Meet Debbie Hammer of Debbie Hammer Designs, an award-winning certified Kitchen Designer. Celebrating her 30th anniversary in the design business, Debbie couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Over Debbie’s illustrious career there have been many styles and trends that have come and gone, she greatly enjoys being part of an industry that requires life-long learning. She has a passion for innovation and researching up-coming trends. Based in Southern Ontario, her projects take her from Waterloo to Stratford, Woodstock, and surrounding areas. She loves tackling challenges, and finding creative solutions to meet her client’s needs.
As a graduate of Humber College she began her career working for a Kitchen and Bath company. Although she has experienced other areas of Residential and Commercial design, Kitchen and Bath Design has always been her passion, and the focus of her business. Although her business is primarily Kitchen and Bath design, she is available to consult with her clients on their colour and fabric choices for the rest of their home, helping the design flow throughout. Since 2011, Debbie has operated as an independent designer, and has built her business mainly through referrals. Her clients love her collaborative spirit, her ability to incorporate their individual style, and how she really focuses on the functionality of their space. Debbie genuinely enjoys meeting and working with her clients, the favourite part of her job, and this really shows in the relationships she has built.
The process is very focused on planning. These beginning stages are the most important, according to Debbie. Her priority is to learn about her client’s lifestyle and how they use their space. It isn’t until all these practical details are worked out that Debbie will begin planning the aesthetics of the design. A Debbie Hammer design must be a reflection of her client’s personal taste. Her advice is to go with what you like, and not base your choices solely on trends. Debbie is able to take all of this in to account and create a beautiful, contemporary, individualized design for her clients.
The project featured here is the Dance Family Home, just outside of Paris, Ontario. It sits on farm land and has spectacular views of the country side. During the consultation and planning stages, some priorities were clearly laid out; such as the need for more usable space, better traffic flow and a larger island with a lowered breakfast bar. Debbie also wanted to make the use of the space more functional by putting in a banquette, which would be a new feature for the kitchen.
The design of the kitchen features tall upper cabinets, with lovely accent lighting. The cabinetry was the work of Homestead Woodworks, and they did a remarkable job. The Dance Family’s favourite neutral colour, a warm gray, was chosen for the cabinetry. Quartz countertops are continued up the backsplash, creating a continuous look. A Thermador 30” column fridge , and 18” column freezer , is custom paneled like the cabinetry, for a fully integrated look. This helps open up the whole space, and really helps to highlight the Range. This Thermador 48″ Pro Range , featuring 6 burners and two oven cavities, is the showpiece of the kitchen, anchored under a beautiful custom hood. Against the gray cabinets and shiny steel in the range, the striking knobs, faucet and hardware stand out like jewels. Gold hardware and accessories were chosen to warm up the overall look of the kitchen. The Dance family needed better wine storage and chose an 18” Thermador Wine Column. The door is glass, backlighting shining through, putting their collection on display. Putting the Thermador Built-in Microwave Drawer in the lower cabinets helps to illuminate and cluttering of the design.
The island, one of the biggest priorities of the design, was completely re-imagined. Debbie increased the size and added the lowered breakfast bar. The natural wood of the breakfast bar adds warmth to the kitchen; also complimenting the gold accents. The placement of the Beverage Fridge was chosen very carefully. The Dance family wanted to make sure that it was accessible to the breakfast bar, and their guests, without anyone having to venture too far in to the kitchen. This really helps the flow of the kitchen, another priority in the planning stage. A Thermador Masterpiece dishwasher , also custom paneled, blends in seamlessly with the island.
Debbie’s vision of a banquette was realized. The Dance family has benefited from the increased usability of the space, and the comfy space it provides as an additional eating area. The banquette also offers extra storage in the drawers below.
So far the Dance’s favourite thing about their new kitchen has been their large gas Range. They love cooking and have been surprised at how often they use the second oven, a steam oven, daily. They have even been using the Griddle a few times a week.
Debbie did a beautiful job incorporating the Dance’s personal aesthetic into the style of the kitchen, complimenting the design of the rest of the home. Debbie consulted with the Dance’s on the colours and fabrics for their living room, and other areas of the home. This collaboration and teamwork helped to elevate the design and function of the home as a whole, and really is a testament to the way Debbie works with her clients. The end result is a classic, gorgeous home which the Dance family will be able to enjoy for years to come. Well done Debbie!
Debbie Hammer is a member of the NKBA and has been a certified Designer since 1989. To see more of her work please visit her Website < or visit her on Facebook.
Lino Garasto
Lino has worked at TA Appliance for five years. He enjoys working with Builders, through the TA Appliance Builder program as well as with Designers and their clients, through the Trade Partner VIP program. His favourite part of working with his customers is seeing the results of their newly designed kitchens. If you would like to contact Lino you can call him at 519-501-7944 or email him at lgarasto@taappliance.com