Opened wall between sunroom and kitchen to achieve open concept. Built platform to extend cabinets and stove into sunroom. 12" overhang for eat in kitchen area near stove. New cabinets and kitchen layout with custom backsplash. Commercial Faucet and garbage disposal.

This 1930’s gem did not have a functional, beautiful kitchen. In fact, many cabinets barely opened, and some appliances didn’t even work. The top priority was to replace the cabinetry, appliances, and finishes in the main kitchen and butler’s pantry for better functionality. The original footprint was kept mostly intact, with only minor adjustments to improve flow, connectivity, and layout. Custom cabinetry was designed to enhance storage, and a suite of high-performance appliances was installed. Finishes like a herringbone tile floor and soapstone countertops were chosen for longevity and durability. The secondary goal was to match the beauty of the rest of the home, with traditional elements, symmetry, and warmth. Details like fluting on the range hood and a unique corbel shape mirror original moldings. Stained oak accents were color-matched to the home’s existing woodwork. White oak cabinet interiors and custom inserts create a furniture-like feel. The finished design blends seamlessly into the historic home, and also enhances functionality for day-to-day living, hosting, and gathering.

Curtis and Peggy had been thinking of a kitchen remodel for quite some time, but they knew their house would have a unique set of challenges. Their older Victorian house was built in 1891. The kitchen cabinetry was original, and they wanted to keep the authenticity of their period home while adding modern comforts that would improve their quality of life. A friend recommended Advance Design Studio for their exceptional experience and quality of work. After meeting with designer Michelle Lecinski at Advance Design, they were confident they could partner with Advance to accomplish the unique kitchen renovation they’d been talking about for years. “We wanted to do the kitchen for a long, long time,” Curtis said. “(We asked ourselves) what are we actually going to do? How are we going to do this? And who are we going to find to do exactly what we want?” The goal for the project was to keep the home renovation and new kitchen feeling authentic to the time in which it was built. They desperately wanted the modern comforts that come with a larger refrigerator and the dishwasher that they never had! The old home was also a bit drafty so adding a fireplace, wall insulation and new windows became a priority. They very much wanted to create a comfortable hearth room adjacent to the kitchen, complete with old world brick. The original cabinetry had to go to make way for beautiful new kitchen cabinetry that appears as if it was a hundred years old, but with all the benefits of cutting-edge storage, self-closing drawers, and a brand-new look. “We just wanted to keep it old looking, but with some modern updates,” Peggy said. Dura Supreme Highland Cabinets with a Heritage Old World Painted Finish replaced the original 1891 cabinets. The hand-applied careful rubbed-off detailing makes these exquisite cabinets look as if they came from a far-gone era. Despite the small size of the kitchen, Peggy, Curtis and Michelle utilized every inch with custom cabinet sizes to increase storage capacity. The custom cabinets allowed for the addition of a 24” Fisher Paykel dishwasher with a concealing Dura Supreme door panel. Michelle was also able to work into the new design a larger 30” Fisher Paykel French refrigerator. “We made every ¼ inch count in this small space,” designer Michelle said. “Having the ability to custom size the cabinetry was the only way to achieve this.” “The kitchen essentially was designed around the Heartland Vintage range and oven,” says Michelle. A classic appliance that combines nostalgic beauty and craftsmanship for modern cooking, with nickel plated trim and elegantly shaped handles and legs; the not to miss range is a striking focal point of the entire room and an engaging conversation piece. Granite countertops in Kodiak Satin with subtle veining kept with the old-world style. The delicate porcelain La Vie Crackle Sonoma tile kitchen backsplash compliments the home’s style perfectly. A handcrafted passthrough designed to show off Peggy’s fine china was custom built by project carpenters Justin Davis and Jeff Dallain to physically and visually open the space. Additional storage was created in the custom panty room with Latte Edinburg cabinets, hand-made weathered wood shelving with authentic black iron brackets, and an intricate tin copper ceiling. Peggy and Curtis loved the idea of adding a Vermont stove to make the hearth-room not only functional, but a truly beckoning place to be. A stunning Bordeaux red Vermont Castings Stove with crisp black ventilation was chosen and combined with the authentic reclaimed Chicago brick wall. Advance’s talented carpenters custom-built elegant weathered shelves to house family memorabilia, installed carefully chosen barn sconces, and made the hearth room an inviting place to relax with a cup of coffee and a good book. “Peggy and Curtis’ project was so much fun to work on. Creating a space that looks and feels like it always belonged in this beautiful old Victorian home is a designer’s dream. To see the delight in their faces when they saw the design details coming together truly made it worth the time and effort that went into making the very compact kitchen space work”, said Michelle. “The result is an amazing custom kitchen, packed with functionality in every inch, nook and cranny!” exclaims Michelle. The renovation didn’t end with the kitchen. New Pella windows were added to help lessen the drafts. The removal of the original windows and trim necessitated the re-creation of hand-made corbels and trim details no longer available today. The talented carpenter team came to the rescue, crafting new pieces and masterfully finishing them as if they were always there. New custom gutters were formed and installed with a front entry rework necessary to accommodate the changes. The whole house functions better, but it still feels like the original 1891 home. “From start to finish it’s just a much better space than we used to have,” Peggy said. “Jeff and Justin were amazing.” Curtis added; “We were lucky to find Advance Design, because they really came through for us. I loved that they had everything in house, anything you needed to have done, they could do it”.

