OPEN THINGS UP

This 1971 home had a very small, closed‑off kitchen that was separated from the living and dining areas by multiple walls. The homeowners wanted an open layout that felt larger, brighter, and more connected. Owner, Bert Bell reworked the entire plan, finalizing the scope and selections before demo to keep the project organized from start to finish.

We removed everything from floor to ceiling and took out three walls, replacing them with two large structural beams to open the kitchen, living room, dining area, and entryway into one cohesive space. The original kitchen was only 90 square feet; the new layout doubled its size, and the combined open areas now span roughly 750 square feet. A 4½' x 7' island—with seating on two sides—became the new centerpiece, housing a Bosch cooktop and canopy island hood.

The kitchen features a built‑in Bosch convection speed oven combo, Bosch dishwasher, frameless shaker cabinets to the ceiling, and a two‑tone finish with white wall cabinets and a dark‑chocolate stained island. The entire area received new 20x20 tile flooring, and the backsplash was finished in 3x6 green Lucente Cascade tile for a clean, modern accent.

The homeowners appreciated the communication, craftsmanship, and attention to detail throughout the project. The finished space is open, functional, and completely transformed from the original 1970s layout.