Reno Diary: The Kitchen

I cannot wait to show you this before and after. Normally I start with the after, but I just can't resist showing you where we started. This client called me over a year ago to take a look at her master bath. She wanted to give it a facelift. It needed more than a facelift (more on that later), but while I was there, she mentioned her kitchen was completely dysfunctional with all of the angles and lack of storage and asked for suggestions. I simply suggested we gut it. Normally, I go for softer suggestions that don't involve the family relocate for six months, but in this case, there wasn't much to improve -- at least without starting over.

 Notice the window, because that is the only thing you will recognize after this renovation. 

This pantry/laundry room got moved into a new mud room off the garage. We were able to add significant space to a cramped kitchen. 

The kitchen was so closed off and she wanted more of an open floor plan, so we took down the wall to the dining room. I'm not sure she was ready for my answer: "Let's take it down to the studs", but yesterday she told me that she wouldn't change a thing.

Ta Da! 

I told you to notice the window. It is about the only thing that remained! 

 We replaced a sand colored solid surface with beautiful granite. 

Almost every room in this house got a coastal make over. The color scheme throughout changed from gold, burgandy and green to  gray, aqua and pale green. 

The once dark kitchen is now light and bright -- thanks to this show stopper...

The massive island houses tons of storage and workspace.

The inspiration for the space started with this modern sea glass tile. 

I pulled out the blue and painted the island Benjamin Moore "Wyeth Blue" and carried this color palate throughout the house.

The cabinets are a creamy white with a dark glaze to pick up the garnet in the countertops. 

Remember where the refrigerator was before? We opened up the wall with an arched cased opening into the once formal, now comfortable dining room. Have a peek -- I'll show more on that later when it's finished. 

She wanted ample seating for her family of four, so we opted for these swivel stools from Ballard. 

In the original kitchen, the back of the fireplace was covered by unnecessary built-ins. We took them out to open up the area and I wanted to expose the brick. We moved one of her favorite pieces of art to the brick wall -- A massive photo of Wrightsville Beach on a stormy day. I love that it picks of the smokey tones in the tile and the Sea Haze walls. 

Her former breakfast nook is now a comfy spot to spend the morning reading the paper with a cup of coffee. 

I know she just wanted a facelift, but she is thrilled with the outcome and loves her new space. They are settling in comfortably into their old/new home. I can hardly wait to show you the rest. Stay tuned...bye bye birdie...Hooper

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Write by: AN - Thursday, March 14, 2013