Great Room Lightens Up to Become a Comfy Hangout
A designer helps homeowners say goodbye to drab finishes and create a beachy, relaxed and upscale feel
Erin Carlyle
August 22, 2019
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
Before they remodeled, the owners of this home in Manhattan Beach, California, loved the fact that their kitchen, dining and living spaces were open to one another in one large great room. But they didn’t like the kitchen’s finishes or layout. Stylistically, they wanted the kitchen to fit in better with the adjacent spaces, and functionally, they wanted to create a better flow for their family and add more storage. They hired designer Wendy Word to remake this important space in their home.
“After” photos by Ryan Garvin
Great Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a child
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Size: 880 square feet (82 square meters)
Designer: Wendy Word Design
This photo shows the kitchen and dining zones in the great room after renovation. The cabinetry and island now have a furniture-like feel, which helps the kitchen better relate to the dining and living areas of the great room. “We wanted the language of the entire room to be consistent,” Word says.
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Great Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a child
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Size: 880 square feet (82 square meters)
Designer: Wendy Word Design
This photo shows the kitchen and dining zones in the great room after renovation. The cabinetry and island now have a furniture-like feel, which helps the kitchen better relate to the dining and living areas of the great room. “We wanted the language of the entire room to be consistent,” Word says.
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Before Photo
Before: Here’s a look at the kitchen prior to the remodel. When the homeowners purchased the home, the kitchen had dark cabinets and beige counters. They didn’t like the colors or the fact that the range hood was part of the island.
Before Photo
Before: This was the setup across from the kitchen island. (The chair in the bottom left corner of the photo is a bar stool at the island.) The homeowners used this area as a family lounging space.
Before Photo
Before: The lounging zone had built-in bookshelves and cabinetry on the wall behind the sofa.
After: Here’s how the family lounge area and kitchen look now. The wall with the new built-in cabinetry in the lounge area is the same wall with the former built-in cabinetry in the previous photo.
Note that the wall cabinetry for the kitchen and lounge area have different finishes and that the entertainment center and kitchen island are constructed from the same wire-brushed white oak. Blue runs throughout the space via the rugs, sofas, backsplash behind the range and island bar stools, helping to create a unified feel.
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Note that the wall cabinetry for the kitchen and lounge area have different finishes and that the entertainment center and kitchen island are constructed from the same wire-brushed white oak. Blue runs throughout the space via the rugs, sofas, backsplash behind the range and island bar stools, helping to create a unified feel.
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The cabinetry is a modified Shaker style with a step — see the extra indent on the inner edge of the stiles and rails — painted in a soft gray (Oh Deer by Portola Paints & Glazes).
The countertops on both the island and the perimeter are Calacatta marble. The walnut floors are the same as before the renovation, but Word had them sanded, stripped and treated with oil to show off their natural beauty.
The countertops on both the island and the perimeter are Calacatta marble. The walnut floors are the same as before the renovation, but Word had them sanded, stripped and treated with oil to show off their natural beauty.
The backsplash behind the range is zellige tile in the great room’s signature blue. “We wanted some color in something that related to the rest of the room,” Word says.
The brushed stainless steel range hood has brass straps and rivets that contrast with the polished nickel pot filler and cabinet pulls. “We wanted mixed metals throughout the home,” Word says. Custom pendant lights over the island are painted (Black Blue by Farrow & Ball) and have brushed brass detailing.
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The brushed stainless steel range hood has brass straps and rivets that contrast with the polished nickel pot filler and cabinet pulls. “We wanted mixed metals throughout the home,” Word says. Custom pendant lights over the island are painted (Black Blue by Farrow & Ball) and have brushed brass detailing.
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In front of the sink window, Word installed a custom brass and oak shelving unit that she designed, which adds another pop of gold to the space. The homeowners use it to store their attractive everyday glassware.
Across from the kitchen island is the dining area, which features a custom table base and a found vintage tabletop. The settee was made custom for this space and is upholstered in linen.
In the family lounge zone, Word and Megan Acuna, a lead designer on her staff, collaborated on the design for a sophisticated built-in entertainment center. The portion beneath the TV holds electronics components. On the right tower beneath the open shelving is a drawer that hides a docking station for remotes and for charging. Cabinets to the left of the television contain games and reading materials.
The family spends time here most days relaxing or eating. The sofas are hardworking stonewashed denim, a fabric Word considers integral to the beach lifestyle because of its carefree vibe and durability.
The throw pillows are made from vintage textiles from around the world. The antique Chinese coffee table is painted elm, brushed so the grain shows through.
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The family spends time here most days relaxing or eating. The sofas are hardworking stonewashed denim, a fabric Word considers integral to the beach lifestyle because of its carefree vibe and durability.
The throw pillows are made from vintage textiles from around the world. The antique Chinese coffee table is painted elm, brushed so the grain shows through.
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Word styled the open shelves in the entertainment center with the homeowners’ books, as well as art they’ve collected while traveling, which she had reframed. She added the ceramic objects to the decorative mix.
Across from the entertainment center is a large bifold door leading to the back patio. To the right of the door, Word replaced a dated and unneeded corner fireplace with a beverage center for easy entertaining. The beverage center contains a wine cooler and refrigerated beverage drawers. “We were trying to create a place for them to casually entertain kids and adults alike,” she says.
The beverage center is painted Studio Green by Farrow & Ball. Word styled its shelving with a collection of the owners’ martini shakers, barware and glassware, as well as accents that complemented their existing items.
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Beachy style?
What a terrific well-thought-through transformation. The kitchen layout is much better now and hopefully the awkward but useful corner pantry has been replaced with enough storage (I feel that a kitchen cannot do without a pantry). The only thing I noticed was in the photo showing a glipse of the beautiful entry stair, I would have pulled the two side chairs out to allow an easier entry to the facing sofas, and cattycornered the chairs at an angle in front of the breakfront and next to the side tables, so the sitting area was not seemingly so crowded together. I loved the combination of the gold metal with the dark open shelving between the island and the banquet seating area. It is a really charming room now.
Who makes those gorgeous backsplash tiles?