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Emily A. Clark

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Our Kitchen Layout (Before & After)

June 20, 2017

After sharing most of the “after” pictures of our kitchen remodel, I wanted to follow up with a post to show you how we changed the actual layout.

green and white kitchen renovation

 

As with most traditional 30-year-old houses, ours had a formal dining room (attached to the kitchen). Before the renovation, we had been using ours as a sitting/piano room.In our previous houses, we’ve either never used the dining room or turned it into a home office. I didn’t see us turning into a formal dining kind of family anytime soon, and we need all the kitchen space we can get. We knew from the start that the wall that separated the two rooms was coming out to make one large space.

renovation, week 1

 

I initially had my heart set on a sink in front of the row of windows at the end of our kitchen that overlooks the backyard. The designer we worked with helped me walk through a day (in my mind) of how that would work logistically. She helped me see that it would create a really busy traffic pattern in my main workspace, resulting in lots of frustration and probable yelling. :)

 

That’s when the idea of the of the sink in the island (and FIVE bar stools, please) came into play. This has worked out really well. I’m able to stand behind the island and get the kids what they need and then clean up all from one spot. There’s a dishwasher on each side of the sink. (No regrets there.)

 

Behind the island is our range, open shelving and lower cabinet storage. This is where the stove–and all of our countertop space–was before.

MLS photo

soon after we moved in

renovation, week 1

 

Again, I’m staying in mostly the same area when I’m unloading the dishwashers. It’s nice to just be able to turn around and place most of what we use every day on the open shelves.

 

I remember some of you being concerned about the refrigerator being on the other side of the island. To tell you the truth, there wasn’t a lot of options since we were working with a fairly long space. But it hasn’t bothered me at all to walk around the end of the island to get what I need. (If that’s my worst problem. . . ) And I’m especially good at telling the kids to get off their stools and get me what I need. ;) Before the renovation, the stove was in this space.

MLS listing photo

after we moved in

We also removed the pantry closet right beside of it (behind the shelving unit) which ate up a lot of floor space.

Yes, I love the huge fridge/freezer. An appliance post coming soon. . .

 

We opted for two pull-out pantries that are both in “the green section” of our kitchen. I keep our food in one and dishes/serving pieces in the far one by the front window. And, as I’ve mentioned before, the addition of comfortable chairs has made this area my favorite spot in the house. (This area is what was previously the dining room/black sitting room.)

MLS photo

the front room before we started renovation

 

On the opposite end of the kitchen (by the back door), we kept our dining table.  I had originally envisioned a built-in window seat, but in the end decided that’s not where I wanted to use our budget. (It would’ve required reworking the windows.) I’m glad, because we use the table way less than we do the island.

MLS photo

 

Anything I missed? Let me know. :)

 

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In case you missed our kitchen reveal, you can find that post (and sources for everything) here.

 

 

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Filed Under: before and after, kitchen renovation, kitchens, our home, Uncategorized Tagged With: before & after, kitchen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. stacy says

    June 20, 2017 at 11:50 am

    I’ve been meaning to comment for sometime now.
    I just want to give you props for creating a Stunning space – while also maintain a personal, lived in feel. So many of these blogs are beautiful, but they look more like a catalog for Home Goods and ultimately more generic. I love all of your personal touches–kids artwork, family photos, sentimental items; all of which make your beautifully styled home have a personality.

    I absolutely love all of the finishes and bold green in your kitchen!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      June 20, 2017 at 1:43 pm

      Thank you, Stacy!

      Reply
  2. Liz says

    June 20, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    Do you mind sharing who you used as your kitchen designer? It’s beautiful!

    Reply
  3. Amanda K. says

    June 20, 2017 at 2:22 pm

    This is just SO BEAUTIFUL! My question is — your whole family eats at the table? Is it large enough for hosting? Like, even if you have one other family over you’ll have 10+ people.

    I want to renovate our kitchen (we live in an adjacent neighborhood to John and Sherry Petersik and have the same layout as they do!) but I am hesitant to get rid of our dining room because we OFTEN host 10-15+ people.

    Reply
  4. Tracy says

    June 20, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    It’s just sooooo good! Love it!

    Reply
  5. Sheila says

    June 20, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    Beautiful kitchen and thanks so much for posting this. Now I can go back to your previous post and make sense of it – of course the photos were beautiful in that post but I was lost and couldn’t figure out what was what!

    Reply
  6. Amy P says

    June 20, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    Emily I am looking into redoing my kitchen and was wondering if you could share the dimensions of yours (width and length). I love the integration of a seating area on one end and dining on the other.

    Reply
  7. Amy P says

    June 20, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    I guess my real question other than how long is your room is how much space is between the wall and the island and then the island to the back counter. Thanks for any help!

    Reply
  8. Kelly says

    June 20, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    Would you mind giving dimensions of your beautiful kitchen??I am hoping to renovate my kitchen to something very similar.

    Reply
  9. Kristen H. says

    June 20, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    Best kitchen remodel EVER. I love this design and the well thought out placement for everyday life. I live in a 5 over 4 with a door too and this kitchen is my inspiration for my someday kitchen remodel .

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      June 21, 2017 at 8:42 am

      Thanks Kristen!

      Reply
  10. JennyBC says

    June 20, 2017 at 9:29 pm

    This space is really lovely and looks so workable for a family. My one question would be do you like having your kitchen so open when you enter your house? I am assuming your front door is right by the green part of the kitchen…I am such a mess maker in the kitchen sometimes that I might be anxious about having it so visible. Of course, if I had a space to bring the mail, purses and book bags into without my kitchen being the dumpsite for all of that it would help tremendously! Any thoughts on where to put the things you use daily without it becoming a fixture in the kitchen?

