Obergfells Turn Home Into More Efficient & Friendly Space

Kathy and Rocky Obergfell, Sidney, have worked for several years to turn their home into a more efficient and friendly space for themselves and their frequent guests. They have added on and reconfigured existing space to suit their taste and needs. Three small bedrooms have been remodeled into two large ones. A significant improvement was the moving of the stairway so it no longer splits the house in half. Obergfells now have a large space for the downstairs family room, plus the other basement rooms are much more user friendly.

With the help of Brenda and Tim Larson and the capable staff of Creative Solutions, Sidney, the former living room and kitchen have been converted into a beautiful, functional kitchen which features commercial appliances and a 14’ granite countertop island which can seat eight people. The countertop features an undermount egranite sink and a small second level which hides electrical outlets and provides a break in the large surface. Underneath is ample storage.

The cabinetry throughout the kitchen is Harvest Cherry stain by Dura Supreme and features the South Haven door style with pillowed edges. The deep cherry is complimented by stainless steel door pulls and the custom molding treatment encloses the cabinets up to the ceiling.

Cabinetry companies are always coming up with new designs to improve their products. Many of their improvements originate at companies like Creative Solutions that offer ideas which will make their customers happier. One innovation is the utensil drawer which has adjustable dividers, perfect for organizing all your cooking tools. The number of dividers can be custom ordered according to individual needs. Under that handy drawer are two pullout drawers of different heights, allowing for more efficient storing of pots and pan.

A beverage bar in the same Harvest Cherry graces the wall leading to the living room. Angled corners provide beauty and prevent sore heads and toes, and knick-knack shelves provide space for special treasures. A built in refrigerator and ice maker make serving easy.

The commercial appliances give Rocky and Kathy, who share cooking duties, the tools they need to create meals for just the two of them, or for the many family gatherings they host throughout the year. One special feature is the raised dishwasher which makes loading and unloading dishes much more comfortable.

Prairie Electric, Savage, installed the lighting in the new kitchen, following the contour of the island with recessed lighting, and installing thin LED lighting under the cabinets. The new LED lights by Kichler Lighting Systems, are truly recessed and do not require extra molding to hide them. They’re also brighter and provide excellent lighting for the cook, no matter what the task. Prairie Electric also installed night lights in the kitchen and down the stairway.

It was important to the Obergfells to purchase as much as they could locally. Olson Plumbing did all the plumbing work, B & J Heating did the heating and air conditioning, and the building materials were purchased from Great Plains Supply and Pro Build, all of Sidney. The flooring was purchased from Chad’s Furniture and laid by Tim Larson and Rocky Obergfell. Buck DeBill, Integrity Builders, did the demolition and then framing of the basement. Kelly Bahls, TNT, did the perfataping. Tim Larson installed the cabinetry and Jesse Thom assisted with the finish work. Creative Solutions provided the custom Dura Supreme Cabinetry as well as the stair rail and the exquisite Rustic Alder doors and trim in the hallway. Larson also designed the closet organizers, creating order in the pantry, the office and the bedroom closets. There are still some finishing touches to be completed, such as the tile back splash on the beverage bar.

Next year, work will shift to the exterior where Obergfells will add a porch with a hidden handicap ramp.