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The Luxury Kitchen Remodel

If custom cabinetry, built-in refrigeration and a La Cornue range are all must-haves, you're talking high style and the price tag that goes with it. This kitchen is for real cooks. It would be a shame to be surrounded by all this gorgeous stuff and not use it.

A $100,000-plus kitchen remodel might include: 

1. A total rework of the space. Just as with the mid- to upper-range kitchen, don't be surprised if everything, including the kitchen sink, gets moved, which means new plumbing, electrical, air ducts and so on. Often, you are gutting the space and starting from scratch.

2. Architectural consistency. A tall ceiling with breadboard finish, crown moldings, leaded glass windows, authentic baseboard and casing, plus other architectural details ensure that the kitchen space will visually connect with and feel like a part of the rest of the house after the remodeling is done.

3. Rich materials and accessories. Wood floors, stone counters, a chandelier and an Oriental rug will all contribute to the high-end style and elegance you're after.

4. Custom cabinetry throughout. Well-made, well-crafted and beautifully finished cabinetry in custom sizes will make your kitchen uniquely yours.

5. A stove and hood that a French chef would be proud of. Sure it's the cost of a small (or even a large) BMW, but why not? This stove by La Cornue, hand assembled and custom built to an owner's specification, has style, beauty and function all in one. 

6. Stone mosaic backsplash. Reinforce the special nature of the cooking area with a backsplash that draws attention to it.

7. Furniture style. From the tablelike island to the feet on the sink base, these details let you know that the cabinetry doesn't have to look like cabinetry. Of course, we still want all of the accessories that make the cabinetry efficient, but that's on the inside. So let's make the exterior appropriate to the style and age of the surrounding house.

8. Built-in appliances that hide behind wood doors. Custom wood panels that match the cabinetry conceal the bigger appliances.

9. Beautiful details. A farmhouse-style sink and a faucet that looks as if it could have been original to the house all add to the period charm. And the edge of the stone counter makes for an elegant top. 

Of course you'll pay more for these details and the high-quality plumbing fixtures, but that cost will ensure the remodeled kitchen is not only a joy to use, but a visual treat as well.