A&E Construction's Blog

Pennington Kitchen Remodel

Opening up a small, crowded kitchen in NJ

       A short while ago we completed our latest kitchen remodel, just in time for the holidays! Our client had recently moved into this home and was dissatisfied with the way the kitchen functioned. As it was before, the kitchen was closed off from the rest of the home with the single entrance being on the far end of the main first-floor hallway, next to the door to the garage.  There was only a very small peninsula to the side of the room for an eating space, which often doubled as a work space for our client when she worked from home.  Our client hoped to develop a design for her kitchen that would both create a better flow between the kitchen and the rest of the house, and also offer a better option for eating/work space.

After

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Before

       The finalized design that we used involved opening up the wall between the existing kitchen and dining room in order to connect the two spaces.  This allows the dining room which was previously underutilized, to function daily as the primary dining space of the home-- immediately accessible from the kitchen-- and also as a large work space when needed.  However because the room is only partially separated from the kitchen, it still functions as a more formal dining room whenever the client is entertaining.  The regal blue color of the dining room's walls helps to maintain this sense of spatial division, and is complimented by the lighter blue in the kitchen.

Layout Before Construction

Proposed Layout

After                                                                      After

After

       In addition to opening up the dining room wall, this kitchen renovation also involved many other improvements including removal of the existing soffits to allow for larger cabinets and crown molding.  A crackle-glaze subway tile was selected to add some texture to the walls, with under cabinet lighting to highlight the tile's subtle irregularities.  Oil rubbed cabinets give the space a slightly vintage feel and, in conjunction with a centerpiece industrial-style light fixture hung over the sink, bring together the kitchen in a rustic-contemporary aesthetic.  This timeless look will keep the kitchen appearing fresh and attractive for years to come.

After

After

After

Crackle Backsplash

Oil-rubbed Cabinetry