Lee Monarch
Mid-sized trendy l-shaped laminate floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen photo with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea

This small U-Shaped kitchen received a complete overhaul with a new layout to improve function as wall as the addition of an island with bar top to provide extra storage as well as a great eat-in area. New Shaker style Cherry cabinets are paired with a crisp white and gray granite and white subway tile for an overall clean and fresh renovation.

Full kitchen and living area home renovation located in Palm Harbor, FL. Features include double islands, built-in ice maker, pot filler, Sub-Zero refrigerator, plank tile flooring, stacked stone backsplash, industrial range hood, wall oven, built-in entertainment center, and wet bar area.

Full kitchen and living area home renovation located in Palm Harbor, FL. Features include double islands, built-in ice maker, pot filler, Sub-Zero refrigerator, plank tile flooring, stacked stone backsplash, industrial range hood, wall oven, built-in entertainment center, and wet bar area.

Opened wall between sunroom and kitchen to achieve open concept. Built platform to extend cabinets and stove into sunroom. 12" overhang for eat in kitchen area near stove. New cabinets and kitchen layout with custom backsplash. Commercial Faucet and garbage disposal.

Full kitchen and living area home renovation located in Palm Harbor, FL. Features include double islands, built-in ice maker, pot filler, Sub-Zero refrigerator, plank tile flooring, stacked stone backsplash, industrial range hood, wall oven, built-in entertainment center, and wet bar area.

Shoot2Sell
Inspiration for a cottage kitchen remodel in Dallas

Powder room - small shabby-chic style porcelain tile, white floor and wallpaper powder room idea in New York with white cabinets, red walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a freestanding vanity

Coral Honeysuckle at Garden in the Woods, the botanic garden of New England Wild Flower Society Photo copyright Ellen Sousa/THBFarm

Lee Monarch
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped laminate floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen remodel with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

A standing desk is a popular way to improve your circulation and boost your brainpower … but who wants to be on their feet all day? Create the perfect home office with the Portland Power Desk. The quick and quiet electric height adjustment ranges from 29"-52", so the desk can be used for sitting or standing. The gorgeous Urban-inspired design features two utility drawers, a pullout keyboard, two USB power ports with two AC outlets. Like this look? Grab it by clicking here

Transitional two-tone kitchen project for a newly developed home in Manhasset, NY. The kitchen was designed by Rudy Roudiani and manufactured in Minnesota by Plato Woodwork.

Full kitchen and living area home renovation located in Palm Harbor, FL. Features include double islands, built-in ice maker, pot filler, Sub-Zero refrigerator, plank tile flooring, stacked stone backsplash, industrial range hood, wall oven, built-in entertainment center, and wet bar area.

Full kitchen and living area home renovation located in Palm Harbor, FL. Features include double islands, built-in ice maker, pot filler, Sub-Zero refrigerator, plank tile flooring, stacked stone backsplash, industrial range hood, wall oven, built-in entertainment center, and wet bar area.

Without increasing the size of the kitchen, we reworked the space to create a family friendly design. This was accomplished by moving the range to the island, adding counter seating and increasing storage with full height cabinetry. New larger windows were added in the dining room to replace small punch openings and natural lighting in the kitchen was improved by adding low counter height windows. © Andrew Pogue Photo