Renovating Kitchen, Living + Dining: A Fresh Start with Character
We had an absolute blast working with our clients to update their kitchen space and give the main floor a partial renovation. The goal? Create an open concept kitchen, living, and dining room that feels fresh but still honors the home’s character. After chatting about the budget, we decided to leave the fireplace and its surround untouched—it’s such a great focal point and really ties everything together in a cohesive design.
To blend old charm with new vibes, we played up rod iron accents and mid-tone wood finishes—perfect for keeping things warm and inviting. Refinishing the floors brought everything together beautifully, and those new living room built-ins? Total gamechanger.
Now let’s talk about Donna—the heart of this home and a passionate baker! She’d spent years in her pre-renovated kitchen (and trust us, she had plenty of frustrations to share). One big move was shifting the window by the sink just a couple of feet; it opened up so many possibilities for rethinking cabinet layouts and how every inch of space is used. The transformation is wild—just wait until you see those before-and-afters!
Every area in this new kitchen has been planned out with purpose. Take the cooktop wall: Super Susan corner cabinets maximize storage (goodbye awkward corners), there’s base pantry pull-out storage tucked into double drawers, pots + pans have their own dedicated drawers, plus roll-outs for spices and utensils right under the cooktop.
On to tall storage! There’s an appliance garage hiding all those small gadgets you want handy but not on display, fridge doors paneled to match cabinetry for that seamless look, built-in wall ovens with smart storage above (baking sheets/cutting boards/charcuterie boards), plus deep drawers below for even more small appliances. We carved out a beverage prep zone complete with refrigerated storage—think upright bottle drawers and all your bar tools at arm’s reach.
And because every family member matters: two tall cabinets—one is a pantry packed with food storage solutions; the other is a utility closet featuring Tessy-the-dog’s own built-in water + food bowl!
The sink area works hard too: built-in waste/recycling center, roll-out basket inside for easy access—and yes—the dishwasher blends right in behind its panel door. The peninsula brings both function AND fun: heavy-duty pull-out shelf just for Donna’s mixer (with extra baking supply storage nearby) plus open shelves on the outside so it looks as welcoming as it feels organized.
Every inch of this kitchen was designed thoughtfully—for workhorse functionality AND beautiful style. It truly is now Donna’s dream baking space!
