I LOVE doing remodel projects! The opportunity to redesign a home with great bones is the ultimate design challenge and it really brings me such joy to be a part of. Especially when the project is finished! Today I’m going to show you one of those diamond in the rough remodel projects that I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to work on for the sweetest young clients.
When my clients hired me, they had just purchased this 1940 square foot home that was built more than 40 years ago in 1978. Initially, my clients hired for paint color selections and general kitchen layout ideas but when I walked into the home for our first meeting, all of that changed.
Below are a couple before pictures:
I immediately noticed as I walked through the home that everything from the wall colors, old tile flooring and built-ins were dated and desperately needed a lot of work. BUT!! The home had really AMAZING bones with stunning cathedral ceilings in the living room and beautiful modern black framed solid modern windows (which surprisingly was original to the home). I was VERY impressed that this young couple saw the potential of this home in spite of the cut out common rooms and small boxed in kitchen for the size of the home.
As we began talking about the kitchen layout, my heart sank for this couple because prior to seeing the home, they told me they had their heart set on a beautiful light and bright airy kitchen with a large island but I knew when I walked into the kitchen that they would not be able to get the space that they dreamed of in this tight space below.
As I looked around the kitchen and living room, I saw that removing the wall between the kitchen and living room would INSTANTLY give them the kitchen and HOME that they always dreamed of (and more). BUT they just purchased the home and because of that, the last thing I wanted to do was to tell this sweet young couple was that they should spend even MORE money! Taking out walls is not cheap. But, they needed to know how close they were to having the kitchen they dreamed of.
Below is the wall that I was about to tell them they should remove:
On the back side of that kitchen wall was the living room. I don’t have a before picture but I do have a picture of the wall before demo for you to better see:
I mentioned taking out the wall to my clients and encouraged them to seriously consider it because it would give them a HUGE kitchen/living room and completely change everything. Long story short, the couple decided to take out the wall between the kitchen and living room as well as the foyer walls and open everything up!
Here is that same kitchen shot/angle after the remodel was completed:
As you can see, the doorway to the office was closed in and the range was moved over a couple feet.
Below is the same shot/angle from the living room looking into the kitchen:
Can you believe the transformation?!!
Because we removed the wall, my clients were able to get the large kitchen island that they dreamed of gathering around and the beautiful light flowing in from the living room windows brightens the kitchen. Better yet, they had plenty of room to double up on deep island cabinets, which there is access on both sides of the island! Yes!!
Lightening and brightening up the great room and kitchen was at the top of my clients list for this project. Because of the patio overhang and the dark wall color, the room felt very dark and I needed to select the perfect white that would bounce as much natural light as possible, so we went with a brighter neutral white on the walls, trim and ceiling.
The beautiful white French oak wood tones in the vinyl floor (yes!! Can you believe that’s vinyl?!), wood shelves/ceiling beam and the rich dark gray fireplace we selected give a stunning organic contrast to the brighter white space. I wanted it to feel California modern-meets transitional.
In the kitchen, we knew that the backsplash needed to be the star of the show and I wanted to avoid white. The space needed subtle color or texture and this gorgeous gray/blue subway that we found at Layered Home was just what we needed for that subtle drama.
In person, this tile is just absolutely incredible. It’s exactly what this open kitchen needed! If you look closely at the image below, you can see that the tile is uneven in the surface to look handmade and give a texture. I love it!
The flooring in this home was also very important because it was critical for wood tones to be light and airy in order to keep the open areas from look dark or the eye being pulled down from that beautiful ceiling. Of course, my clients didn’t want to spend all of their remodeling budget on the floor and I found a very affordable option of a gorgeous white oak look in a wide plank vinyl that my clients loved.
Luxury vinyl plank has seriously evolved into a very doable option for me to recommend to my clients and I find myself specifying vinyl just as much as engineered here lately. It really is amazing what they are doing with vinyl and it’s reached the point that I can’t always tell when I walk in a home if it’s vinyl or engineered.
Just look closely at the markings and details:
We also turned a built in storage piece into a beautiful wet bar that we tiled with that gorgeous gray/blue tile.
I am so grateful to my clients for giving me the opportunity (and trust) to guide them down this beautiful road on this remodel. It was such a joy working with them and the contractor did a phenomenal job of helping maximize kitchen space and making the project so beautiful.
