During a kitchen renovation, you have to keep your eye on the prize. The demolition and construction phases aren’t pretty, but before long, a new-and-improved space starts to take shape. I recently shared the kitchen design and selections for one recent project. Here I’m taking you behind the not-so-glamorous scenes of the makeover process.
Preparing the Canvas
The first step to creating any masterpiece is preparing the canvas. For a kitchen renovation, that means clearing out the old to make way for the new. This is what our canvas looked like after demolition:
In the ceiling, you can see the electrical rough-in. We replaced old canister recessed lights with smaller, higher lumens LED lights that blend in more seamlessly.
One of the major goals of this kitchen renovation was to combine the kitchen and dining area into a continuous space. Our new plan traded a peninsula and dining area for a new generously sized, L-shaped island that would seat a crowd. We used painter’s tape to map out the cabinet layout, including the position of that future island, which straddles the kitchen and former dining zone.
We also marked the radius of the curved countertop. These steps help ensure that all team members are on the same page.
Next we addressed the existing wood floor. Originally, the floors in the kitchen and dining area were different heights. This kitchen renovation allowed us to eliminate that transition and make the floor a continuous, level field. Our flooring expert toothed in replacement boards as needed.
Ultimately, the floors throughout the expanded kitchen were refinished. There was other construction going on too, namely the installation of sliding doors to access a new porch being built at the same time. Concurrent construction projects required some coordination, but our two teams collaborated beautifully.
Installing Cabinets, Countertops and More
It’s always exciting when the pretty selections begin to arrive. Cabinet installation day is a particular thrill, as an empty space starts to come to life. And along with it, the traditional-with-a-twist look our clients were after. Here’s a glimpse at the gorgeous new Decora island (with space reserved for an under-cabinet speed oven, which combines convection cooking with microwave capability (plus three Combi Modes that cover every possible meal scenario).
As another major upgrade, we replaced two double-hung windows with casement versions that open outward. The old windows were difficult to raise and lower, especially since you had to lean awkwardly over the countertop to do so. This is what the side window looked like before:
And now compare that to the new, much larger casement window from Marvin — and check out the lovely painted peripheral cabinets too:
What a difference! Similarly, we replaced the window over the sink. Here our excellent contractor, Sean Murphy of Old Dominion Building Group and the project foreman, Ellias, meet in front of that new Marvin window on the sink wall:
The new casement windows bring so much natural light into the space! It’s often a good idea to consider updating old windows during a kitchen renovation.
Marble-like quartz countertops from Cambria, which replaced black granite, really helped lighten up the space too!.
We chose Brittanicca from Cambria’s Luxury Series, which has a creamy background and warm gray veining. A luxe look, for sure!
As an aside, the image above shows the vent we installed for the new over-the-range hood. To the right of that vent, you can see an existing plumbing pipe that was previously hidden in an old cabinet. We made sure the new hood would cover that pipe. When renovating an older kitchen, there’s typically some type of quirk that we have to work around.
Accessorizing the Kitchen Ensemble
I must admit, I love to use glass accents in a kitchen. The sparkle of glass helps to offset the stone and wood selections. For this kitchen, we chose a shimmery mosaic tile from Lunada Bay Tile, which our team of installers cut on site.
Pro Tip: When installing glass mosaic tile, the brown paper faces outward, not to the wall.
Once the grout has been applied and the tile is wet down with a sponge, the paper comes off to reveal the gorgeousness lying beneath.
Although they play important functional roles, the backsplash and lighting selections also serve as special accessories that complete the ensemble. Much like jewelry, they’re opportunities to add some personality and shine to your outfit! Under our new plan, this eat-in kitchen serves as the empty-nesters’ only dining area. So we wanted to instill an elevated style you might expect to see in a designated dining room.
The glass pendants we selected from Tracy Glover Studio went a long way too! You’ll see them installed in our next post, but here’s a little teaser:
I’m a huge fan of Tracy’s bespoke lighting and have specified her products in a handful of projects.
Now We’re Cooking!
Appliances go in towards the end of the kitchen renovation process. For their new kitchen, our clients decided on a Thermador suite, which we sourced through ABW in Arlington. The chimney-style range hood is the one exception; it’s from Zephyr. Check out the smiling crew that installed the appliances, including the range and refrigerator.
And here’s a sneak peek at the nearly completed kitchen renovation, with all the appliances in place:
Don’t miss the stunning glass backsplash tile, with the paper fronts removed.
Wrapping Up a Kitchen Renovation
The secret to success in any kitchen makeover is to gather a skilled team, We work with the best! All in, this kitchen renovation took about 10 weeks to complete. I promise you, the prize was worth the wait! You can see for yourself in our Big Reveal post, coming soon.
To those who celebrate, I wish you a happy Easter. And happy spring to everyone!
Planning a Kitchen with Beauty and Brawn
