Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, family, hobbies, or anything you’d like to share! 

“I am the co-owner of Latitude 33 Design & Construction, an Atlanta-based home remodeling company specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring. Born with a foot in two worlds, I spent my childhood between the sandy beaches of El Salvador and the heartland of the United States.

Throughout my life, I have drawn inspiration from my diverse surroundings, finding beauty in even the simplest of settings. My interests are as varied as my background; I cherish time with my family, have a soft spot for animals, and eagerly explore the latest trends in home design.

At the core of my work is a deep commitment to family values. At Latitude 33, a business I run with my husband, Carlos, this commitment translates into transforming houses into homes where families can thrive, create lasting memories, and build their futures. ” 

How long have you been a designer? How long have you been designing with Mantra?

“I have been designing professionally since 2018, building on my initial career in the building materials industry, which began in 2008 as a salesperson for Oldcastle. Latitude 33 was born from this experience, and to better bring my visions to life and serve my clients, I invested in sharpening my design skills and am completely self-taught. In 2023, Latitude 33 added the Mantra Cabinets line and became a trusted Mantra dealer. My clients appreciate Mantra’s offering of high-quality, affordable cabinets, which has enabled me to consistently deliver exceptional design choices. ” 

What are some of your favorite features of Mantra cabinets?

“I particularly value Mantra’s  range of styles and finishes, which enable me to tailor designs precisely to my clients’ preferences and needs. This flexibility ensures that each project reflects the unique tastes and personalities of those I work with. ”

Mantra Cabinets offers three best-selling door styles and six on-trend finishes. Explore these styles here!

Tell us about this particular kitchen design. What was the customer looking for? Were there any obstacles you had to overcome?

“For this project, my client sought a complete redesign following a kitchen leak that resulted in significant damage. With full creative freedom granted by the client, I focused on ensuring the new design not only restored functionality but also reflected the client’s personality and seamlessly integrated with the rest of their home.” 

“The main challenge was the necessity to demolish a wall to achieve an open concept layout between the living room and kitchen. This decision posed obstacles, particularly concerning reduced wall space for cabinets and storage. To overcome this, I strategically closed off a doorway leading to the dining room, thereby freeing up additional wall space where I could install the beautiful Mantra cabinets.” 

“Demolition work of this nature always carries risks, but our team’s expertise ensured a smooth execution. Ultimately, the client was delighted with the transformation of their kitchen space, which now harmonizes beautifully with the overall aesthetic and functional needs of their home.”

Do you have any design tips or tricks that you’d like to share?  

“One of my favorite design techniques is to avoid using the same color for cabinets throughout a space. Instead, I enjoy mixing different wood tones with varied paint choices. This approach incorporates a blend of textures and tones, creating a visually dynamic and multi-dimensional environment. It adds depth and interest to the space, making it feel vibrant and inviting.” 

What are some of the biggest design challenges you have faced?

“One of my most significant design challenges revolves around working with very small spaces. It’s crucial to create a design that not only accommodates all the modern appliances people desire, such as air fryers and espresso machines, but also ensures the kitchen remains both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. Achieving this balance is what I consider the hallmark of a true designer kitchen.” 

To learn more about Mantra Cabinets, visit our website and to find an experienced Designer, visit our Dealer Locator today!

The post From Kitchen Leak to Chic: Mantra Kitchen Designer’s Stunning Transformation appeared first on MasterBrand Design Blog.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, family, hobbies, anything you’d like to share! 

I come from a very large family based in Colorado, filled with a wide variety of big personalities and a surprising amount of creative professionals. Being raised to be extremely independent, we all have different interests and live all over the US as well as internationally. My design work has been partly influenced by my family, with careers including photography, furniture design, wood working, metal work, glass work, and the business-side of the home décor and furniture industry.

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Missouri, where I had the great opportunity to play around with varying mediums like oil painting, pottery, jewelry design, photography, graphic design, print-making, and some very fun scuba adventures that fed my love for the ocean. My path led me to San Diego, where I have lived for nine years and started my career and life with my husband and our two dogs. In my free time, we love taking boat rides, relaxing with family, traveling when we can, having fun experimenting with my art, and I’m a major sucker for a vineyard. We have a love/hate relationship with remodeling the home we bought two years ago, and as any homeowners know, it is an endless stream of projects. Getting to put our personal style into the home is so rewarding, and gives me an opportunity to test out design elements that I don’t always have the opportunity to do with my clients.

