Aretz Interiors transformed a dark 70's style kitchen and family room in a lovely old home into a bright and airy space.

The first step in this project was to provide the client with renderings showing how the new kitchen would appear. Aretz completed virtual reality renderings of the kitchen area, allowing the client to visualize the changes in the kitchen area. The goals were to utilize space more efficiently, and lighten and brighten the entire kitchen and family room areas.

After the concept was established with virtual reality renderings, construction began. Aretz cleared out the entire kitchen down to the walls. All cabinets would be replaced, with the exception of cabinets above the kitchen peninsula, which blocked the view into the eat-in dining area and family room. All flooring was removed, and a wall between the family room and kitchen was removed to create a large and beautiful space for comfortable living.

In a virtually unused area on the wall with the refrigerator, Aretz designed a wall of cabinets that would incorporate the refrigerator into the kitchen design. Prior to this design change, the refrigerator jutted out into the kitchen space, beyond the small cabinets surrounding it. Aretz showed, with a virtual reality rendering, how cupboard space that was removed above the peninsula could be replaced with more than twice the original storage space!

The cabinet wall allowed for much deeper cabinets, with much more flexibility for inside shelf design. Smaller, angular cabinetry gently brings the refrigerator into line with the cabinets on the main wall.

New wood flooring, new lighting, and new wall covering completed the transformation in this gorgeous, funtional kitchen with storage space that is perfect!

The above and below images depict the dramatic transformation from dark to light in the eat-in dining area and family room. With the wall removed between the kitchen and family room, Aretz had an opportunity to design an entire, flowing space. Aretz used lighter tones in the wallcovering, carpet and seating, and painted the fireplace to brighten this lovely family room.

Note the difference in the view from the kitchen to the family room, after removing the cabinets above the peninsula. The cabinets allowed for a limited view of the eat-in dining before; once removed, a view from the kitchen to the family room fireplace was achieved.