Open, Inviting and Perfect for Entertaining
The goals for this West Chester, PA home's remodel were to create an open floor plan to increase functionality and ensure better flow for entertaining, make the spaces brighter, and to update the overall look of the home.
The homeowners wanted to renovate their dark, outdated kitchen and create one large, open area in the back portion of the house. We began by designing a floor plan that included removal of the dining room/kitchen wall, removal of a second staircase in the family room, and making the mudroom/laundry room larger by using a nook that was originally in the home office.
Kitchen: Before
After removing the dining room wall, it was important to define the spaces. So we incorporated a peninsula between the kitchen and dining area. This is now the perfect place to set food and drinks when entertaining. With the wall removed, the new dining room windows allow more natural light into the space, and a direct sight line to the family room, making the entire area look and feel more spacious.
Next, we removed the half-wall between the kitchen and family room which was obstructing flow. To frame the opening to the family room we added pillars and a header. This defined the family room area while keeping the transition from the kitchen open and seamless.
Before the renovation, the family room's rarely used back staircase was taking up precious floor space, and limited the options for furniture placement as well as storage. With a large bookcase unit, we integrated storage solutions into the design to help maintain a clean, clutter-free space. We utilized a mixture of cabinets and open shelving to provide hidden storage for the kids' toys, etc. as well as display space for photographs and accessories.
Since the kitchen island is where everyone hangs out, we designed a large, 2-level island that seats five and also incorporates a microwave drawer and a second sink. Other upgrades to the kitchen include adding more cabinet and counter space by replacing the large sliding door with a single door at the end of the cabinet run. New large windows over the sink ensure that plenty of natural light fills that area, as well as providing a great view from both the island seats and the sink. All of the countertops and backsplash surfaces are quartz.
The clients and I created a casual, balanced look by choosing cohesive colors that tie the entire open space together, starting with the lighter refinished wood floor and the dark blue kitchen island. When the time came to choose the furnishings and accessories, they mixed textures and patterns in creams and neutrals with blue accents to continue that color scheme. The entire look is finished off with beautiful decorative features including gold-finished light fixtures and hardware, and breezy, white drapes on the windows.
