Kitchen Design
Before and Afters
Kitchen of the Week: An Open Layout With a Rustic Tile Backsplash
Removing walls opens up a Michigan kitchen, creating a more user-friendly space for an empty-nest couple
These empty nesters disliked everything about their kitchen — flooring, cabinets, appliances, cramped layout, even the location itself. To help them figure out how to improve the space, they turned to project manager Jessica Crosby, who owns Delight in Designs, and her lead designer, Leah Velzen. The two suggested knocking down walls and pushing the kitchen into the adjacent dining room to create a larger kitchen with a more open connection to other spaces.
The couple agreed, and Crosby and Velzen expanded the space, allowing for an L-shaped layout with a central island and more cabinet storage. They created a new dining room in what had been the living room and established a new living room where the old kitchen stood. For updated style, they played with two stains for the kitchen cabinetry — a chocolatey brown for the perimeter cabinets and a greige for the island — then elevated the design with gold details and a Spanish-villa-inspired, cement-look tile backsplash.
The couple agreed, and Crosby and Velzen expanded the space, allowing for an L-shaped layout with a central island and more cabinet storage. They created a new dining room in what had been the living room and established a new living room where the old kitchen stood. For updated style, they played with two stains for the kitchen cabinetry — a chocolatey brown for the perimeter cabinets and a greige for the island — then elevated the design with gold details and a Spanish-villa-inspired, cement-look tile backsplash.
Before Photo
Before: This photo, taken from the former living room, shows an empty area below a window that had been used as a dining area. The kitchen was through the door on the right, closed off from these spaces.
Need a pro for your kitchen remodeling project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
After: The window stayed in the same location, but Velzen and Crosby updated it with a slightly wider version. They then dramatically transformed the former dining space by knocking down walls surrounding the former kitchen and expanding the layout into the former dining area. The window to the right of the fridge had been over the sink in the former kitchen.
These major changes allowed the design team to greatly increase cabinet storage and countertop surface. The new open, L-shaped layout also freed up room for an island with seating and a sink.
New Shaker-style, full-overlay birch cabinets and drawers are finished in two tones: a water-based chocolate brown stain for the perimeter cabinets and a water-based greige stain on the base of the island. “They’re outdoorsy people and have lots of birds in their backyard,” Velzen says. “That’s why we choose those colors, to bring the outdoors in. And using a different color for the island makes it stand out more.”
Wood-look luxury vinyl flooring adds style and durability.
Find a kitchen designer
These major changes allowed the design team to greatly increase cabinet storage and countertop surface. The new open, L-shaped layout also freed up room for an island with seating and a sink.
New Shaker-style, full-overlay birch cabinets and drawers are finished in two tones: a water-based chocolate brown stain for the perimeter cabinets and a water-based greige stain on the base of the island. “They’re outdoorsy people and have lots of birds in their backyard,” Velzen says. “That’s why we choose those colors, to bring the outdoors in. And using a different color for the island makes it stand out more.”
Wood-look luxury vinyl flooring adds style and durability.
Find a kitchen designer
The island sink, gas range and stainless steel French door refrigerator create an efficient work triangle.
Two pantry cabinets to the right of the refrigerator hold a microwave and electrical outlets, as well as pullouts for easy-access storage of dry goods.
Shop for kitchen lights
Two pantry cabinets to the right of the refrigerator hold a microwave and electrical outlets, as well as pullouts for easy-access storage of dry goods.
Shop for kitchen lights
The backsplash consists of 6-by-13-inch porcelain tiles with a rustic Spanish-villa-inspired look in a cement gray color. “I wanted to make the backsplash the main focal point in this kitchen,” Velzen says.
The 30-inch smart Wi-Fi-enabled slide-in gas range includes five sealed burners, a griddle and a convection oven. The refrigerator also has Wi-Fi capability.
Backsplash: Provenzal Alhama Grey porcelain wall and Floor tile, 6 by 13 inches, The Tile Shop
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
The 30-inch smart Wi-Fi-enabled slide-in gas range includes five sealed burners, a griddle and a convection oven. The refrigerator also has Wi-Fi capability.
