Open Concept Kitchen Design and Remodel in Madison, Wis.

Here at Degnan Design Build Remodel, we participate in many area home shows to stay on top of the latest trends and often meet future customers at these types of events. That's where we met our clients, Mary and Ken.

They were in the process of evaluating their future needs and whether or not to sell their 1950's two-story Cape Cod home and move into a one-story home. After much careful deliberation, they decided that they loved their current location and neighborhood so much that it would make the most sense to upgrade their existing home to continue to age in place. 

They had some specific needs that our design team addressed. For example, the only bathroom was on the second floor, and the kitchen was closed off from the flow of the home and outdated, still having the original 1950s cabinetry. 

Mary and Ken wanted a new bathroom on the main level for both convenience and in case of illness or infirmity and an updated kitchen design to improve the flow, connect it to the living space, and add functionality. 

A Kitchen Design Challenge

As we began the design process, we determined that it wasn't possible to install a full bathroom on the first level, so we opted to create a powder room instead. 

To create the powder room, we carefully combined two closets. (There’s no “before” photo of the bathroom, as it didn’t exist!) To replace the closet storage and provide a bit of extra width for the new powder room, we also opted to take a small amount of space from the generously large living room. This not only created a better proportion for the living room, but it also ensured that the powder room fit comfortably into the space and didn't feel cramped.

To meet the local building codes, we needed to provide a wider door, which made reusing the original narrow doors impossible. We worked to match the home's original classic design by using pine for the door and baseboard to match the original trim's color. 

For the flooring, we chose Mannington Lattice Elderberry sheet vinyl in a basketweave pattern to give the powder room a classic look that is perfect for this size of a room. At the same time, we included an Epic Stone and Glass blend mosaic tile for the backsplash and added some excitement with Bostik Onyx Glitter grout. To give the room a contemporary pop of style, we added floating shelving.

We included the Kohler Cimarron two-piece toilet and Cimarron Pedestal Sink in white to maximize the space and design concept. We tied the traditional and contemporary design together with the two-light vanity fixture in Western Bronze by Quoizel, which lives comfortably between classic and modern design. Finally, to complete the design, we added Franklin Brass accessories and a Winston Porter Lamberson recessed medicine cabinet. 

Creating an Open Concept Kitchen Design

Mary and Ken's kitchen hadn't been updated since the 1950s with one exception, in the 1990s, a 36-inch Viking six-burner gas range and matching vent hood were installed. These high-quality products were left to continue their useful life in the remodeled kitchen. 

View Our Kitchen Remodeling Project Portfolio

The remodel's major goal was to bring the kitchen into the current century by connecting it to the rest of the living space. We began by removing a non-load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the space to create an open concept design. 

To add functionality to the kitchen, define the space, and provide a comfortable seating area, a peninsula cabinet was added. With just enough space for two seats, Mary and Ken now have both a formal dining room for family meals and a less formal area to enjoy each other's company.

We replaced the dated original 1950s cabinetry with all new Northern Classic cabinetry in Harvest stained Maple, with the Langlade door style and Amerock Highland Ridge hardware. To give the space a more open feel, we also installed custom-built floating shelves built by our carpenter Kelly Lawton. 

We added a second window in the kitchen. This gave us the perfect opportunity to free up counter space to take advantage of the new window by installing a Sharp Microwave Drawer into the peninsula, freeing up wall space to add additional cabinetry. A durable Cambria Windemere countertop with a “Double Treeline” edge profile was installed to improve functionality. 

Saving Space While Creating A Highly Functional Kitchen Design!

There was an additional inconvenience and wasted space in the original kitchen in the form of a door leading out to the back porch. It was a redundant feature as there was already a French door in the dining room, and it took up valuable space. We closed up the door in the kitchen and used the extra three feet of floor space to add a beautiful new pantry cabinet for additional storage. 

Functional kitchen design is the first and most important factor we consider when designing a kitchen space; however, we also consider our customer's aesthetic needs as well! 

Another feature of Mary and Ken's kitchen is the artistic composition of the backsplash tile by Manhatten 2nd Avenue and the custom-designed floating shelves. The workspace incorporates a floating shelf that runs continuously above the window and a pair of smaller shelves that provide the perfect termination point for the backsplash consistent with the other cabinetry. 

On the opposite side of the room, the backsplash tile extends all the way to the soffit, concealing the range hood's ductwork. To the right of the hood, the open shelving extends from the range hood to the cabinetry. No shelving was placed on the left side so Mary can hang her frequently used utensils to give her a functional true cook's kitchen!

The Result of the Kitchen Design Project

Our clients chose to remain in their home and create a space where they could safely and comfortably age in place. We achieved their goals. They now have exactly what they desired: a main level bathroom and a beautifully remodeled kitchen In their new open concept design, which will allow them to age in place for the foreseeable future. 

If you're planning a remodeling project, seeking to age in place, or want to explore the possibilities, give our award-winning design team a call at (608) 846-5963. We're always happy to talk to you about our process and show you what's possible!