Loving your home doesn’t mean every part of it still works for you.
For homeowners in Kansas City, the goal wasn’t to find a new home. They wanted to stay in the home they already loved while updating the kitchen and fireplace to better reflect their current style, improve functionality and add value to the home.
Through the Winston Brown design-build process, the kitchen and surrounding living spaces were transformed with a more open layout, new cabinetry, updated materials and a redesigned fireplace.
The result changed more than individual rooms. When the project was complete, the homeowners felt like they were walking into a new home.
How Can You Update a Kitchen Without Changing the Entire Layout?
Sometimes, a significant transformation comes from identifying what is no longer working within the existing space.
In this kitchen, cabinetry above the island created a visual barrier between the kitchen and surrounding living areas. Because the homeowners weren’t using that cabinetry for storage, removing it opened the space and created a more inviting connection between the rooms.
The island could then become a stronger focal point, with new lighting helping complete the transformation.
The kitchen island became a stronger focal point once new pendant lighting was added.
This project is a good example of how a kitchen remodel doesn’t always require completely reinventing the floor plan. Thoughtful changes to the existing space can make it feel and function very differently.
Should You Refinish or Replace Kitchen Cabinets?
The original kitchen cabinetry was still in good condition, so painting or staining it was initially considered.
But condition isn’t the only factor when deciding whether to refinish or replace cabinets.
After comparing the cost of refinishing with the cost of new cabinetry, and considering the homeowners’ goals of updating the space and adding value to their home, new cabinetry ultimately made more sense for this project.
New cabinetry throughout the kitchen, from the island to the ceiling-height uppers.
What Materials Brought Warmth and Character to this Kitchen Remodel?
Mont Blanc quartzite countertops are one of the standout features of the finished kitchen. The cabinetry brings warmth and character to the space, while the EQU LARI Gris Nuage backsplash tile adds texture and detail. Careful alignment during installation gave the backsplash a clean, finished look.
Mont Blanc quartzite countertops paired with the EQU LARI Gris Nuage backsplash tile.
Together, these selections helped create a kitchen that feels cohesive while still giving each material and custom detail a chance to stand out.
How Can a Fireplace Remodel Change a Living Space?
The kitchen wasn’t the only part of the home that needed an update.
The existing fireplace featured heavy original molding that had become visually bulky and no longer reflected the homeowners’ preferred aesthetic. Removing that detailing allowed the fireplace to become a cleaner, more intentional feature within the room.
The redesigned fireplace became a cleaner, more intentional feature in the living room.
The updated fireplace incorporates Elan Ribbon Black tile, a honed Negresco granite hearth and an alder mantel in a Carbon finish.
A closer look at the Elan Ribbon Black tile, Negresco granite hearth and alder mantel.
Together, those changes gave the fireplace a new look while helping it feel connected to the updates happening throughout the rest of the home.
What Other Details Can Make an Older Home Feel More Current?
The project also addressed an outdated art niche in the entryway.
The niche was difficult for the homeowners to access and had become more of a place for dust to collect than a useful design feature. Removing it created a clean wall where the homeowners can now display a new piece of art.
It may be a smaller change compared with a new kitchen or fireplace, but it came from the same thoughtful approach used throughout the project: considering how the homeowners use the space and making changes that better fit their needs.
Remodeling the Home You Already Love
A remodel doesn’t always start because homeowners have fallen out of love with their home. Sometimes, it’s the opposite.
These homeowners wanted to stay. The opportunity was to update the spaces around them so their home better reflected their current style and needs.
New cabinetry, a custom range hood, and fresh tile bring warmth back to the kitchen.
The kitchen, fireplace and entryway each changed, but the biggest transformation was how those individual updates came together. The homeowners’ reaction summed it up: It felt like they were in a new home.
Even their teenage grandson approved, which the team considered pretty high praise.
If you love your home but there are spaces that no longer look, feel or function the way you want them to, you don’t necessarily need a new address. Reach out to Winston Brown to start a conversation about what your existing home could become.
Project Partners
This was a locally designed and built project completed alongside Kansas City-area trade partners, including J Thomas Home for custom woodwork and photography, ASMI Surfaces for tile and slab selections, Custom Wood Products for cabinetry, Ferguson for appliances and plumbing fixtures, and Wilson Lighting for lighting fixtures.