A Ranch Kitchen Renovation: Before and After

November 13, 2022 Janet Lorusso

This kitchen renovation is a throwback to a few years ago. I was visiting my dear friend the other day and finally got around to photographing this project!

My friend made the decision to downsize several years ago for the freedom of a smaller space and to be closer to the city and all it has to offer. She traded a 4 bedroom spacious colonial for a tiny ranch in a great location.

Downsizing is always a challenge. My friend is an avid cook and fellow inveterate dish collector. She did edit her dish collection (and I was the lucky recipient of some of it!), but the state of the kitchen was another matter entirely. It would HAVE to be gutted.

Fortunately, her brother is a very talented cabinetmaker and he offered to build her whatever she wanted. What she wanted was a gracious old-world looking kitchen with plenty of storage and workspace….and that is where I come in.

Existing Conditions

Dated finishes, tiny workspace, and limited storage were only some of the issues. This claustrophobic alley was also the main traffic route to the basement (with an office and the laundry room) and the door to the deck and backyard.

We knew we would be working in the existing footprint, which was adequate, but not huge. And we wanted a generous kitchen but still would need space for the living room seating, an entry area, and a dining solution.

The Plan

Inspiration pictures were collected, and floor plans were explored. The wall was definitely coming down!

We decided on option 2. It offers more workspace afforded by a generous island and more cabinet storage as well. Closing up the two windows on the rear wall and replacing them with a single larger window over the sink preserved the light and views and increased the available cabinet space.

We dd some concept sketches of the cabinet elevations and sizing and she sent her brother her inspiration pictures and he made her dream kitchen a reality. Cabinet feet, corbel brackets, and turned leg details give a furniture feel to the cabinetry.

Demolition

There is nothing glamorous about living in a construction zone! While it is really exciting and satisfying to start demolition, even pre-pandemic, this project dragged on with delays in getting the cabinets finished and shipped. And delays in getting the window fabricated and installed.

Finishes

We fell in love with the granite slabs at the stoneyard and paired it with a tumbled marble backsplash tile. Counters are such an important and visible part of the kitchen and in the case of open concept, the living space as well - you really need to love them!

Finishing touches include bronze hardware, lighted display cabinets, and a vintage chandelier over the island.

Finally, the cabinets are installed and the temporary kitchen has moved to a side wall. There might be a bit more alcohol in that temp kitchen at this point…but the end is in sight!

and we still don’t have a window, but the counters are installed!! Yay! #kitchenrenovation

And while the project was completed in a matter of months, not years, here we are 7 years later and the kitchen still looks as lovely as the day it was finished. And it is a pleasure to work in. We couldn’t ask for anything more from a kitchen!

subtle arches appear in the window valance and island end panels

curved custom hood and corbel brackets under cabinets frame the stove wall

detailing gives kitchen cabinetry more of a vintage furniture feel in this open concept space