Today I’m bringing you a classic before & after kitchen remodel we completed in Greenwich, RI. Our design clients were a delightful young family who had just moved into the neighborhood of their dreams… The only problem?
The house itself wasn’t the home of their dreams.
The spaces were small, cramped and closed-off. Lighting was poor, and cooking in the kitchen meant isolation from the rest of the family.
There was no question — they knew they wanted an open concept space.
Look at all those rooms on the right side of the home!
How We Solved the Challenges of an Open Concept Space
Before we dive into the reveal, let’s talk about open concept spaces for a second. They’re in high demand these days, but many homeowners think they’re a breeze to pull off. Not so fast.
Challenge #1: Load bearing walls.
If you knock down a wall that’s holding up the weight of your house, well, you can envision the outcome… not ideal.
Solution: Together with the contractor, we brought in a structural engineer. They’re the pros who assess load bearing walls, determine if our space-opening goals are possible, and advise us on the most safe, efficient plan for construction.
Challenge #2: Creating separate “rooms.”
When you have one big, open space, it’s not always clear which “room” serves which purpose.
Solution: In the before & after photos, you’ll see how we used rugs, furniture configurations, and lighting to create separate spaces.
Notice something different about the right side of the home? The walls are gone!
A New Open Concept Kitchen
The kitchen before the renovation
See the room that’s visible just beyond the ovens? That’s the dining room tucked into the corner of the house — out it went!
We removed the wall between the two rooms and pushed the kitchen all the way back. The difference is night and day!
Classic. Sophisticated. Approachable. What a transformation, right?
This decision gave us SO much more room to play with. Keeping the palette crisp was crucial to opening up the space, but the additional windows bring in some much-needed natural light, too.
The backsplash above the range creates a polished but innovative look, and we just love the understated beauty of this farmhouse apron sink.
Our clients love to entertain, another reason they wanted an open concept space. We placed this wine fridge right where it would be needed most: ready to prep drinks and serve guests at the custom walnut bar top.
Design isn’t just about beauty — it’s about improving functionality and ease.
Speaking of, opening up the kitchen also allowed us to install…
…a built-in banquette!
Comfortable seating. A splash of color from the pillows. A touch of edginess from the industrial-style pendant lighting…
It’s the perfect place for the kids to do their homework or eat a snack while the adults enjoy the kitchen! Beautiful and functional. Our clients absolutely love this space. (Us, too!)
If you’re considering a design project yourself, don’t miss out on our downloadable Interior Design Project Planner!
Xoxo,
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