Lindquist & Company

With three young children and full-time jobs—both Julie and Lee work as nurse anesthetists—“busy” just begins to describe their household. But they've designed their lives for what's most important.

“The kitchen is the cornerstone of our life. Everyday of every week, we have breakfast and dinner here together,” Lee says while hoisting his toddler son, Seth, in the air. “I can't think of a better memory for a child.”

It's hard to overstate the central role this room plays: From cooking all the holiday meals for extended family to hosting wine gatherings with friends.

“When we have dinner parties, every single one of our friends wants to be right here in our kitchen. This is the place they want to be.”

We've remodeled kitchens in past homes,” Julie says. “We can do a lot. But there were always things we thought about afterwards, wishing we'd done this or that differently. Here, we wanted to do it right the first time.”

Still, they had apprehensions about hiring just anyone to revamp the heart of their home.

“Before we started, I thought this was going to be horrible. I thought it would be over budget and really invasive in our lives.” Lee says. “We really never imagined it could be this good.”

They discovered Lindquist and Company through the recommendations of numerous friends. To get started in the process, the couple pored through a variety of magazines to find examples of what they liked. The house's configuration limited their options, so Lindquist recommended structural changes like removing an exterior doorway, expanding the windows.  By designing a strategically placed partition wall, she created both a walk-in pantry and a new corner “banquette” for family dining.

“In the past, our renovated kitchens looked nice, but functionally they weren't quite right,” Julie says. “Rebecca has tremendous vision. She suggested designs we hadn't thought of, she gave us options and was open to change when we changed our minds. The process was great: the design, the communication back and forth, even the contractor. Not only were they fantastic craftspeople, they were always there for you. They got to be like part of the family.”

Having a process that made things simple and straightforward was key.

“We really appreciated that they were honest and realistic about costs,” Lee says. “So many people we know who've remodeled a kitchen (without the right guidance) end up spending more than they'd planned.” 

To avoid that pitfall, creating an accurate budget is an early, crucial step in the Lindquist process. For instance, after establishing a product wish list, the Harris’s were given three options—at a low, medium and higher end budget - for everything required to complete the space: from cabinetry and appliances to flooring and lighting.  

“Because Lindquist had such a good handle on contractor fees, we also knew the costs for construction ahead of time, which helped us budget better for our wish list,” Lee says.

Some of the Harris favorites:
The stove: “We really wanted that as the centerpiece,” Julie says.

The hot water dispenser: “Rebecca convinced us we should get it, and it's awesome,” Lee says. “Boiling hot in 30 seconds. You can cheat when cooking pasta.”

The Banquette: “We use this all the time: to eat together, to read the paper, to sit and enjoy a glass of wine with friends,” Julie says.

The second oven and pantry: “I think we could go on and on about the things there are 'to die for' in this kitchen,” Lee says.

The single best thing about their new kitchen? 

“It's the family time: Having this space for spending time together,” says Lee, turning to tickle his son's little belly. He also appreciates the process compared to the last time they remodeled. “That was 100 trips to Home Depot. This time...” he says with a grin, holding his hand in the shape of a zero.

Julie, too, is amazed at how easy it was. “They were just always willing to listen and incorporate our ideas. Their attention to detail was incredible, and they took care of things we never would have thought of,” she says. “Now, we have this beautiful, functional space. It's just so easy to spend time here.”