Transitional
Kitchen Renovation
The renovation focused on the kitchen and dining room areas of the home, but changed the flow and function of the entire living space. Removing walls to create open concept living was the equivalent to adding square footage to the structure. The dark, cluttered and dated oak U-shaped kitchen was replaced with a fresh white painted L-shape configuration, which features a large charcoal center island and showcases a custom White Oak Rangehood.
mixing the old with the new
When designing to renovate a portion of an existing space, the styling of the remainder of the home, client's lifestyle and how the space will function are the key components to consider. With this renovation the existing yellow oak floor were staying throughout the home and was a major consideration to the design especially when opening up the space to function as one. By adding touches of warm oak in the design of the new space, mixed with the light airness of the white cabinetry and contrasting charcoal island, it married the old with the new creating a seamless approach to the design.
before
The previous kitchen and dining room was sectioned off and away from the rest of the living space. The dated oak cabinets with a large overhanging bulkhead and low level lighting left the kitchen very dark, uniform and feeling heavy.
The island was an attempt to provide additional counter top space but the U-shaped cabinetry design did not allow adequate space for traffic flow, therefore the kitchen was cramped and congested in critical areas around the appliances.
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The footprint of the dining room was originally a good size. But with so many openings, an in-swinging door to the patio and it being an enclosed space, there wasn't much room to navigate around the large table.
thinking outside the box
The kitchen, dining room were previously separated from the living area which left the large footprint of this home feeling small and crowded.
before
The planning process is a critical step with a major renovation or new build, especially when it involves the redesign of the kitchen. There are many moving parts that have to come together in this particular area of the home to bring the design together. With removing two major walls, the pre-planning for the locations of the appliances, electrical, plumbing, cabinetry layout and the finishes are key to ensuring a smooth process from start to finish.
From the creation of the proposed space in a 2D floor plan to 3D rendering, it enabled the homeowner to visually see and understand the changes and design proposed before the start of the construction process. Having a visual tool to see the new space with the proposed layout and finishes, provided the homeowner with the confidence to make critical decisions with much more ease.
the transition of a space
Standing back to look at this finished space, it is hard to remember the heaviness of the oak cabinets and the division of the spaces. The layout of the kitchen was changed to an open plan space with an L-shaped kitchen, which then allowed room for a large island with seating. Relocating the appliances made the working space of the kitchen much more efficient and provided better flow to the space.
The kitchen, dining room were previously separated from the living area which left the large footprint of this home feeling small and crowded.
before
Behind the cabinetry doors every space was utilized for organization and function. Pullout drawers with organizers for spices, cutlery, utensils and cooking sheets were top on the list. Pullout shelves in the pantry and corner unit brings items to you with ease and a double pullout recycling unit tucks the garbage out of sight. Divisions within the drawers provide better organization and a place for everything
From the handles on the cabinets to the accent on the light fixtures, there are touches of warm champagne bronze repeated throughout the space. It adds a touch of elegance while also keeping with the traditional gold door hardware still existing throughout the home.
Layers of lighting were added to transition, at the touch of a finger, from bright task lighting for prepping and cooking to a soft warm light for dining and entertaining. With all the changes that we made throughout, the once not so inviting space is now warm and welcoming from the first step inside the door,
Cabinetry by: Elite Kitchens + Design
Construction by: LKS Construction
Design by: Krista Lyn Vaters Interior Design Studio