Backsplash: Provenzal Alhama Grey porcelain wall and Floor tile, 6 by 13 inches, The Tile Shop
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
The perimeter countertops are a marble-look laminate. “They wanted something kind of light and bright,” Velzen says. “The gray veining ties in with the backsplash and other details.”
The cabinet doors feature contemporary square knobs in a champagne bronze finish. The drawers feature pulls in the same finish.
A pullout to the left of the range offers storage for spices and cooking oils. Three drawers to the left of that store pots and pans. Upper cabinets hold everyday bowls, dishes and glasses.
Perimeter counters: 180fx Laminate, Formica; cabinetry hardware: Contemporary Metal Knob 841 and Contemporary Metal Pull 873, both in champagne bronze, Richelieu Hardware
The cabinet doors feature contemporary square knobs in a champagne bronze finish. The drawers feature pulls in the same finish.
A pullout to the left of the range offers storage for spices and cooking oils. Three drawers to the left of that store pots and pans. Upper cabinets hold everyday bowls, dishes and glasses.
Perimeter counters: 180fx Laminate, Formica; cabinetry hardware: Contemporary Metal Knob 841 and Contemporary Metal Pull 873, both in champagne bronze, Richelieu Hardware
A pair of pendant lights in an antique gold finish coordinate with other golden finishes. LED recessed lights provide general illumination.
The custom counter stools at the island have wood legs and comfortable upholstered seats.
Metal pendant light in antique gold, Kalalou; stools: custom, Canadel
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The custom counter stools at the island have wood legs and comfortable upholstered seats.
Metal pendant light in antique gold, Kalalou; stools: custom, Canadel
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A lower cabinet to the right of the range contains a lazy Susan.
The island countertop is quartz in a warm gray with a leathered finish. “We went with a more budget-friendly material for the perimeter and then used this quartz for the island,” Velzen says.
The island countertop is quartz in a warm gray with a leathered finish. “We went with a more budget-friendly material for the perimeter and then used this quartz for the island,” Velzen says.
A 30-inch farmhouse-style, single-basin fireclay sink is paired with a single-handle pull-down faucet in a champagne bronze finish. “The farmhouse sink was definitely something that was very important to her,” Crosby says.
A 24-inch stainless steel built-in dishwasher sits to the right of the sink. A pullout trash and recycling center is to the left.
Shop for farmhouse-style sinks
A 24-inch stainless steel built-in dishwasher sits to the right of the sink. A pullout trash and recycling center is to the left.
Shop for farmhouse-style sinks
Deep drawers under the upgraded vinyl window overlooking the backyard store oversize pots and pans.
Before Photo
Before: The former living room occupied the front of the home, doing little to make a good first impression.
After: The homeowners and design team relocated the living room to the other side of the kitchen and converted the space into the new dining room.
Muted warm tan walls (Canvas Tan by Sherwin-Williams), a bright white ceiling (Ceiling Bright White by Sherwin-Williams) and white trim with a yellow-beige undertone (Whitetail by Sherwin-Williams) provide a warm and welcoming backdrop to the rich wood furniture.
Velzen and Crosby transformed a former closet into a built-in coffee and cocktail bar with a repurposed arched door original to the house.
The openness between the spaces is just what the owners were looking for. “It allows them space to have their kids and grandchildren over, and have the open sightlines they wanted,” Velzen says.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Muted warm tan walls (Canvas Tan by Sherwin-Williams), a bright white ceiling (Ceiling Bright White by Sherwin-Williams) and white trim with a yellow-beige undertone (Whitetail by Sherwin-Williams) provide a warm and welcoming backdrop to the rich wood furniture.
Velzen and Crosby transformed a former closet into a built-in coffee and cocktail bar with a repurposed arched door original to the house.
The openness between the spaces is just what the owners were looking for. “It allows them space to have their kids and grandchildren over, and have the open sightlines they wanted,” Velzen says.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Ada, Michigan
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Designers: Project manager Jessica Crosby, who owns Delight in Designs, and her lead designer, Leah Velzen.
Before: The former kitchen was a cramped space enclosed by walls that separated it from the dining room and living room. The range sat squeezed between a wall and cabinets, leaving little countertop space between it and the double-bowl sink. “That stove was so close to the wall, it left burn marks,” Crosby says.