501. A really GREAT great room and kitchen

Built in 2008 by a real estate developer… this house seemed to have it all; fabulous yard, amazing neighborhood, over 5000 square feet of living space until it came to the kitchen (the teeny weeny 10x5 kitchen- not kidding) and, well, the low ceilings on the main floor. I mean… why? Even the basement ceilings were taller.

Well this is what you have to love about renovating. It was such a fun project- and what a journey! Just goes to show you how a little investigative work can go a very long way. After first looking at the house and initially thinking “I don’t even know how I can help with this’ I climbed into the attic for a look around— and hit the jackpot! There was at least 12 feet of additional ceiling height sitting unused in the attic above the kitchen and living room. Moreover, all of the mechanicals were set outside the space— so there was relatively little to move to get the sort of volume we were looking for. Removing a few walls top open the kitchen up into the living room and connecting some unused laundry and pantry space was easy peasy.

We got to work and took advantage of the ceiling height hidden in the attic above the living room to create a new and very generous space with a 30 foot vaulted ceiling. We reset the back porch, added a 16 foot pocketing door system, completely redesigned the back porch and deck area, and turned an oddly large pantry, separate laundry room and teeny tiny 5x10 kitchen space into one big stunning kitchen and great room. I mean WOW.

Our trusty cabinetmaker Stephen, crafted a series of seamless kitchen vignettes to suit Michelle’s wonderful style and showcase her collection of Art Deco glass. Kitchen island, prep spaces, coffee bar, entertainment bar… its all there. I love working with clients who roll their sleeves up and get into the action- especially the owners of 501— who each have a strong sense of style and a solid grasp of how they want their home to function.

The open kitchen now flows into the living room/great room entertaining area and the new outdoor entertainment space. What an incredible before and after! Stay tuned for final pics.