Somewhere in the evolution of home design, kitchens were relegated to a “separate but equal” status in the hierarchy of home life. This is especially apparent in the example of this North End home, in which we reunited an isolated and lonely kitchen with a larger family space as part of a more extensive remodel.
Vision
The kitchen of this home was cramped, dark, and separated from the flow of family activity by a wall dividing it from the dining room, and by a hallway of near epic length. With the help of some 3D designs, we showed our clients how removing a wall and splitting up the hallway would completely change the feel of their home, as well as open up the kitchen to the rest of the house.
Challenge
Given the larger remodel effort we undertook in this home, we wanted to keep the kitchen update as economical as possible. In addition to opening up the kitchen space, our clients wanted a good sized pantry and a mud room that would create a transition between the garage and the living area.
Accomplishment
By splitting the hallway into three new spaces, we were able to add a pantry to the kitchen, as well as create an entry space and mud room leading from the garage. We took out the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and gained even more space for the kitchen by removing the upper portion of an existing stairwell to the basement, which had the additional benefit of allowing natural light to enter the basement through two new skylights that we added in the kitchen area. We kept the sink, refrigerator, and stove top in the same locations, but upgraded the appliances and cabinetry. We refinished the floors, patching in the hardwood between the newly joined kitchen and dining rooms. Adding a new color scheme completed the effect of a more spacious and brighter kitchen.
Highlights
This remodel had a dramatic impact on the functionality and feel of this home. As our architectural sketch demonstrates, removing the long hallway that had divided the house not only made a world of difference to the kitchen area, but also created new points of access to the home’s master suite and children’s bedrooms through a single hall location.