A bright white kitchen remodel that marries modern-day appointments with vintage charm—now a seamless, inviting living space that feels right at home.
This 1936 bungalow had the ideal mix of character and charm, yet the kitchen was cramped and outdated. The homeowners turned to Dover with a wish list that included an open kitchen layout with an island, plus added storage and better lighting.
The Kitchen: Before
The original kitchen was old-school, from cabinets and hardware to appliances. Not only was the space in need of a refresh; it needed better flow: The wall that separated the kitchen from the dining and family rooms made the kitchen feel closed off from the rest of the first floor living space.
The Kitchen: During
Removing the wall was no simple task. Typical to 1930s construction, the home’s foundation is built with terracotta walls. These walls are hollow in the center and cannot adequately carry the additional weight or bearing points resulting from removing the first-floor walls above.
Before moving forward with design, we ensured that the additional weight would be properly supported after removing the load-bearing wall on the first floor. To determine how the load would be dispersed, we took measurements of the entire home and consulted with our engineer to determine the proper size for LVLs, beams and columns.
Upon further inspection, we found a porch that had no foundation below. To create proper structure, we dug footers in the basement, removed part of the foundation wall, installed a bearing point column (to not only support the weight of the first floor being affected, but also the second floor) and rebuilt a portion of the wall. We also relocated the furnace, plumbing lines and HVAC ductwork. All this work was done prior to remodeling. Now, with all structural and mechanical issues resolved, we could move forward with the remodel.
The Kitchen: After
After adding structural support in the basement, we removed the L-shaped wall between the kitchen, dining and family rooms to gain space for the new open-concept kitchen. Next, we reworked the kitchen layout to include more functionality. Kitchen soffits were removed, allowing cabinets to stretch to the ceiling to maximize space. A new island provides more seating, storage and work/prep space. Tall pantry cabinets feature rollouts for easy-access storage. And a microwave drawer allows the home’s original built-in display cabinet and laundry chute to remain in place.
For a clean, classic look in the new kitchen, the all-white color palette incorporates white cabinets, quartz countertops in Carrara Marmi and a tile inlay above the range for texture and a hint of contrast color (Pratt + Larson tile in Mono 6×6 Filigree, Color P145) To provide ample lighting, the electrical system was upgraded with undercabinet lights, recessed can lighting and new fixtures throughout.
The homeowners wanted to use their existing faucet, so we used that fixture and installed an undermount sink: Kohler Porcelain Riverby.
The island was crafted and finished with custom trim work to make it look like a piece of furniture, featuring extra storage capacity, added seating and an open surface area for entertaining. New hardwood planks were toothed in to match the home’s original flooring and then refinished to create a harmonious flow.
