The goal was to have a functional party kitchen, but not so formal that people would not be comfortable.
N.J. Home Makeover is a new feature on NJ.com. To submit your renovation for consideration, email home@starledger.com with your full name, email address, phone number and town/city. Attach "before" and "after" photos of what you renovated.
Nick and Sandy Karis always had so many people in the kitchen of' their Hillborough home.
On weeknights, five of their son's friends -- "adopted sons" -- would often stay for dinner. On holidays, their extended family would linger there for the couple's company and Nick's cooking.
"I'm Greek and all Greeks have to learn how to cook before they learn how to ride a bike," Karis jokes, sharing that he worked in his father's diner and deli before becoming king of his home kitchen. "When I'm in the kitchen, the rest of the world, I don't care what happens."
With that spirit, he had managed to feed many despite the cramped working area of what had been a 170-square-foot-kitchen in the 1974 split-level Colonial that has been their home for 31 years. But when he bumped into a guest on New Year's Day in 2009 and dropped a pan of eggplant parmesan that was coming out of the oven, he knew it would be a year of change.
"The kitchen was no longer able to handle the size and frequency of our entertaining," he said. So, the couple began to plan for an expansion, fueled by the knowledge that their only son would soon be married and that there would be more celebrations.
"We were really pushing to get this kitchen done for what we call the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" party, he said, recalling the 2002 movie. And the kitchen was completed in time for what turned out to be three days of festivities, including the wedding day. The couple hosted the rehearsal dinner before the wedding and a what Karis called a Greek feast for about 100 guests the Sunday after.
"That's the Greek way, Karis said. "It's more than just eating. The kitchen is where we get together and talk about what happened."
The renovation
The new Karis kitchen is guest friendly with an additional 463 square feet of space that is largely room for gathering. Beyond the kitchen work area, there's what some would consider a family room. "It's really more than a kitchen, but it's all a kitchen, Karis says. A floor border, created with a colored stain coordinates with the cherry wood cabinetry and runs around the room's perimeter to help unify it.
The double oven lets him slow roast the turkey in a lower oven and rotate side dishes in the top. They splurged on a Viking oven with grill and griddle surfaces, and there are two dishwasher drawers hidden behind cabinet fronts to help ease after-party cleanup.
"Our goal was to have a functional party kitchen, but not so formal that people can't be comfortable," Karis said.
He credits Bridgewater architect Mark Yarrington with designing a harmonious addition. "One of his talents is being able to add on to a house and make it look like it was built there originally." The kitchen has a work area, wet bar, sitting area and eating alcove, he said. "It's sectioned off not only by function and the way it's decorated, we have three separate ceilings."
The ceiling for the addition matches the lower original ceiling in some areas, while soaring higher for a cathedral effect over the seating area.
The kitchen's design centerpiece is an alcove with an octagonal tray ceiling and five windows that look out on lush wooded greenery. Nearby, the French doors that help brighten the room open onto a deck with outdoor seating. "I had the deck built so my wife and I could sit out there to have cocktails in the evening and coffee in the morning," Karis said. Their property merges with open space that's protected under the state's Green Acres program.
Their occupations
Nick is an executive medical recruiter and Sandy is retired.
Who did the work?
The architect was Mark Yarrington, the contractor was Matt Larew of Larew Contracting. The cabinets were built by Knight Kitchens of Vermont.
How they found the pros they used
The couple networked with friends and family, went to see other projects that had been done by those they were considering, and talked to their previous customers. "As far as the contractor, I wanted someone who would personally do the work and only call specialists when needed," Nick Karis said. "
How long it took
Four months, from July to October 2009
How much it cost
$141,000
Where they splurged
On the Viking cook top with a grill and griddle, two dish washer drawers and pot filler faucet over the cooktop.
How they saved
By researching the products and contractors they selected. "All of the appliances were purchased from the same store," said Nick Karis, who was able to bargain for volume pricing by buying that way.
If they had it to do over
"I would have done the project a lot sooner. We basically renovated all the bathrooms and many other things in the house and did the kitchen last."
Kimberly L. Jackson may be reached at home@starledger.com. Find NJ.com Entertainment on Facebook.