While the progress of any design job is fun and exciting, there is not anything more gratifying than seeing it’s before and after. Seeing a photo of what was existing in a space next to a photo of how it evolved into a client’s dream is so rewarding.

This before and after was a favorite of last year. What was once an enclosed eat in kitchen became an expansive kitchen, mud room and desk area that opened into a warm den with fireplace seating. In this project the clients were open to adding windows, removing walls and redesigning the interior architecture which gave room for multiple space plan options. One of the most enjoyable parts of a renovation project for me is designing layouts for kitchens. There are often several ways to design a floor plan that is functional, interesting and beautiful. I love being able to present clients with multiple options so that they can choose what design suits them best. In this case the clients chose a plan with cabinets that wrapped the perimeter of the kitchen, came out into a peninsula with seating and had an additional island workspace. The cabinets continued along the back wall in the den to create a built-in desk. We were also able to incorporate a separate mud room off of the back door with laundry and a closet pantry. We selected warm neutral colors throughout, allowing for a bright and airy space. We brought color in with great vintage inspired rugs, wooden cutting boards, kantha quilts and pottery vases and bowls.

In the end the kitchen and den spaces were a complete transformation. During a fun collaboration with the clients we were able to update areas in a house that they loved in a fresh and purposeful way. To view the entire project, visit the Stanbury Ct project in my portfolio.