I can’t wait to share more of the beautiful projects that I have recently finished from this last year. I am finally catching up with shooting these homes and hope to be sharing everything with you over the next few months. If you missed my Layered Home Design Center project, you can see that here.
Thanks for stopping by today friends!
Cheers!
Cyndy
Kim says
Stunning, I love it all! The vinyl flooring is perfect! That tile!! Wow!
Jenny says
WOW! I love the transformation – such great bones uncovered in that house! It’s so fun to see an older home get a facelift like that. Well done! I need your eye on my kitchen layout – it is keeping me up at night. I’m too close to the project. 😉
Diane says
This is an absolutely stunning remodel! Can I ask you the name and color of the floors? I am in love with them!
Katherine Hoehn says
Yes! I would like to know also please.
Absolutely beautiful!
Kay says
YES ! Please source that gorgeous floor! Project is so light and breatheable- what a great transformation
Mary Odom says
This is outstanding! Absolutely love the open floor plan and the way you were able to maximize the space. Can you please tell me the brand and color of the flooring? Planning on redoing the basement floor and love this floor. The light color is perfect for my basement and the grain of the vinyl makes it look so real. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us. Mary
Lori Dorland says
What sofa brand did you use? It’s beautiful.
Ann says
Wow! Gorgeous home. Kuddos to you and your clients. Thanks for sharing the before and afters.
I look forward to your next reveal!
Nancy says
Wow !! Unbelievable!
Amazing job ..
I was thinking I’d this the same house ?
They must be thrilled .
It truly turned out amazing .’
Love the backsplash and the flooring .
Love it all !
Can’t wait to see all you have been up to .
Nancy
Linda says
Lovely home. Well done! My only concern is the vinyl flooring. I remember reading an article within the past five years about off-gassing, and that it wasn’t safe for kids to play on. You might want to research safety issues associated with vinyl flooring.
Laura McKenna says
Anothe home run!! I just forwarded this to my son and his darling bride — they just purchased their first home together — in Malibu, CA (so lucky!) and this reminded me of their vibe.
But how to lighten their dark ceiling beams????? Hate to paint the wood . . .
Maile Gershwin says
I LOVE it all! I want to move that kitchen into my own house! I love the fireplace paint color! Can you tell us what color paint you used for the fireplace and also what white neutral you ended up going with? It really does make it so bright and airy! Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful project!
Joanna says
You did an amazing job in turning a dark, dated, cramped house into a beautiful, modern light filled home. 👏 The young couple must be over the moon on the finished product. I especially like the blue grey tile. It’s like adding a touch of jewelry.
Denise says
What is the gray paint color on the fireplace?
Debra says
Stunning design! Would you tell me the ceiling height over the kitchen island and the light fixture height? I am trying to select a pendant and am concerned about my 8-foot ceilings. Thanks, Cyndy!
Deb says
I was hoping to find out the make and colour of the couch. Just gorgeous tone on tone. And the make and colour of the floor.
Thank you.
Cyndy says
Unfortunately, I do not have the sofa information. My client purchased on her own. Sorry!
Toni says
Beautiful job…..incredible updated look.
Cyndy says
Thank you so much Toni!
Laura Ontiveros-Carlon says
Amazing transformation! You created a completly new home…. so beautiful.
Cyndy says
Thank you so much Laura!
Ryanne Salandanan says
Just gorgeous! What is the color you used on the fireplace? What a great contrast for this bright and airy home.
Lisa says
I have a combination living/family room with a cathedral ceiling and galley kitchen similar to this one. I would love to know the paint colors you used. I’ve followed your work for several years as I’ve remodeled other rooms in my home. Just beautiful ❤️
Judy says
Beautiful! Would you please share the flooring brand and color name? Also the paint color, love the clean, bright look.
paulette andrews says
What a wonderful remodel…very inspiring! I would also love to know the name of the flooring you used. We will be replacing our flooring soon and would love to know what you used.
Thank you!
Paulette
Alyssa says
Wow, wow, wow. Stunning! Your eye is amazing!!!
Christine Levine says
Beautiful transformation! Can you please advise information on the pendant island lights? Ilove them!
Alicia says
Please link the flooring.
Gillian Baker says
Gorgeous remodel! Can you share the color/brand of the backsplash tile?