OUR WORK
Cottage-Style Kitchen Remodel in Ann Arbor
A kitchen that kept the family apart became a warm space where they bake bread together.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
This Ann Arbor family loves to cook, and baking bread is a group activity. They loved their house but were tired of hard-to-reach cabinets, too little prep space and a kitchen cut off from the dining room. They needed several work zones, better storage and a warm, comfortable feel.
WHAT WE FOUND
The kitchen was a decent size but didn't work well. The pantry cabinet was narrow and deep and hard to reach into. A freestanding stove and fridge sat around a freestanding base cabinet, with no wall cabinets at all. The family had been storing kitchen things in other rooms, a sure sign the kitchen wasn't working.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We removed a non-load-bearing wall and turned it into a peninsula, opening the kitchen to the dining room.
THE INSPIRATION
A family that bakes bread together. They wanted a warm, comfortable kitchen to match how much they love to cook. Deep blue shaker cabinets, quartz, maple butcher block and textured tile give it a cozy cottage feel.
THE PLAN
We removed a non-load-bearing wall and created a peninsula, which opens the view and adds base cabinets. Appliances shifted to create side-by-side counter work zones. New wall cabinets add cooking storage, and a smaller fridge freed up room for more. The new layout also allows a corner lazy susan for larger items.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
The family bakes bread side by side, with counter space for everyone. Cooking gear lives in the kitchen now, close to where it's used. The kitchen opens to the dining room, so meals and baking feel like time together.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
A Warm, Hardworking Kitchen for a Family Who Loves to Cook
A kitchen remodel.
Ann Arbor.
Wall turned into a peninsula, side-by-side work zones, new wall cabinets, corner lazy susan, deep blue shaker cabinets.
THE FLOOR PLANS
What changed, and why.
We removed a non-load-bearing wall and turned it into a peninsula, opening the kitchen to the dining room.
BEFORE
AFTER
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
Taking out a small section of wall brought in daylight and opened sightlines. It also added storage and a handy surface for entertaining.
FEATURE 02
Reorganized appliances, new wall cabinets and an easy-to-reach corner cabinet keep cooking essentials close. Each cook has what they need right at their work zone.
FEATURE 03
Deep blue shaker cabinets, quartz, maple butcher block and textured porcelain tile create the warm, comfortable feel the homeowners asked for. The mix is easy to live with and made for real cooking.
THE PROJECT
A Warm, Hardworking Kitchen for a Family Who Loves to Cook
AT A GLANCE
A kitchen remodel.
Ann Arbor.
Wall turned into a peninsula, side-by-side work zones, new wall cabinets, corner lazy susan, deep blue shaker cabinets.
THE STORY
This Ann Arbor family loves to cook, and baking bread is a group activity. They loved their house but were tired of hard-to-reach cabinets, too little prep space and a kitchen cut off from the dining room. They needed several work zones, better storage and a warm, comfortable feel.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We removed a non-load-bearing wall and created a peninsula, which opens the view and adds base cabinets. Appliances shifted to create side-by-side counter work zones. New wall cabinets add cooking storage, and a smaller fridge freed up room for more. The new layout also allows a corner lazy susan for larger items.
