Project: Extensive Kitchen Renovation in Melrose (AKA #ProjectFirstFloorFlip)
It’s fun to enjoy a glass of wine with friends and daydream of renovating your kitchens. It’s even more fun to be able to help a friend turn her dream kitchen into a reality. This was the case for our designer Jenni, being able to help friends in Melrose completely re-think their kitchen, and subsequently the entire first floor of their home!
In the design phase of this project, we developed a couple of floor plan options to choose from; one that kept the footprint of the kitchen slightly larger than the current, and one that blew out multiple walls (one load-bearing and one non-load-bearing) to fully open the kitchen to the living area. Our clients seized the notion to go big or go home, and we pursued the layout that expanded the kitchen along the entire back wall of the house, added a center island, and squeezed in a breakfast nook for family dining.
Now when you enter the front door of the house, your eye is drawn to the kitchen, where we centered the range and hood vent on the back wall, anchoring the corners with a tall pantry cabinet and the refrigerator, and keeping a lot of natural light with symmetrical windows. We moved the sink and dishwasher from under a window to the center island, which allowed for a large expanse of working countertop space on either side of the stove, and supported the overall goal for symmetry on the back wall.
Within the new layout, our carpentry team custom-built the breakfast nook area, as well as an entryway cubby to corral jackets, bookbags and shoes. With a warm and unexpected materials palette of wispy blue-gray stained cabinetry, irregular square white backsplash tile, soft bronze hardware, and pops of stainless and oil-rubbed bronze, the new space feels inviting, layered, and family-friendly. It was such a treat for Jenni and our team to work with these clients and friends to create a gorgeous new space for sipping wine and enjoying company. Cheers to that!
The layout of the kitchen makes a striking statement with pleasing symmetry along the back wall. The soffits above the windows were designed as a solution to house a pesky – but necessary – stack pipe (on the left) and to maintain symmetry (the one on the right is completely false!). We decided to tile them to blend into the backsplash and minimize their presence.
Moving the sink, dishwasher and trash cabinet to the island not only gave the back wall great countertop space, but also supported the new layout of the first floor, where the kitchen is completely open to the living room.
Our clients selected gorgeous Cherry wood cabinets that are finished in a soft blue-gray stain. We accented the cabinetry with irregular white tile on the backsplash, warm white quartz countertops, and brushed bronze hardware. Brass and oil-rubbed bronze finishes are picked up in the beautiful light fixtures throughout the space.
The custom-built breakfast nook and bench (which lifts up for added storage!) finishes off the kitchen and allows our clients to enjoy family meals together. We added a unique arched niche in the wall to display art and knick-knacks, and keep the space feeling super cozy.
Our clients now have a clear view from the kitchen to the living room and front entrance, with great flow for entertaining and hanging out as a family!
A custom-built entryway cubby provides a convenient landing spot for everyday jackets, bags and shoes.
Even with the open concept layout, we actually built out the wall between the original dining room and living room in order to accommodate the breakfast nook. On the other side, this new wall space finally gave our clients the perfect spot to add a stand-up piano!
In the living room, we freshened up the fireplace hearth, replacing dated tiles with a playful penny tile mosaic.
This project truly encompassed the entire first floor, with the powder room receiving a face lift of hardwood flooring and new fixtures. We also turned the toilet ninety-degrees for added leg room in the tight space.
There was no shortage of thoughtful design details in this project, from the custom wall niche and apron front sink, to floating shelves, decorative light fixtures, and the showstopping Cherry cabinets!
The mix of materials creates a warm, layered and playful feel in the space, perfect for this busy and fun family. We were so happy to work with them to bring their dream kitchen to life!
Take a walk-through tour with our designer Jenni Jacobs, while she explains how this all came together!
If you would like to see what this space looked like before the remodel, please check out our Before and After Gallery, and check out our full photo gallery for this project on our profile at Houzz.
