Q&A With Holly Marie Peterson from Lifestyle Kitchen Studio

In case you didn’t know, we’re wrapping up a kitchen renovation with Lifestyle Kitchen Studio in Grand Rapids. I can’t wait to show you the before and afters from our kitchen, and share more about the partners involved. From the start of this project we worked very closely with Holly at Lifestyle Kitchen Studio. Both Cory and I truly appreciated her eye for design and attention to details throughout our kitchen remodel. This Q&A with Holly was so fun to learn more about the design process, and what truly makes Lifestyle Kitchen Studio unique.

How long have you been working at Lifestyle Kitchen Studio?

Growing up, I never thought I would be working in the design industry, but it was naturally a big part of our family’s life. My mother Susan had been a partner of LIfestyle Kitchen & Bath in downtown East Grand Rapids- right around the corner from my high school. I started working with my mother the summer after my freshman year in college while my major was still special education.

The previous fall, Susan became ill from a mosquito bite, similar to West Nile, with lasting effects to her mobility. This illness changed everything for our family and I wanted to support her as she came back to work, as the design studio was now her own- and now Lifestyle Kitchen Studio. After our summer together, I returned to school and changed my major to interior design with a focus on universal design (a design concept that strives to design to all people, regardless of ability, age or other factors) . I later added a minor in construction management, joining the family design studio full time after graduation in 2007.

What should people consider before starting a kitchen remodel?

I ask my clients: Why are we remodeling? Are we remodeling for YOU or are we remodeling for resale? From the design perspective, it is much more fun to design for someone who plans to remain in their home for at least three years, plans to enjoy their kitchen, and personalize the experience. But remodeling with an end goal of top resale value is incredibly worthwhile as well, it just may alter the materials we choose. Just as important: How do you want to experience your kitchen and who do you want to experience it with? Is this kitchen sized to include more than one home chef in the cooking process? An entertaining kitchen? *Pro-tip: You can try, but you can never truly keep people out of the kitchen, so it is better to accept and prepare for sous-chefs and taste-testers.

What services do you offer at Lifestyle Kitchen Studio?

We are a one stop shop for our clients, focusing on the kitchen and bathroom design. We plan and design from start to finish, including, cabinetry, appliances, hardware, countertops, tile, and accessories, as well as design management and jobsite support during installation.

As a designer, how do you get a feel for what your clients are looking for?

Our first step is inviting new clients to our showroom and studio. It is a casual, no pressure meeting face to face. Working with an interior designer can seem intimidating if it’s a process you haven’t been through before. There isn’t a set protocol to the visit, but it is a mutual interview. This is the first time we hear about a client’s home, family, future plans, hobbies, travel, likes, and dislikes; something in our conversation usually makes their eyes light up. We want to capture that feeling for their home. An authentic relationship and the ability to read the client’s reaction to their environment is the difference between creating a beautiful space and a personally beautiful space.

Where do you start in designing a new kitchen?

Each project is (happily!) different, but we start by measuring the home and taking photographs. We take this information back to the studio where we create 3D spaces in our computer programs. We take it down to the walls, noting existing locations and possible obstacles, and then design from scratch. Often times in the process we flip, change and move before we build up again. This may result in a radical change or a simple twist, but all options have been explored, presented with initial selections and pricing. LKS has a step-by-step design process to help guide our clients from start-to-finish in the design process. We realize that we do this every day and for some people, this may be their first and only build project.

How long does the kitchen design process typically take?

It depends on the client. We have some that breeze through our design process and are ready to order within weeks, and others who stop and go over… I think we may have a record of three of four years between some of my favorite clients. In either span of time, you get to know the clients and their families because you are designing for their future. If you design for them over time or over many projects, or for many family members, your design may change as their story does.

What are some things that you try to help a client think through when they’re choosing kitchen materials?

Education of materials is very important. Is a client the type of person that wants things to look pristine and zero upkeep? Are they a type of person where natural and artisan is prized? As a designer, I don’t consider either to be wrong, but would not want an ill-informed client to be disappointed in a product that was hand selected for them. With so many options out there, it is our job to stay educated and present to the client realistic expectations, such as aging, wear, and staining. One client’s patina is another’s ruined island countertop.

What are some popular kitchen design trends right now?

In the home, the mid-century-modern millennial trend is turning into a California coastal vibe. It is softer, and it has color and natural wood tones where the walls seem to bring in the whites.

Color -in general- people aren’t shying away from (yay!). It is interesting how much less shocking a color can feel once it is installed in the cabinetry. As with all design, it is about balance, but with color in cabinetry, it isn’t necessarily shock value.

[Ventilation] Hoods are having a moment. I can go on and on (and usually do) about how unsafe microwave ventilation can be… hello? Pulling something hot down upon yourself?, but hoods of all kinds – hearth, metal, structural and simplistic are really standing out in a beautiful way. It is a conversation that clients are bringing up earlier in the meeting as part of the focal feature they would like to express.

Details: Fine details, woodworking and the visual of how pieces come together. These details have been left out for several years, but are making their way back into all levels of design.

Segmented “zones” in mid-size and large kitchens: with spacing between areas with more of a blocking statement of work zones(cooking zones, multiple prep zones, clean-up). This visual is easily seen in contemporary design, but can also be seen in transitional design as well. It is giving the elements a moment to breathe instead of crowding each other.

If I wanted to increase resale value of my home, what should I add to my kitchen?

If we are designing for resale, we look at the house, consider budget, timeline, and what will help the home sell. This is not a time to personalize, but still add some features to make the kitchen stand out: appliances, neutral cabinetry, removing existing bulkheads (drywall blocked from the ceiling to the top of the cabinets), and clean, proportioned hardware make a statement. Lighting is a great way to make a kitchen stand out without over-investing, but create a big impact.

What makes Lifestyle Kitchen Studio unique?

We are one hundred percent family owned and operated. My mother, Susan, has been in the industry for more than thirty years and still designs part time. My husband Tory and I have taken over as lead designers and my sister Kristina runs the office. Our design assistant Kelly is our only non-relative on staff, but is like part of the family. We offer each other feedback and collaborate on projects in a way that only family can. We are honest, hyper communicative, and passionate about our work because we all see it as our family’s legacy that we are honored to share with our clients.

What do you love most about your job?

I love that no two days are the same. Kitchen design is our foundation- it is detailed, engineered, and diverse. I am also hired for small commercial projects and other residential spaces, as well as collaboration projects with interior designers I admire. I am constantly learning from my industry friends, and the studio stays current with education, industry shows around the country and seeking out new product finds daily. To be an interior designer – especially a kitchen designer – is to be part engineer/best friend/problem solver/educator. You are definitely part of a team.

What do you love most about Grand Rapids?

I love being downtown with so much change happening. Susan opened her first design studio downtown in an office across from the Amway Plaza. My sister and I felt like Eloise and we thought everyone had a green velvet lobby as their playground. When we moved LKS back downtown to the Lyon stone cottage on Fulton seven years ago, it was a big change, but it also felt right. There is no place I would rather be to grow with our city.

You can learn more about renovating our kitchen in this blog post about the design and the before photos.