Featured in Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live
 
This 1974 kitchen was ready for an update. The Harvest Gold appliances, matching yellow counter and pine cabinets had passed their prime and the Dills wanted an open kitchen for everyday living and entertaining friends. The "office" adjacent to the kitchen was under utilized and by removing the wall between the two spaces, an open kitchen and sitting area was created that was more functional, had better traffic flow, a greater connection to the outdoors and was able to take advantage of natural daylight. The new arrangement created enough space for a generous island, with seating, and an intimate sitting area on the far side of the kitchen. It also opened up views from the kitchen in three directions.

The Dills liked the idea of an island table as a contemporary update.  They welcomed the extra space for meal preparation and the additional seating area for casually entertaining friends.  The island is placed on the diagonal and has a curved Silestone counter that directs traffic away from the central workspace.  To balance costs, the Silestone island is matched with laminate on the peninsula and is detailed with a maple edge, matching the cabinets.With no upper cabinets, soffit was used to define the kitchen space, tie in the columns and help illuminate the work surface.

Small details made a big difference; casements with a simple lite design blended the contemporary kitchen with the traditional double hung windows in the rest of the home. Built-in planters incorporated into the new deck hide an undesirable view to the north.

This transformation allows the Dills to enjoy an open and vibrant space that has become the center of everyday living and easy entertaining.
 
Contractor: Ronald M. Webster Construction, Inc.