FRANKLIN JOHN KAKIES INTERIOR DESIGN

My wife and I wanted to put new life into our 1926 Midtown Sacramento home and chose the kitchen as a major step in bringing back the old charm of homes built in the early 1900’s. In 2014 my then fiancé retained Franklin Kakies to redesign her bathroom, and after it was done she told him that the elegant 1920s style bathroom had made the kitchen jealous. When we set our wedding date we of course engaged with Franklin to design that new kitchen for us. From our initial discussions, I knew we had someone very attuned to maintaining a period look but providing for modern conveniences not available in the 20’s. Franklin has a particularly focused affinity for replicating the elegant look of the past while keeping attention to maintaining form and function in an active room like a kitchen. We talked concepts, desires and personal preferences and from that Franklin created a number of beautiful hand-drawn plans and elevations that began to give life to a space badly in need of a positive infusion of creativity and fresh beauty. His detailed elevations transformed a warren of small rooms remodeled in the late 1940s into the kitchen of our dreams. Keeping with the 1920’s period, the cabinets and drawers have a Shaker design but with the modern feature of self-closing with a slight push. A restored 1928 Wedgewood gas stove looks as if it just came off the assembly line and is fully functional. What appears to be a 1920’s pearl-white ice box is just an outer conceit for a Sub-Zero refrigerator and two drawer freezer. Next to a wide and extra deep sink are what looks to be some drawers and a bin for pots. Pulling the top handle reveals a Bosch dishwasher. Countertops are honed black granite which is complemented by a rich red Marmoleum floor with black perimeter striping. Lighting fixtures throughout are all to period yet all provide dimmer capability to create any lighting tones desired. A beautiful island with under-cabinets and a zinc top allow for workspace and simple dining from stools. All of this was made possible due to meticulous attention to detail and period, both of which are Franklin’s forte and calling card. Another strength of Franklin’s is the ability to diplomatically “ride herd” on the contractors to assure correctness and timely completion of the project. Our new kitchen is an exquisite masterpiece thanks to his designing genius.

Franklin imagineered and drafted the most beautiful Craftsman / Arts & Crafts Period fence for our 1906 Delta Type Foursquare. Although our city's preservation director insisted we build an iron fence instead of the wood and brick fence Franklin designed, his is the fence we wish could have been built; grand without being ostentatious, and in harmony with our home's square lines, columns, and porch features. Franklin is a joy to work with, and a perfectionist in the nicest sense of the word. His creativity is infinite, and his drafting skills are impeccable. Franklin also does an amazing job restoring antiques (I have two other reviews of restorations he has done for me to follow this review).

I am a two-time client of Franklin Kakies.....which says something right there! Our first project was a remodel of a dreadful, small bathroom in my 1920's Craftsman Bungalow. .Dreadful was transformed into a delightful, period appropriate (as closely as possible without being overly rigid) room that pleases me today as much as it did when it was first finished. Our current project is a remodel of another dreadful room, the kitchen. The goal, again, is aiming for period appropriate appropriateness as much as possible, without being slavish about it. Franklin and I started working together following a casual conversation in an antique plumbing store about 1920's bathrooms. His fund of knowledge and expertise quickly became apparent. I asked him if he would be willing to take a look at my bathroom and the rest is history. Other key qualities including impeccable taste, creativity, boldness, enthusiasm,perseverance, attention to detail, energy, professionalism, candor, humor and the ability to nudge gently quickly became evident. Come to think of it, I don't think I can recall him ever getting discouraged when plans hit an unexpected difficulty. Rather, it's far more typical that he'll shrug, pause a moment, then say "Well, we'll just find a different way!" And he does!

Franklin has been a delight to work with on our new/old house. As I'd lived in this family house once before some thirty or so years ago, I didn't want it to look like it did the last time and worried that, left to my own devices, I'd arrange the furniture in the same old dull way. Enter Franklin... He took my family things and gave everything a new twist, and added in some wonderful new elements. He has relationships with several fine craftspeople for custom touches. When we held an open house recently our friends were pleasantly stunned by the transformation of a house my family has owned for close to 100 years.