays.

They have lived in their home in the Green Mountain neighborhood for more than a decade, but had never been happy with the layout of the main living area, says Jill, which consisted of a kitchen, dining room and front room all separated from one another. Jill says they hardly ever use the front room, making it a total waste of space.

“We wanted more storage space, we wanted the kitchen to be bigger, brighter and more open,” says Jill. “We wanted to take the walls down to open the whole level up and make our kitchen bigger. We love to cook and entertain, so we just wanted a better space because we spend so much time in the kitchen.”

The Ketzers enlisted the help of Jacquiline Durant of Caruso Kitchens and got to work revitalizing their living space.

Opening up the home’s main level offered the Ketzers a blank slate. Their home features an impressive garden and greenhouse, and the design of the new kitchen brings that organic vibrancy indoors. A modern take on a farmhouse style, the verdant interior is dotted with house plants, their greenery spilling over floating shelves and complementing the soft green cabinetry.

“I think this style fits well because we like a more simple, rustic aesthetic and I think that the lighter hues of the look, help brighten the kitchen, which we wanted,” says Jill.

Accentuating the organic feel of the remodel are the scallop-patterned backsplashes, which add a distinctive and playful flourish. Vinyl plank flooring gives the feeling of weathered floorboards with much greater resiliency and none of the splinters, a look juxtaposed by the clean, modern practicality of veined quartz countertops. The central island features a dedicated prep station, a sink paired with a built-in butcher block countertop. For added convenience and effortless cleanup, the Monogram Statement fully integrated dishwasher sits just across from the island, perfectly within reach. This combination creates a perfect space for meal prep, while keeping messes contained and cleanup quick and easy.

A central idea behind the remodel was to create an open and comfortable space for friends and family to gather. To support the Ketzers’ love of hosting, the new kitchen features three separate ovens. Beneath the Monogram 36-inch induction cooktop, which features five induction heating elements, the Monogram 30-inch Statement Single Wall Oven is set up to do the bulk of the work. The oven features a sleek LCD control screen and a host of smart features, such as the ability to set cooking times and temperatures simply by scanning the barcode of a packaged food. Additionally, the oven offers no-preheat air frying capability among a wealth of other features.

A secondary Monogram 30-inch Statement five-in-one wall oven offers exceptional flexibility and cooking results, serving as a smaller-capacity option when the larger oven is in use. Enhanced with Advantium® technology, this innovative oven can function as a convection oven, toaster oven, warming/proofing oven, precision cook oven, and microwave, making it a versatile tool for any culinary task. Above it sits the kitchen’s third oven: the Monogram 30-inch Hearth Oven, dedicated specifically to pizzas. “We make a lot of pizzas, and it is, very much, a fun centerpiece for when we entertain,” says Jill. “The first night our ovens were installed, we made pizza in our pizza oven and had friends over.”

After working through the grief of losing her father and the challenge of reimagining the family’s living space, the Ketzers’ kitchen is now a joyous setting for family and community. Jill says she is beyond delighted with how it all turned out. “I still look at the kitchen and can’t believe that it’s mine!” she says. “It just makes me happy!”

Not long after completing the remodel, Jill says the family hosted an 18-person Thanksgiving dinner. On the occasion of that first pizza dinner with friends, the Ketzers popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate, and the cork has been framed and is now part of the kitchen’s decor, says Jill.

Grief may never fully disappear, but it gently makes room for life to grow around it, and the Ketzers’ new kitchen will surely be a place where joy, togetherness, and new memories can flourish.

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At Caruso Kitchen Designs, they are passionate about creating beautiful, functional spaces that truly reflect your unique lifestyle and personal style. Whether your preference leans toward custom or semi-custom cabinetry, they offer a wide selection of traditional, transitional, contemporary, modern and rustic designs for you to see, touch and experience firsthand. Their award-winning team of design professionals is dedicated to guiding you through every stage of your home renovation, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable process. From kitchens and baths to other living areas, with a focus on delivering spaces that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are practical. They take the time to listen to your needs, respect your budget, and adhere to a strict schedule, providing exceptional customer care and attention to detail from the initial consultation to the final installation. carusokitchens.com

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New beginnings