After: Huge vaulted ceiling that created a luxurious vibe! White washing the beam to match the floors was a must!
After: Beautiful oak island with a charcoal stain to bring some variation to the space!
Before: Drop ceilings and the 80's oak that had to go! Good thing the oak floors came around!
After: Pull up a chair! there is enough room for the families to get together and enjoy the open space all the way to the living room!
Before: No room in the kitchen to hang out. Its lonely cooking in the boxed, drop ceiling kitchen space.
After: Champaign bronze handles throughout with the Brizo matching faucets, looks incredible!
After: Custom hood to fill the space to the ceiling. Much nicer than the box out option above the cabinet.
After: The step down created a nice option to have bar height stools, but still have the counter height consistent throughout. Gorgeous pendants as well!
After: The panel ready appliances really deliver that high end feel. We really wish that we could've replaced some windows.
After: The post almost disappears at this angle. It's unfortunate that the steel handrails didn't make the budget on this one.
After: Sure would've been nice to clear the countertop for this photo. The mixture of pulls and knobs creates an incredible look!
After: That white wash for the ridge beam was well worth the countless hours of scaffolding work!
After: The backsplash really made the space have some much needed depth with the color and texture variation.
After: The white wash pendants were a great pick with the white wash and champagne bronze to match the knobs & pulls.
After: There is no shortage of storage space in this kitchen. Insta hot faucet makes spaghetti a quick dinner option!
After: The island and peninsula create ample space to entertain and prep for any family function meals!
After: This angle really lets you enjoy the variations of the white cabinets, white wash floors, Champagne bronze hardware, and charcoal island.
After: More incredible storage options under the back side of the island. The pantry cabinet on the left has roll outs for limitless convenient storage as well.
Description
Project Scope: A full-scale kitchen and great room renovation transforming a closed-off, outdated space into a bright, open-concept culinary and living area with modern amenities, enhanced layout, and high-end finishes. Before Renovation: The original kitchen featured dark oak cabinets with ornate detailing, fluorescent drop ceiling lighting, and laminate countertops. The layout was segmented and visually heavy, with limited workspace, older black appliances, and traditional finishes that dated the home’s aesthetic. The adjoining living space had mismatched wood and carpet flooring, dated paneling, and minimal cohesion with the kitchen. After Renovation: This remodel achieved a dramatic transformation into a modern, open-concept kitchen and living area through: • Layout Redesign: Removal of dividing walls and upper cabinetry to open the space and allow for seamless flow into the living area. Vaulted ceilings now visually expand the space with clean lines and exposed wood beam accents. • Cabinetry & Storage: Custom full-height white shaker cabinetry installed throughout, featuring soft-close hardware, built-in panel-ready appliances, and ample drawer storage. A rich charcoal stained oak island base anchors the center with a warm contrast to the white perimeter. • Countertops & Backsplash: Luxurious quartz countertops with bold veining add elegance and durability. A neutral, glossy square-tile backsplash behind the range complements the new stainless steel range hood. • Lighting: Integrated LED recessed lighting throughout the ceiling, paired with statement pendant lights over the island, creates a bright, inviting ambiance. • Appliances & Fixtures: Upgraded professional-grade appliances, panel-front refrigerator & dishwasher, single oven, and matte black plumbing fixtures for a bold modern edge. • Flooring & Finishes: Refinished White wash oak hardwood flooring installed throughout the entire space unifies the kitchen with the living area and highlights the home’s modernized style. • Bar & Entertainment Area: A secondary sink, prep station, and extended counter space with bar seating adds function and entertainment value, connecting the kitchen to the open living room. Outcome: This kitchen remodel blends high functionality with refined design. The new space supports modern living, entertaining, and daily comfort while drastically improving aesthetics, flow, and value.