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      June 21, 2017 at 8:41 am

      Yes, the green part is by the front door so you’re actually just seeing the sitting area. You can a better shot from our front entry here: https://emilyaclark.com/2016/09/our-green-kitchen-keeping-room.html

      We rarely use the front door. Most stuff is dumped on the table toward the back of the kitchen. :)

      Reply
  11. Arijana C. says

    June 21, 2017 at 8:30 am

    I am in love with your kitchen!!!
    The kitchen upgrade, shortly after you moved in, did you paint the cabinets or get new ones? I can’t remember even though i’ve been following you for some time now.

    Reply
    • Arijana C. says

      June 21, 2017 at 8:31 am

      I just found the answer :) Nevermind.

      Reply
  12. naz says

    June 21, 2017 at 8:32 am

    I really like the lighting fixtures as they are so cool and modern looking. I detest a school house light because of how little light you actually get from it. So glad that the kitchen works out for your family of 7. It’s fantastic looking.

    Reply
  13. Dirose says

    June 21, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    YOU HAVE AN AMAZING AREA!! Love your style. (Have followed you for years.)
    Love your choice of colors. Thanks for this post-loved how detailed you got!
    😍

    Reply
  14. Kim Lubs says

    June 21, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    So innovative getting rid of the formal dining and extending the kitchen that way! I’ve saved all of it on my Pinterest board for inspiration. My kitchen/dining room is laid out the same and I’d love to combine the 2 like you did. Not only is your layout innovative, but the green cabs, gallery wall and the sitting area. Love it all! I’ve been following you through 3? houses now and its so cool to see how your style has evolved! Always one of my style inspirations! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      June 22, 2017 at 5:47 pm

      Thank you, Kim! Hoping we’re in this house to stay (for a long while…).

      Reply
  15. Mary says

    June 21, 2017 at 7:09 pm

    Your kitchen turned out beautifully. I’m surprised you used a kitchen designer. At some point I want to do my 20 year old kitchen. My husband thinks we can do it ourselves.
    Maybe you can write about what a kitchen designer can bring to a project. And what percent it adds to the cost of the project.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      June 22, 2017 at 5:45 pm

      I have that on my list of to-write posts. She really helped me think through the layout/function and then I was able to pick out the pretty stuff. Although it was nice to have another brain to pick for all of my decisions and we ended up becoming fast friends, which was just a bonus. :)

      Reply
  16. Lisa G says

    June 22, 2017 at 11:00 am

    Such a well thought out kitchen, Emily! Would you mind sharing the white paint color you used on your island/cabinets?

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      June 22, 2017 at 5:46 pm

      I don’t know! That’s a terrible answer :)

      My contractor had them sprayed before he brought them in and I just told him white.

      Reply
      • Lisa G says

        June 23, 2017 at 1:29 pm

        Ha, I love it! One less decision would be great for me at this point in our reno! Thanks for the reply.

        Reply
  17. Julie says

    June 23, 2017 at 8:57 am

    Absolutely beautiful
    Did you paint your cabinets (before) and what color did you use and on your wall? Thank you

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      June 25, 2017 at 6:56 pm

      Hi, Here are the colors I used and more pics:

      https://emilyaclark.com/2015/09/our-white-kitchen-cabinets-granite.html

      Reply
  18. Peggy Sullivan says

    June 23, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    I just love this step by step of the renovation!! We are planning to renovate the kitchen in our Catskills house so I am soaking up all of your ideas. The rectory kitchen is tiny and even though it has been redone, it was a rather thoughtless plan….and in any case it’s not ours, it’s the church’s house so I can’t really do much to spiff it up. Thanks for all the great ideas!! xo

    Reply
  19. Lora says

    June 24, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    Loved this post, Emily! Layout, design and function is always so fascinating to me. Interesting to see what and how you made each decision.

    Reply
  20. Alison says

    July 2, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    I love your kitchen layout/remodel! And I just love your style too-so “non-Stepford”! While I LOVE the current what I call “Stepford” look (white cabinets, subway tile, white slipcovered furniture,etc.) that I see everywhere, you’ve inspired me to add a unique style to it. It makes so much sense to expand the kitchen (a room used so often) into the formal dining room (a room way pay a mortgage to use once per year)…I just moved into a 1790 reproduction salt box colonial and I too changed our formal (and tiny!) dining room into a home office. Instead of having a formal living room and family room, I used the larger living room as the “great room” and put a large farm table in what was our family room to create an entertaining space. I have a lot of plans for the entertaining space but that will take some time, as it always does:) I read your blog regularly and thank you for being so real and authentic.

    Reply
  21. Shawnee says

    August 15, 2017 at 10:20 am

    I have been DYING to find out what color your green cabinets are! PLEASE SHARE!!!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      August 15, 2017 at 10:27 am

      Deep Jungle by BM

      Reply
  22. Sara says

    August 18, 2018 at 8:06 pm

    Beautiful kitchen Emily…where are your simple metal barstools from? Would love a source on those!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      August 21, 2018 at 8:48 am

      Sure–I included sources for everything at the bottom of this kitchen post:

      https://emilyaclark.com/2017/06/green-white-kitchen-renovation.html

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. WEEK 32 | Curated Kansas Life says:
    August 19, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    […] – her style is clean and fresh, with unique statement pieces and pops of color throughout. In this post Emily reveals her new kitchen layout, and let me tell you, if you’re into SUPER SATISFYING […]

    Reply

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