A Kitchen and Mudroom Renovation for this Townhome Condominium

We completed a kitchen and mudroom renovation for our clients, recently retired professors Robert and Rosalie.

When we first met, Robert and Rosalie were splitting their time between their Middleton townhouse and teaching in England. Having recently retired, they were coming home to enjoy their retirement in Wisconsin. They came to us seeking a kitchen and mudroom renovation.

Their townhome was built in the 1980s and looked the part. The U-shaped kitchen had an inefficient layout that included a mostly unused peninsula, and the refrigerator stuck into the space, restricting the flow and creating an obstacle. Along with a kitchen remodeling, Robert and Rosalie wanted improvements to the front entry/mudroom, which had four door openings in an already cramped space, and the dated corner fireplace removed to make room for a better dining area.

Let's take a closer look at our transformation for this townhouse condominium!

Improving the Front Entry

Our kitchen and mudroom renovation started with improvements to the front entry. The existing entry was a small square room that featured four door openings in a relatively cramped space. The room was home to the front door of the house. On one side of the room was a second door into the garage and a bi-fold closet door on the opposite wall. Directly opposite the front door was another door leading into the main living area of the townhouse.

The front door and door to the garage were necessary and could not be moved. The fourth door leading into the living space functioned as an airlock allowing the homeowners to enter their living space without letting out the heat or air conditioning, keeping their home energy consumption down and the home comfortable. Since energy efficiency was a key feature for Robert and Rosalie, this door could not be moved or removed.

That left us with the bi-fold door into the closet. After several design ideas, our solution to improve the mudroom was to remove the closet, eliminate the door, and replace it with a mudroom bench and a tall cabinet for storing coats and shoes. This made the entire front entry/mudroom look and feel more spacious and eliminated the cramped feeling.

Moving Up to the Kitchen

From the entry, the kitchen was up a half-flight of stairs. The original layout of the space was poor and inefficient. The U-shaped kitchen placed the range in the middle of the “U”. A deep refrigerator was poorly placed and stuck into the kitchen, creating an obstacle, the cabinets were old and dated. A soffit placed above the upper cabinets made the room feel tight.

Robert and Rosalie were happy with the general size of the kitchen and knew that the existing layout and cabinets were holding them back from an efficient and functional kitchen. Redesigning the cabinetry was a fun challenge. After several design revisions, our final solution resulted in a vastly improved kitchen for the couple.

We started our kitchen renovation by strategically placing the appliances. We moved the range and micro-hood from the middle of the “U” to across from the sink and dishwasher. This gave us the space to create a unique pantry solution where the range used to be, giving Robert and Rosalie a much more efficient and spacious storage option. At 18 inches deep, the new pantry was a little shallower than the standard 24-inch base cabinets. This gave the homeowners more accessible storage since items would not be lost in the back of the cabinet. It also allowed us to add another 6 inches of counter space.

Because we had moved the pantry, the refrigerator could slide to the end of the kitchen to where the pantry was previously. This gave plenty of space to either side of the range in its new position. We switched the sink and dishwasher in the layout, giving the sink a bit more room, and we cut the column back slightly to create enough space for another shallow base cabinet.

Once we had repositioned the appliances, we began to work on designing the new cabinetry, incorporating clever storage wherever possible. We removed the soffit and extended the upper cabinets to the ceiling. This provided Robert and Rosalie with more storage space and gave the room a more modern, mid-century aesthetic. We worked through several design concepts to include seating near the kitchen. Our final design incorporated a circular seating area at the end of the peninsula, further defining a mid-century modern look.

Removing the Fireplace

The last item on Robert and Rosalie's list was the removal of the corner fireplace. The existing fireplace was awkwardly placed, and the couple never used it. We removed the fireplace and, in its place, installed two new energy-efficient, low-E glass windows in the corner. This not only opened up the space but also flooded it with lots of natural light, creating a more open and inviting living room.

View The Portfolio Pictures Of This Condominium Project

The result of our kitchen and mudroom renovation is a home with much better flow throughout. From the new front entry and kitchen to the dining room, Robert and Rosalie's home now offers a cohesive design aesthetic, better flow, and improved energy efficiency! This couple can now enjoy their retirement years in a newly remodeled, energy-efficient home!

Are you considering a kitchen remodeling or other home improvement project? Let us help you design the perfect finished space! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.