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A Masterpiece in Abstrakt White
Careful planning and strict attention to detail paid off in an extraordinary way in the [kitchen] that Jack built
After spending a year living in Sweden during the 1980's, Jack Wiercinski fell in love with the IKEA concept and clean, modern design. Twenty-six years later, at home in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, Jack set about designing an IKEA kitchen - his second in 15 years. This time around he conceived, designed and built a modern masterpiece in Abstrakt White.
Jack is a bit of a renaissance man; by day he manages a technology group in an IT department of a large corporation, but he also has a passion for architecture and an interest in interior design. Armed with a good eye and uncommon discipline and strategic planning skills, he undertook a complete gut and renovation of his space. Aided by his design-wise daughter and bolstered by the collective wisdom and knowledge of the IKEAFANS community he not only designed the kitchen - he also modified and customized many elements, even drawing detailed schematics for custom fabrications to suit his specific needs. Aside from the design, he also put in sweat equity - he planned to do at least 40% DIY.
"I want a modern and
open kitchen; the Zen
principles of balance,
harmony and simplicity
are important to me" Prior to beginning any work Jack took care to develop a list of project objectives, also known as a Mission Statement. This served to refine his vision and to define the requirements for both the aesthetics and the functional needs. The exercise also set down the limits and expectations for the amount of time, money and labor involved. Having this on paper and held firmly in mind while designing, selecting elements, and implementing the plans facilitated decision making at those points when time was at a premium and the pressure to make choices was high.
When thinking about the feeling he wanted to evoke in his design, he wrote, "I want a modern and open kitchen; the Zen principles of balance, harmony and simplicity are important to me". He also knew that he preferred strong color and wanted high contrast between the floor and the cabinets. By having clear principles by which to abide, Jack was able to achieve a sublime balance of light and dark, glossy and matte, earth and air. More...
[BREAK=A Masterpiece in Abstrakt White - Page 2 of 4]
There were also many measurable goals to achieve through the renovation. Jack wanted to remove the "popcorn" ceiling from the kitchen, remove an existing wall to open the kitchen to the adjacent room and create a seating area for spectators and the occasional light meal. He also wanted to buy all new appliances and remove all wall cabinets in favor of open shelving to achieve a light, airy feel to the kitchen.
The result is a stunning
example of well-executed
design; a dead ringer for
an expensive Italian kitchen
but on a modest budget.
Using Google's free Sketchup software allowed Jack to not only arrange the cabinets and appliances, but also to fully visualize the space. He created the custom elements such as the paneled "chimney" which provides a strong vertical element and an enclosure for the refrigerator. It also serves a functional purpose - it houses the electrical conduit that powers the many lighting options available in the two rooms. Using the tools and options within Sketchup, he was able to view his kitchen from any angle ... [Read More]
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