There were many things about the main level that our clients liked – the size of the family room, space for a dining room table that could seat their family plus guests, connection to the mudroom where they regularly entered – but there were also some major flaws.The kitchen was completely separate from the other rooms with only tiny doorways between – and it only had a few cabinets! The dining room included a large front window with a sight line directly back into the family room, eliminating any privacy. The clients longed for an “open concept” at the kitchen, without too much openness where it wasn’t wanted.
Our team made several modifications to the home to come up with the perfect solution. In order to expand the cabinetry storage in the kitchen, the kitchen window at the front of the house was shortened, allowing for a new L-shaped cabinetry layout. Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room also allowed extra space for an island with seating, one of the clients’ requirements. The window in the dining room was shortened as well, as the two spaces are now open to one another.
The former large doorway between the dining room and family room was closed in, creating coziness and privacy in the back room – the family cork boards we added on the dining room side to pretty-up the new wall were an added bonus! We also relocated a sliding patio door on the rear of the house that was eating up wall space in the family room. There’s now plenty of space for a sofa, chairs, and a TV. A bland built-in bookshelf next to the open stairs to the basement was nice for storage, but needed an upgrade. We replaced it with a desk space with two seats and closed cabinetry for storing kids’ items.
The overall effect is that the main level looks like an entirely new home! Not only were all the spaces that the clients desired maintained, they now work together seamlessly. The kids can settle into homework at the desks, overseen by mom and dad either in the family room or kitchen. The mudroom / entry still has a key connection to the main spaces; and there’s enough seating included in the floorplan to accommodate entertaining as well as daily living.
Happily, our clients found the entire process as “seamless” as their new main level layout! Their glowing review and appreciation of their completed project were our best rewards.
