Harriet Dalrymple’s kitchen provides a perfect example of a situation in which we changed and redefined a living space.
Harriet had recently lost her husband before we met, and was understandably devastated by the loss. The two of them had always talked about remodeling their kitchen which they felt was an outdated and dysfunctional. After her husband died, Harriet decided that it was time for change.
Upon our first meeting, we listened to Harriet. What we sensed was that there seemed to be a disconnect between her and the rest of her family when she cooks. This disconnect caused her frustration because cooking was special to her.
As is common in older homes, Harriet’s kitchen was enclosed by four walls, separating the space from the rest of the home. Through active listening, we were able to isolate the root of Harriet’s frustrations. Simply stated, the current kitchen design was competing with her two passions in life: cooking and engaging with family.
Having a grasp on Harriet’s needs, we were able to redefine the space by removing the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. We added an island featuring a flat cook-top facing the living room with a pop-up hood vent. These changes now create an open floor-plan for Harriet to cook in and be with her family. Harriet felt satisfied because we listened and now her home works for her lifestyle.
REMEMBERING OUR DEAR FRIEND HARRIET DALRYMPLE
2/26/1950-4/8/2010
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