Transitional Kitchen with Brick Accents
It doesn’t always require a major reconfiguration to accomplish a major transformation. That was certainly the case with this gorgeous kitchen remodel! Although these homeowners were eager for some significant improvements, there were a few things that were still working for them. Collaborating with their designer, they elected to stick with the original footprint of the kitchen, keep their red oak flooring, and integrate the original quaint brick backsplash. So how did we create such a dramatically different space while preserving such foundational elements? There were a few key revisions that made all the difference…
Most notably, we brought the light! What a major impact this made…from floor to ceiling! To start, refinishing the dark hardwood floors restored their brilliance and lightened them considerably. The warm white custom cabinetry and light-toned quartz countertops gave this kitchen an updated look that is transformational. Raising the dropped ceiling, we replaced the florescent lighting with recessed lights and added modern pendant lights over the peninsula. We painted the wood trim and window casings and exchanged the aging wood windows for white vinyl windows. Collectively, these design choices give the impression of a more spacious kitchen, but it remains within the existing footprint.
As always, careful consideration was given to the cabinet design to maximize the space and functionality of this kitchen. Raising the ceiling allowed for taller upper cabinets. The full-height pantry now provides generous storage for food and small appliances, and even houses their microwave oven. The island’s built-in bookcase is the ideal spot to keep cookbooks accessible for quick referencing. Although their former cabinetry did have a fixed wine rack, the new design makes this corner a lovely focal feature—a proper wine bar in our opinion. The matte black cabinet hardware is simple and current, contrasting beautifully with the white cabinetry, giving it that updated farmhouse appeal.