ceramic tile

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  The checkered ceramic tile echoes the color scheme of the cabinets.
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  The counter top on the island is fabricated with stained concrete.
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  The kitchen interior was designed by Dolly Berthelot and custom built to provide additional work space while keeping water views and a style compatible with the original floor plan. Simple custom wood cabinets in the Shaker style use painted pine fronts that simulate the antique beveled heart pine on the porch and upstairs ceiling and in some kitchen area walls.
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  The stair-step kitchen cabinets act as a room divider and provide a view through to the living area.
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  After 13 years of wrestling with a problem kitchen, a late night Eureka led to an entire transformation. The old pine glass-front cupboards had originally flanked the dining entry to the kitchen. The cabinets blocked views and forced foot traffic right through the work area. The couple wanted to keep these antique built-ins (which Ron had refinished), but needed more counter space. Suddenly Dolly realized those two cabinets could shift over to the only solid dining area wall, be pushed together, and solve several problems. The rest was easy.
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  New glass-front kitchen cabinets were designed for easy access from both kitchen and dining areas. This feature benefits the homeowners every day.
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  The French door in the dining room leads to the screened porch and gives a clear dining view of Bayou Texar. The extended new white and black tiled counters multiplied the kitchen work space, provided a serving area, and permitted a handy little cookbook nook, all in a very small space.
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  Both double sash craftsman windows and the attached glass shelves are samples of architectural recycling, a favorite Berthelot tactic. These four windows, which perfectly match others in the bungalow, were salvaged from a cottage being torn down across the street. The shelves were adapted from the energy deficient jalousie windows those windows replace--again, Dolly's brainstorms and Ron's skills. The Empire chair with splashy contemporary upholstery is a Haik family heirloom, from Dolly's maternal Lebanese immigrant grandparents.
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  The door to the kitchen and basement stairs was a window to the outside before the Larcoms added this room in 1947. When the Berthelots purchased 600 Bayou, this room was in shambles, "decorated" with many pieces of mismatched junk paneling and pipes for laundry, and used for storage. After two complete renovations, it's a favorite for relaxing and TV viewing. Open pine rafters, stained dark, offer interest and an ideal place to hang a basket collection. Ron refinished and adapted a damaged antique oak Hoosier cabinet, which holds more collectibles.
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