Sister Helps Family Member in Need Get a Dream Kitchen

Homeowner Donna knew it was time to remodel her kitchen when the dishwasher flooded and ruined her flooring. She and her sister, Irene, had been trying to avoid it with rising prices in the remodeling industry, but once the dishwasher broke, it was time to get it done. As an avid chef and baker, she wanted a space that could accommodate her specific needs, but she also needed her sisters' help designing it because she is partially blind. 

Getting started, Irene researched and looked through many resources, but couldn’t find anything that would provide insight on how to design a kitchen for someone who is blind. At this point she took on the difficult task herself and started asking her sister questions while studying where Donna liked to keep her kitchen supplies.  

Irene said, “I didn’t know much about vision-impaired design elements. I tried to do some research and reach out to resources, but didn’t get much of a response. So, I started designing based on what she told me, and we worked through the vision related items as we went.” 

Donna and Irene decided everything with plumbing, gas, and electric needed to stay in the same place. However, they discussed removing the wall that leads to the dining room so they could enlarge the kitchen, but Donna loved her dining room too much to give it up.  

Eventually after coming up with the layout on their own, they found CliqStudios. Designer Kathy Zimmerman came into the picture with helpful advice, resources, and multiple ways to maximize the space. When the time came to order samples, choosing colors proved to be a little difficult.  

Irene talked about the Craftsman line Berkeley sample chips, “The color of the cabinets did play into her vision issue. The cream cabinets were supposed to be white. When I showed my sister the sample, she couldn’t see it (too much white gives her white-out and she has no vision). So, we had to go with a more creamy color (Divinity). It still worked well with the blue (Gale) and the flooring.”