Marc and Deb Welch, of Sioux Falls, S.D., in their Refreshed kitchen. The Welches selected Kitchen Refresh four times for four projects for their home: First for a kitchen remodel, then for a basement bar remodel, then for the remodel of 3 bathrooms and, finally, for a replacement of the kitchen island.

Kitchen Refresh being selected four times – yes, FOUR times - by one client doesn't happen by accident.

2019: Kitchen

When Marc and Deb Welch from the greater Sioux Falls area needed a kitchen remodel in 2019, Kitchen Refresh was at the top of their list. In fact, they were so convinced that Kitchen Refresh Sioux Falls was the right solution, that Kitchen Refresh was the only kitchen contractor on their list.

More than just white

Before we dive into the Welch’s projects, this is an opportune time to share the diversity of our finish options.

Nationally - across all markets and among any kitchen remodeler - white kitchen cabinets remain the most popular finish, so Kitchen Refresh will often get asked if white finishes are all we have. It’s only because they are the most popular finish that they end up being featured the most because they represent the majority of kitchens. But tastes vary by the individual and we are able to work with each kitchen remodel client to bring them a final look they are seeking that fits their tastes and preferences.

For the Welch’s, their farmhouse flair design enabled us to provide an excellent diversity from among our non-white finishes that fit the various spaces of their home as well as their tastes: our Ember finish, our Black Ash finish, our Tete-e-Tete finish and our Skye finish. Check out our finish options here.

Note the dark ember finish selected for the NEW cabinet doors and drawer fronts with the Refresh transformation. The dark finish was an excellent choice to provide contrast to the existing flooring as well as the existing countertops whereas before the transformation the cabinets were a dated, light finish and the doors were a dated arched style with exposed hinges. The final photo shows the space rounded out with the client’s decor restored to their locations.

2021: Basement Bar; 2022: 3 baths + Kitchen Island

After the beautiful results and pleasant experience with their kitchen remodel, a transformation of the Welch’s basement bar was completed by Kitchen Refresh next in 2021, and now in 2022, three bathrooms were on their Refresh list AND a kitchen island upgrade.

Because Kitchen Refresh works with a client's existing cabinets – although cabinet additions, deletions and modifications also work well with the Kitchen Refresh process – homeowners can save up to 75 percent versus custom and semi-custom cabinets. It's that cost savings behind the frequent reason savvy individuals first choose Kitchen Refresh.

For the Welches, this high savings was the same motivation that compelled them to initially choose Kitchen Refresh, too.

Here you see the after photo (left) of the bar area with our dark Black Ash finish which provides a stronger statement in the space and also coordinates better with the existing flooring, wall finish, countertop and backsplash. In the before photo, the muted, lighter wood tone of the cabinet gets “lost” among the other muted tones of the space.

Affordability: The initial motivation

“Yes, the lower cost approach was the main factor for originally choosing Kitchen Refresh,” Deb shared. “We knew we didn't need to gut our kitchen, we just wanted to do refacing.”

But they were quick to share the lower cost didn't compromise the results.

“We really liked how it all turned out,” Deb said. “And so did our friends, family and neighbors. There was no compromise in the attractive results.”

Transparent Pricing

Marc shared they were also extremely pleased with the estimate and invoicing process – seeing the itemized estimate up front and knowing the full cost up front. “We were really happy there weren't any hidden costs,” he said.

Painting doors? Not a durable option

Deb said they did originally look at painting as an option, but quickly changed their mind after looking at the Kitchen Refresh products and process: The superiority of custom manufacturing all new doors (with concealed soft-close hinges) and all new drawer fronts with a durable Thermofoil coating, much stronger than paint.

“We chose Kitchen Refresh instead of painting because we wanted that durability,” Deb said, making for a far superior result that doesn't chip and wear away on the doors and drawer fronts like paint so easily does.”

Although cost was an original motivator for choosing Kitchen Refresh, Marc said there is now also a long list of other factors they both really liked after experiencing the Refresh process: “There was no tear out, there was minimal mess, and it was completed in a such timely manner.”

Our bold Black Ash was again used in the master bathroom as shown at left here. While the prior cabinet setup was also dark, you can see the original doors and drawer fronts, right, were “tired” from years of use and needing updating.

Kitchen stays intact

Deb, too, liked that with Kitchen Refresh, their kitchen stayed intact and usable up until the day of installation, and all of their items stayed in the cabinet boxes, only the items in the drawers needed to be removed.

“That was a big factor for us,” she said. “We have an in-home business, so minimizing the downtime for us was especially important – the Kitchen Refresh process has been so pleasant and convenient.”

Adding to that list, Marc said the doors made from a single piece of engineered wood and with their smooth Thermofoil coating are much easier to maintain than a typical 5-piece door with all its nooks and crannies. “They are easy to clean, low maintenance, and the concealed, soft-close hinges are some of the 'little things' we really appreciate about the Kitchen Refresh products.”

The Welches found the Refresh of their bar, three bathrooms and island were also the same experience.

“We chose Kitchen Refresh for those other spaces for all the same reasons we had before: There was no need for a tear out - except the island upgrade, there was minimal mess, and the variety of styles, finishes, and enhancements offered great selection options,” Deb said.

Counting the benefits

Choosing Kitchen Refresh again for a third and fourth time, they are able to now tick off a list of the benefits of their decision. “With Kitchen Refresh, they are a time-saver, there is no mess, and the lower cost all make them an appealing choice,” Marc said. “It is truly excellent results and we recommend them to others.”

The kitchen island went through two Refresh iterations. The weathered woodtone version (left) - in our Skye finish - was the final look which also included a partial wall removal, where an entirely new island cabinet box was installed and decked out with our new doors, drawer fronts and panel ends. Prior to that an existing island - that was adjoined to a partial wall - had been part of the kitchen’s transformation completed in our Ember finish (center), and prior to that was the dark gray-black (far right) original cabinet with a more plain, builder grade appearance.

Notes from the designer

Chuck and Jennifer Limoges, owner operators of the Kitchen Refresh of Sioux Falls Territory, provided the Refresh services to the Welches.

Jennifer said after the initial design consultation with the Welches and seeing their home, it was quickly determined that warm tone finishes were going to be a great fit, and the durability of Kitchen Refresh finishes was going to be important to them for their in-home business.

“Our Ember finish was selected for their kitchen to complement the farmhouse flair and warm tones in the home as well as to work well with the existing flooring,” Jennifer said. “Black Ash was selected for the basement bar, and later for the master bathroom, too, for its rich feel and to complement the warm tones of those spaces.”

Later, additional work was done in the kitchen, installing a larger island and using our Skye finish on that to add contrast to the Ember finish of the perimeter cabinets, and then also completing the hall and basement bathrooms in our Tete-e-Tete finish, which worked well with the existing flooring.

Jennifer added that she often looks at the pull hardware as the “artwork” of the cabinetry, and to accomplish that with the kitchen she selected the Prairie pulls in oil rubbed bronze finish. “The Prairie handles also have a pop of chrome on the ends to say, ‘Hi, I’m here,” Jennifer added.

For the master bath, Dusty Trail hardware pulls in golden champagne were selected for a rich look, and then for the hall and basement bathrooms Stream hardware in brushed tin were utilized for a chunky and bold feel since the cabinets only had a few pieces of hardware to show off.

Being selected four times for four separate projects also wasn’t lost on Jennifer, either.

“Being called by Deb and Marc for four different projects to complete every piece of cabinetry within their home is truly a testament that the Kitchen Refresh product is durable and great quality while delivering a beautiful and affordable result,” Jennifer said.