We're excited to share this recently completed #dwelloctoberstudio design project with you! Our goal with this project was to update a '90s builder grade house to create a bright, modern space with a more open floor plan.

The most dramatic part of the transformation took place in the kitchen. The home previously had a small eat-in kitchen with limited counter and storage space. There was a formal dining room adjacent to the kitchen, but the two rooms were separated by a wall. As you can see from the before photos, the dark flooring, counters, and paint colors made the space feel even smaller.

To make this home more functional for entertaining, as well as everyday life, we removed the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room. This allowed us to incorporate a large peninsula for casual meals and prep work, while still maintaining a dining area with a six person table. Removing the wall increased the amount of natural light that flowed through the space, creating a bright, sunny kitchen. We also took this opportunity to add an additional window to the dining area. Fresh white paint and wide plank white oak hardwood floors also made the space feel more spacious and airy.

We selected beautiful light blue cabinets to incorporate a bit of color into the space and create a happy, yet calm atmosphere throughout the home. In addition to adding the peninsula, we increased the storage space by introducing three tall pantry cabinets and an appliance garage to house a toaster, microwave, and other small appliances. For a sleek look, we used cabinet fronts to conceal pull out trash and recycling bins, as well as the dishwasher.

We opted for warm brushed brass cabinet hardware to balance out the cool blue tones of the cabinetry. A white range with brass knobs serves as a focal point on one wall and adds a bit of elegance to the space. White glazed tile, a bell-shaped wicker pendant light, and rattan counter stools provide soft, natural textures.

We carried the blue and white color scheme through to the living area, which was directly across the hall from the kitchen. The changes we made in this room were mostly cosmetic, but still quite impactful! The living room was a long, rectangular space that had historically proved challenging to find a cohesive furniture layout. To remedy this, we added custom built-in bookcases and a more substantial mantel to make the fireplace the focal point of the room and create character in the home that looked as if it had always existed.

We swapped out the seldomly used wood burning fireplace for a gas model and selected a subtle gray marble remnant for the surround. A Frame TV adds an artistic touch (the box and wires are neatly concealed in the built-in cabinets!).

There was also a half bathroom with laundry on this level of the house. We used a blue patterned floor tile that added color and personality to the small space, while still aligning with the traditional feel of the home. The chrome faucet and bathroom accessories, round black mirror, and glass sconce add a classic touch.

During this renovation, we also updated the overall finishes throughout the house—these details may be subtle, but they go a long way in modernizing the feel of the space. We replaced the Colonial baseboards and trim with simple, wider profiles, swapped the six panel interior doors for two panel Shaker style ones, and used matte black metal door knobs and hinges. New two-over-two windows, fresh white paint, and white oak hardwood floors were also added throughout the house.

Although the changes were mostly cosmetic, they made the house feel so much bigger and brighter. Opening up the kitchen allowed for more storage, workspace, and seating, and adding built-in bookcases to the living room made the space more functional.

Sources

Kitchen
Wall Paint: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
Cabinets: Shaker Maple in Blue Haze
Knobs: CB2 Logan Round 1.25" Brushed Brass Knob
Pulls: CB2 Damon 5" Brushed Brass Handle
Wall Tile: Bedrosians Cloe 5" x 5" Ceramic Tile in White
Range: Ilve 30" Nostalgie Dual Fuel Range in White with Brass Trim
Range Hood: Ancona 30" Convertible Wall Mount Range Hood (similar style found here)
Refrigerator: Fisher & Paykel 36" Counter Depth Refrigerator in White
Dishwasher: Bosch 300 Series Panel Ready Dishwasher
Sink: Franke 30" White Farmhouse Sink
Faucet: Kingston Brass Heritage Bridge Kitchen Faucet in Polished Chrome
Sconce: West Elm Sculptural Cone Sconce in Antique Brass & Clear Glass
Island Pendant: Kouboo Wicker Bell Pendant Light
Flooring: Mohawk City Vogue in Seattle Oak
Stools: Serena & Lily Riviera Rattan Counter Stools in White
Basket: Woven Seagrass Basket

Living Room
Wall Paint: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
Flooring: Mohawk City Vogue 5" Engineered Hardwood Floors in Seattle
Rug: The Oceanside Stripe Rug in Teal
Couch: Interior Define Winslow 2-Seat Sofa in Performance Heavy Knit Cloud
Chairs: Howell Upholstered Accent Chair with Wood Base in Cream - Threshold Designed With Studio McGee
Coffee Table: Safavieh Devin 28" Dark Brown Wood Coffee Table with Pedestal Base
TV: Samsung 43" Frame TV
TV Bezel: Samsung 43" Frame TV Bezel in Modern Beige
Digital Art Print: French Port by Laurie Anne Gonzalez
Box: Rattan Display Box with Glass Lid

Bathroom
Wall Paint: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
Vanity: Home Decorators Collection Riverpine 30 in. W x 22 in. D Vanity Cabinet Only in White (discontinued) (similar style found here)
Knobs: Amerock Radius 1 1/4" Diameter Round Knob in Matte Black
Faucet: Delta Faucet Trinsic Single Hole Bathroom Faucet in Chrome
Mirror: 26" Wall Mounted Round Mirror in Black
Sconce: Mitzi Neko Single Light 12" High Wall Sconce in Aged Bronze with Clear Shade
Toilet: Kohler Cimarron Rev 360 2-Piece 1.28 GPF Single Flush Round-Front Complete Solution Toilet in White
Towel Ring: Delta Trinsic Towel Ring in Chrome
Toilet Paper Holder: Delta Trinsic Toilet Paper in Chrome
Floor Tile: Laura Ashley Wicker Sea Spray Matte Porcelain Tile
Art Print: Tulips Poster by Sandra Poliakov
Towel: Creative Women Cotton Hand Towel in Blush

Get the Look

1 Cabinets / 2 Wall Paint / 3 Knob / 4 Pull / 5 Wall Tile / 6 Range Hood (similar style found here) / 7 Island Pendant /
8 Range / 9 Faucet / 10 Stool / 11 Sink