FROM CRAMPED TO SPACIOUS: RENOVATING FOR MORE SPACE AND STYLE
WHERE WEST MICHIGAN TURNS TO MAKE THEIR HOUSE A HOME SINCE 2018
If you’re like many homeowners, your kitchen is the hub of your home. It’s where you cook meals, entertain guests, and perhaps even do homework or pay bills. But if your kitchen is cramped and poorly designed, it can be a real challenge to use it effectively. That’s where a kitchen renovation can become extremely benificial.
We recently had the pleasure of working with a homeowner in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who was dealing with just this problem. Their small kitchen was cramped, with limited space and no pantry, making it difficult to cook and entertain. They were determined to find a solution, and we were able to help them with their problems, design and build a more functional kitchen.
Expand Your Space
To transform this small kitchen into a larger one we needed to add more space, literally. 5 feet got added to the existing space with an addition to the back of the house. It can be pricy to build an addition to the back of your home but can be so worth it with the space you gain and the amount of equity that gets added to your home’s value.
Adding a Large Island
With this extra space added we were able to fulfill the dream of the homeowner to have a large, functional island that can be used everyday. We designed a much larger island in the center of the room that houses giant drawers providing much-needed storage space for pots, pans, and other kitchen essentials and added a space for two large trash bins to wipe trash into after meal prep. The island also provided a ton of additional counter space and gave the homeowners a place to sit and eat. This added element that replaced their previous peninsula, truly provided a solution to many of their kitchen problems.
Design by: Leah Velzen
Photography by: Troy VanLangen-Above the Horizon Media
More Storage
One of the major challenges the homeowners were facing was a lack of pantry space. Most kitchens don’t have the room for a pantry closet or butler’s pantry so we have to work with the space we have. To solve this problem, we added two large pantry cabinets with slide-out shelves to the wall of the kitchen where their fridge used to be. This gave them a place to store dry goods, spices, and other non-perishable items, freeing up space in the rest of the kitchen. The slide-out shelves we incorporated allow for food items to be more accessible so they don’t get lost and forgotten in the back.
Design by: Leah Velzen
Photography by: Troy VanLangen-Above the Horizon Media
Entertaining Bar
Additionally, the homeowners wanted to add more of an entertaining area to their kitchen. Out are the built in desk/command centers that used to exist. They are being replaced with more fun and functional spaces like bars. We found a way to design the bar so that it complimented the pantry, giving this wall a cohesive look that went along with the rest of the kitchen. We incorporated floating shelves for barware and decorative elements, and a beverage cooler to have drinks readily available and at the perfect temperature for their guests.
Design by: Leah Velzen
Photography by: Troy VanLangen-Above the Horizon Media
Functioning Appliances
Finally, we rearranged the kitchen appliances to make better use of the space. This included moving the refrigerator closer to the stove and the microwave to the island which are more convenient locations for the homeowners. We were able to add a new range hood over the stove due to moving the microwave. Although it’s been a trend in the past, having a microwave above your stove is not a great idea. You have to constantly clean the underside due to grease and steam coming from underneath. This causes unnecessary wear and tear on your appliance and can cause it to breakdown faster. It’s better to go with a stylish vent hood like the one we used in this kitchen to elevate the look of your kitchen and have your microwave in a better place where it won’t get so dirty.
Design by: Leah Velzen
Photography by: Troy VanLangen-Above the Horizon Media
The end result was a kitchen that was not only larger and more functional, but also much more attractive. The homeowners were thrilled with the transformation that has given more life to their home, and we were happy to have been able to help them create a space that they could truly enjoy.
Design by: Leah Velzen
Photography by: Troy VanLangen-Above the Horizon Media
If you’re dealing with a cramped, poorly designed kitchen, don’t despair. With a little creativity from our designers and the help of a skilled kitchen renovation team like ours, you can transform it into a space that’s both functional and beautiful.
WE ARE…..
Sensible. Obtainable. Beautiful.
We are where West Michigan turns to make their house a home. Whether shopping our boutique showroom for a new piece for your mantle, working with our interior designers to refresh a room, or partnering with us for a total daydream-to-construction renovation, let us hear your vision of what would make it completely yours. We make interior design feel like working with a friend, and make sure you are left feeling… at home.
Delight in Designs. Love Your Home.
To chat about your next kitchen renovation, give us a call, 616-288-9780 or fill out our contact form.
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