Project: Expanded Kitchen for a Growing Young Family in Wakefield (AKA #ProjectBailey)
Our clients came to us with the goal of creating a larger kitchen and open floor plan by incorporating their existing kitchen, an adjacent sunken dining room, and an underutilized front entryway into a cohesive space. Their vision included raising the floors of the sunken room to create an even level for cooking and entertaining, and wanting to incorporate new appliances into the kitchen layout, including a double wall oven, separate cooktop and an undercounter beverage fridge.
On top of the scope of work for the project, we were up against a tight deadline as the couple prepared to welcome their first child! (We should clarify by saying human child, as their adorable puppy Bailey continues to be the mascot for this project and their family)!
Working through multiple layout options during the design process, we reimagined the space to provide this growing family ample room for cooking, entertaining, and everyday life to unfold beautifully and comfortably in the heart of their home.
The kitchen layout was reconfigured to maximize functionality, storage and comfort. The sink was moved from under the window into the island alongside the dishwasher and trash pullout cabinet in order to give each “workstation” adequate room (e.g. washing dishes, cooking).
We used a mix of cabinetry finishes with white perimeter cabinetry and an oyster gray center island. The quartz countertop marries the color palette with swirls of warm gray, cream and taupe. An elongated 3×12 ceramic tile runs vertically from countertop to ceiling in order to visually heighten the space as much as possible.
We removed a bank of windows and sliding glass doors to provide more wall space for additional cabinetry and appliances, replacing the sliders with a single exterior door. The fun beverage center/bar area, complete with a mounted TV, provides a great atmosphere for casual entertaining.
The large island has cabinets under the countertop overhang for additional storage, and we color matched the paint for the back entry door to match the island.
Before, during, and after – view facing the front of the house. We opened up two load-bearing walls and completely buried the structural beams, creating a smooth, even ceiling plane.
Before, during and after – view facing the rear of the house. After raising the floors, we incorporated the structural support post in the center of the room into the island in order to minimize its presence.
The adorable project mascot, Bailey, proudly showing off her new kitchen!
A few of our favorite details including the vertical tile backsplash, Brizo pull-down faucet, beautiful pendant lighting, and ash gray cabinet hardware!
Plenty of space for pots and pans, spices, and a trash/recycling pull-out cabinet! Our designers can suggest the perfect kitchen cabinet storage options to suit the needs of each project.
Calming color palette with a layered mix of neutral materials and finishes.
Enjoy taking a walk-through tour with our designer Jenni Jacobs, while she explains how this all came together!
We had a lot of fun working with this wonderful young family and helping them create a bright, beautiful space for cooking, dining and entertaining!
See more before photos in our Before and After Gallery, and check out our full photo gallery for this project on our profile at Houzz.
