How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel
Washing mugs in the tub and getting hooked on Pop-Tarts — here’s what to expect if you stay at home during construction

Washing mugs in the tub and getting hooked on Pop-Tarts — here’s what to expect if you stay at home during construction
Because the times shared together in the kitchen make for some great memories. Houzz pieces together some great bar stools for the kitchen island for every price point!
1. Cutting-Edge Cottage
Designer: Susan Fredman of Fredman Design Group, also the homeowner
Location: Union Pier, Michigan
Size: 240 square feet (22.3 square meters); 10 by 24 feet
Homeowners’ request: A classic cottage home made from shipping containers with a kitchen that blends traditional and industrial styles
Special features: Rough-hewn beams, burnished oak cabinetry and wide-plank oak floors that offer earthy counterpoints to the corrugated-steel container walls; metal cabinet for dishware collection; oversize wire chandelier
Why the design works: Steel construction material provides a streamlined aesthetic and
durability, while concrete walls, cedar beams and custom oak cabinetry give the space definition, decorative potency and island seating.
Designer secret: Having professional space-planning skills allowed Fredman to make the most of the 8-foot-wide shipping containers.
Team: Terri Crittenden (architect); John Crittenden (general contractor); Stone’s Throw Builders (builder); Susan Fredman (interior designer); Eric Hausman (photographer)
Cabinets: custom, Fredman Cabinetry; appliances: Sub-Zero and Wolf; all other items via Fredman Design Group and Three 50 West
2. Industrial Revolution
Designer: Laureen Skrivan of Wren & Willow
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Size: 144 square feet (13.4 square meters); 16 by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request: An industrial indoor-outdoor kitchen and entertainment space that preserves the architecture of the 1917 building while introducing modern convenience and design
Special features: Quartersawn oak cabinetry that resembles old meat locker or icebox storage of the early 1800s, with Shaker-Mission-style doors, special chrome hinges and latch-type door pulls; an old industrial work cart found during renovation repurposed as an island with butcher block countertop; garage-style doors to connect the space to the outdoors
Cabinets: custom, Hewitt Cabinets; wall oven: 36-inch with French doors, BlueStar; lights: Rejuvenation; countertop: Carrara marble, 4 centimeters; tile: Spa, Daltile
“Uh-oh” moment: Water sloping into the foundation damaged the back wall to the outdoor space beyond repair. Skrivan came up with the ideas of creating a concrete slope to redirect water to the outside and introducing the garage-style doors.
Splurges and savings: The homeowners splurged on the BlueStar appliances and saved on the shelving system, which Skrivan designed and built with leftover boards from the building and galvanized plumbing material.
Team: Wren & Willow (design and build)