How long have you been a designer? How long have you been designing with Mantra?

I have been a kitchen and bath designer for almost five years, and have been designing with Mantra since 2020.

What are some of your favorite features of Mantra?

By sticking to the basics and keeping low lead times, Mantra has allowed us to fulfill the needs of many different clients whose projects required more of their budget to be allocated to construction. I also really appreciate that the brand takes current trends into consideration when expanding the color palette.

We really loved how you made the Mantra Cabinets look so high-end! Can you tell me more about this design? What did the client want to achieve in this space that she didn’t have previously?

First of all, thank you! This client wanted to open the kitchen to the living and dining rooms to make sure they can keep their toddler within eyesight while working in the kitchen. Adding in as much countertop space as possible so that she can bake, and have seating at the island were must-haves as well. They were extremely easy clients to work with and like most, just wanted a better use of the space overall.

The previous kitchen was completely walled in and cut off from the main living areas. They now have three access points to the kitchen and easy walkways from the front bedrooms to the back bedrooms.

Taking out a structural wall left us with a necessary post. Integrating it into the island and building the cabinets around it allowed for the island to stretch to the edges of the space and eliminate the need for extra flooring transitions.

Do you have any design tips or tricks that you’d like to share?

Seeing a layout from a bird’s eye view in our design program is where most of my layout problems are solved. Don’t be afraid to close a window or doorway and open one in another spot if the current layout is prohibiting the design from making sense. The beauty of using an online program is that it allows me to play around with my ideas and see what feels right before presenting my ideas to clients. Having a program that integrates with our cabinet lines is such a time saver as well as a peace of mind that what we are designing, is actually available to order.

Mantra’s website has an interactive Kitchen Visualizer Tool that we highly recommend navigating during your research phase. Experimenting with cabinet color, room materials, and layouts gives a 3-D perspective to anyone who needs that extra visual aid.

What are some of the biggest design challenges you have faced?

My biggest design challenges are also my favorite – reconfiguring a space when the flow doesn’t work for my clients is a fun puzzle to work out. I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to move entire kitchens to other rooms in clients’ homes, reverse the master-suite layout in a 1920s home that opened into the middle of a kitchen, build pantries into unused bay window corners, and in most projects the need to maximize storage and function within the existing space is a high priority.

In this particular home renovation, Sarah used Mantra’s Omni door style with a Painted Mineral finish name combination. This classic shaker’s timeless simplicity and clean lines make it a versatile and enduring choice, seamlessly complementing any space with its understated elegance while providing a canvas for a variety of design styles. The Mineral finish is a mid-tone gray and is popular in kitchen designs for its ability to strike a perfect balance, offering a modern and sophisticated aesthetic while simultaneously concealing everyday wear and tear, making it a practical and stylish choice for a timeless kitchen.

For homeowners wanting to start a project of their own, what steps should they consider?

For a homeowner, finding the right contractor and designer for your project is number one. I am extremely blessed to work at a Design/Build company that has designers, like myself, on staff and has built an exceptional reputation in San Diego with 37 years in the business. When starting a kitchen renovation, a wishlist vs must-haves is important to establish the priorities of each client. Compiling a collection of images is also very helpful for us to get on the same page with the design. Check out Mantra’s Inspiration Gallery here!

When making our material selections, we will either start with the cabinetry or the flooring, then move on to countertops, tile, and finishing touches. Most clients have a good idea of what they envision for their space but often surprise themselves by selecting materials they didn’t expect to like until they see them in person. Seeing physical samples of all material selections and full slabs of stone is vital for this reason. When it comes to kitchen layouts, I will typically draft two floorplans. One that is based on the ideas that the client had in mind, and a bonus one with a layout they may have never considered possible. The end result is usually a collaboration of both the designer’s and the homeowner’s vision.

We also urge our clients to prepare a space in the home as a temporary kitchen while the remodel is in progress to help maintain sanity and some routine. Remodeling is a moving target and while some clients have completed one before, most will be experiencing major construction for the first time. We do our best to communicate what to expect throughout the process and always check in with the client to make sure that the work being done is something that they will love for decades to come.

To learn more about Mantra Cabinets, visit our website and to find an experienced Designer, visit our Dealer Locator today!

The post Artistic Flair Meets Practical Kitchen Design appeared first on MasterBrand Design Blog.