Dresner, President of Progressive Design Group in Royal Oak, MI, had done work for these clients before and his unique approach to design appealed to their hands off “let’s see what you can come up with” attitude toward hiring a designer.

While most designers start by consulting with their clients to see what they want before going to the drafting board and plotting out ideas, Dresner takes stock of the space with his own preferences in mind. He concedes it's a unique way to do business, but he says, it definitely doesn't leave the client out of the loop. For this project, Dresner spent several early morning hours in his client’s home, thinking about how he would most like to see the space. Then, he drew up his ideas and presented them. For Dresner, that's the perfect time for collaboration; both parties have a chance to modify the plans and choose specific cabinetry, fixtures, and other elements. This client, who expected clean contemporary style in a highly functional kitchen, was thrilled with the results.

"Before, this kitchen was unusable," he said. "Now, everything’s accessible. We have more storage space [the cabinetry rises 10 feet] than we know what to do with, and it's really become the focal point of our loft."

For Dresner, who designs with one word: “wow" guiding his creativity, that's the point. He wants people to enter this home and just be blown away by the beauty of the kitchen. He's not encumbered by impressions of what makes a perfect "work triangle" or "what's hot right now." Dresner's use of high end products creates a contemporary style that defies the dated look trendy or low-end items often acquire. Just look at the before picture, white cabinets and a black, grey and white color scheme made the whole loft feel like a 1980s time capsule.

Dresner started by clearing out the entire space and having everything painted neutral. Then, he got rid of the old flooring and put in a maple and limestone pair that created warmth and harmonized with the natural light that poured into the space. They installed granite counter tops and a high backsplash along the back wall, meeting cabinetry from Berloni’s Ladoga collection. The Ladoga doors are veneered in European Cherry and striped with aluminum lacquer etching. The extra detail of the striping pairs well with the stainless steel Viking refrigerator, Dacor range and Fischer dishwasher. And intermittent use of the glass option from the Ladoga collection, matte acidated glass doors with aluminum frames, lighted from within, creates depth and breaks up the space.

Let in light, exchange cabinetry for clutter and make the most of the space you have. In this loft, these simple rules, guided by style and a knack for creating a “wow” result, left Dresner’s happy clients with great appliances, gorgeous cabinetry, plenty of surface space and a smart layout, all in a kitchen they love to use.

	Are you a designer? Send us your story!