Kitchen Remodel
Adding windows, knocking down walls, and extending our kitchen space
My husband built our home while he was still a bachelor. At 26 years old, I’m sure that he didn’t give much thought to the layout or function of his kitchen. From the time I moved in I always knew I wanted to get my hands on the space to make it a cozy place that we could both enjoy and grow with. After the birth of our first child, it became very clear to me that we were lacking so many things in our kitchen space. I had VERY limited storage and always felt disconnected when I was cooking or preparing meals for my family. The range oven was positioned so that my back was always to the living room, there was no seating and certainly no room for it. After a long day at work, my husband would come in and sit on the kitchen floor so we could talk and hang out while he played with the dog. The cabinets were dark, the tile was dated, and there was very little natural light even on the brightest days. I always struggled to find a way to store things - often I would find myself lugging scarcely used items and small appliances into the basement so I had room for the essentials. Working for a kitchen design firm (Kitchen Cove Design Studio), I would dream daily of a light and airy space. One that would make me feel happy while also giving me the storage and function that I desperately needed with two very young children at home. I would watch others renovate and build their dream spaces daily which didn’t become hard until I became a mom myself and my storage needs exploded.
After designing the space and picturing it for over a year, I finally got the OK from my husband, Travis, to move ahead with the project. I don’t think he understood the disruption this would cause in our lives but I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. So in the spring of 2019, we hired his uncle, Danny Doucette, to help us with the renovations and I watched anxiously as my design dreams came to life! We knocked down a couple of walls and extended the kitchen space a few feet which gave us an opportunity to incorporate two seats at a peninsula end. The range was moved so I could now see into my living room while I prepared meals and also be close enough to chat with whomever was seated at our peninsula. I expanded our kitchen window dramatically and added an additional window to the right of our range. I cannot tell you what a dramatic difference that made alone.
Now when I cook, I can easily see into my backyard to watch the boys play while feeling connected to what is happening in the living area.
There was at one time a wall here that began right where my vent hood ends. Taking the wall out and adding this window really made the whole design. I often sit here and drink my coffee while watching the boys play on their swing set in our backyard. After so many years of a closed-off space, this alone feels like a true luxury.
In my previous kitchen, I had all of my small appliances sitting on the counter. There really was no other place to put them and like most of us, we used them daily. My toaster, mixer, coffee maker, paper towel holder, etc. were all just sitting there. I really hated it. I hated hiding cords and trying to make them look tidy. I knew that when I was able to renovate, I wanted everything to have it’s own spot. I thought about this often as I designed the space.
Instead of a typical wall cabinet, I decided the best thing for me was to use wall cabinets that extend all the way down to the countertop. This is a standard offering from Crystal Cabinets who was our cabinet manufacturer. I was sure to add outlets in all of them so I could hide my small appliances inside. When I want to use them, I simply open the door and go to town. There are a few things like our mixer and blender that require us to pull them out slightly which really isn’t a big deal for us. I love that when I am done, the clutter goes away behind a solid door. This helps our kitchen to feel clean and tidy without sacrificing function.
I always wanted a farmhouse sink. They always felt inviting to me and somehow softened the overall look of the kitchen. This was one thing I knew I didn’t want to sacrifice. Our 30” single-bowl fireclay farm sink is from Nantucket Sinks and I absolutely love it. I decided to add a faux wooden shelf underneath that matches our wood flooring for some subtle detail. It’s exactly what I had envisioned.
I decided to go with a single hole pull down faucet from Aquabrass and added a filtered water dispenser that matches almost perfectly from California Faucets. Not being a fan of clutter, I decided a soap dispenser was a must and found this one at Brizo.
The idea of sconces over the windows was something I always loved and I felt that with the style I was going for in my home, it would work well. Even though I decided on brass hardware for the cabinetry from Emtek, I wanted to incorporate some black throughout our home. I found these lights for a killer deal Here. While I love how the warm brass looks against the cabinet color, I think the black lights help keep the kitchen from feeling too dressy and serious.
When incorporating a farm sink into a kitchen, I like to use a panel-ready dishwasher. Budget is always a factor so we selected this Bosch model and it works wonderfully!
When selecting tile, I waited until I saw one that spoke to me. Working next to a tile store (Distinctive Tile) I am always teased with stunning tile…but the moment I saw this beauty I knew it was the one. It was everything I was looking for. The tile manufacturer is Stone Impressions and this is from their in-stock “Crystal” collection on Carrara Marble in the color “Topaz”. You can find this exact design here.
We didn’t have the width for an island unless we put on an addition or expanded the back exterior of our house. That just wasn’t an option. A peninsula works perfectly for our small space. I love the simplicity of these counter stools I found at Target!
Harwich High Back Windsor Counter Stool - Threshold. Find them here!
Overall, I am so pleased with how my kitchen turned out. It is not the largest, most grand kitchen out there but it works for us. That is what matters the most!
BEFORE...
