02 Nov Bright Kitchen Remodel that Adds Tons of Space

At Down2Earth Interior Design, we love homes — all homes — but there’s something about older homes that make our hearts all aflutter. We love their charm and uniqueness and embrace the challenges they present. This home was built in 1909 and while it’s a private residence today, it was originally built as a store selling dry goods and trimmings. The homeowners called us because their foursquare home had a lot of small rooms but lacked a kitchen area large enough for their family of five. There was also no space in the home convenient for entertaining friends and family. They wanted a functional kitchen, an entertaining space and a cozy living area, all in one.

Photo by Rebecca McAlpin.

Where do we begin a kitchen renovation project?

As always, our process began with floor plan drawings.

Before and after kitchen plans.

Removing walls and combining the original kitchen with a pantry area and an extra room at the front of the house transformed the space.

The sill height of tall windows was raised accommodate a wide row of kitchen cabinetry and the large, open space became flooded with light.

Photo by Rebecca McAlpin.

Functional zones create a functional kitchen;

One of our go-to interior design strategies for kitchens is to set up zones. In this case, a refrigerator and pantry wall, a microwave and coffee station, an 11′ island for casual family dinners or for entertaining large crowds, and a seating area with swivel chairs allowing for conversations in the kitchen or for quiet moments enjoying the view outside.

All photos by Rebecca McAlpin.

Honoring the history of the home:

Floating shelves and floor to ceiling subway tile hearkened back to the home’s general store history. Original wainscotting along a portion of the wall was extended to the full length of the room.

Photo by Rebecca McAlpin.

Lightening up the kitchen:

The home’s former kitchen was dim and dark and though it included our homeowners’ favorite color, green, it wasn’t a functional or an inviting space to be in. Altering the shade of green and pairing it with white quartz countertops and white subway tiles felt fresh and clean. Wood floating shelves and a walnut island broke up the green and white. A strip of wood along the kitchen hood unified it all and added contrast and interest. Accents of brass in the lighting, stools and decor brought shimmer to the space and bounced around the light.

Photo by Rebecca McAlpin.

Interested in bringing beauty, functionality and personality into your home? Tell us more, via our Client Contact Form!