Directions
Online Property
Project Dates
Homeowner's Goals
1. Open Up the Floor Plan The homeowners wanted to eliminate the segmented, boxed-in feel of the original kitchen by opening it up to the living and dining areas. Their goal was to create a seamless flow between cooking, entertaining, and relaxing. 2. Modernize the Design A key objective was to move away from the dated oak cabinetry, drop ceiling, and dark finishes toward a clean, contemporary look featuring bright, neutral tones and modern lines. 3. Improve Natural and Artificial Lighting By removing the outdated lightbox ceiling and incorporating recessed lighting and pendant fixtures, the homeowners sought a brighter, more inviting environment that enhances the home’s architecture. 4. Upgrade to High-Performance Appliances The homeowners aimed to integrate high-end, professional-style appliances and conceal them with panel-ready finishes for a streamlined appearance. 5. Increase Storage and Functionality They prioritized adding more usable storage through deep drawers, tall pantry cabinets, and a large island with built-in cabinetry to reduce countertop clutter and improve daily usability. 6. Incorporate a Large Central Island for Gathering A central island with seating, prep space, and a second sink was designed to be the heart of the kitchen—supporting cooking, conversation, and casual dining. 7. Enhance Entertaining Potential By connecting the kitchen to the living space and incorporating additional bar seating, the homeowners wanted a space that could comfortably accommodate guests and family gatherings. 8. Increase Home Value Through Timeless Finishes The homeowners chose high-quality, neutral materials like quartz countertops, white shaker cabinetry, and oak flooring to ensure the remodel would add long-term value and appeal.
Project Challenges
1. Raising the Ceiling Height The original kitchen had a drop ceiling with fluorescent panels, which significantly lowered the perceived height and created a cramped feel. Raising the ceiling to match the vaulted great room required removal of the entire closed off dated kitchen, reworking the ceiling joists, and integrating new insulation and drywall—challenging both structurally and logistically. 2. Structural Beam Installation at the Ridge To support the newly opened vaulted ceiling, a structural beam had to be installed along the ridge line. This required precise safety with three levels of scaffolding and coordination to ensure the load was properly transferred without compromising the integrity of the home’s roof. 3. Integration of Vaulted Ceiling With Existing Beam Architecture 4. The large ridge beam was a major challenge in itself. We had to set up scaffolding for our team to sand the existing beam to the raw wood so we could white wash to match the floors. Another issue was the existing beam and the new beam section had a tone difference since Douglas fir tends to darken over time. 4. Electrical Rerouting for Lighting and Appliances With the ceiling height raised and walls removed, existing wiring had to be rerouted for the new recessed lighting, pendant fixtures, and appliance locations. This included running new lines through restructured rafters. 5. HVAC Reconfiguration Adjusting for the increased ceiling volume also required changes to HVAC vent placement and relocated the supply grills at the toe kicks under the sinks for ultimate comfort. 6. Custom Cabinetry Fitment Along Vaulted Angles Installing tall cabinetry under a sloped ceiling, particularly around the new stove/hood location, presented alignment challenges. Custom modifications were required to maintain symmetry and aesthetics for the hood. Having our metal fabricators create a custom section of the hood to meet the ceiling flawlessly. 7. Maintaining Natural Light Flow Ensuring the windows and existing natural light sources were preserved and integrated into the new vaulted design was crucial. The removal of upper cabinetry around the windows made lighting balance and openness key. 8. Structural Load Transfers Removing walls and raising the ceiling changed the home’s load paths, necessitating careful analysis and reinforcement. This involved upgrading the non existing post to a PSL 6x6 and matching the existing ridge beam size made it above and beyond the engineering that was called out.
Materials/Techniques
This full kitchen and great room remodel features a high-end blend of natural textures, clean lines, and elevated functionality. Custom-built shaker cabinetry in a crisp white finish lines the perimeter, contrasted by a richly stained island that anchors the space. The countertops are dramatic Calacatta-style quartz with bold veining, finished with an eased edge modern look. A glossy, neutral-toned square tile backsplash adds a subtle sheen behind the stainless steel range hood, complementing the built-in, panel-ready appliances and brushed metal hardware. The lighting plan includes recessed LED cans and elegant glass pendant lights with a white wash finish, all carefully placed along the newly vaulted ceiling. The original drop ceiling was removed, and a structural ridge beam was installed to open the space and create architectural impact. White washed light oak flooring flows seamlessly from the kitchen into the living area, enhancing the open-concept layout. Matte black fixtures at both the island and the back bar add modern contrast, while dual undermount sinks and ample storage support both function and form. This remodel combines craftsmanship and thoughtful material choices to create a bright, inviting, and timeless kitchen built for entertaining and everyday living.
Contact The Remodeler
(208) 890-9664 merrickdesigngc@gmail.com Merrickgcdesign.com