Before + After: How to Make Your Kitchen Feel Larger

We’re reminiscing on this beautiful kitchen remodel that is a great example of a solution to a common design challenge. On many of our projects we are commonly asked, “How do I make my kitchen feel larger and more functional?” So today we are sharing some of our favorite remodel tips and tricks to help you create a more open and optimized kitchen.

BEFORE

AFTER

CHOOSE AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN

Oftentimes, the reason that a kitchen feels small and compact isn’t because it is lacking in square footage… It's because it has a terrible floor plan! Even the smallest of kitchens can be functional and open with the right layout. In this remodel, we chose to rework the entire kitchen so that we could introduce the space into the rest of the home and create a natural flow between the living room and kitchen. We removed unnecessary walls to open up the space even more and added a large kitchen island to create more seating space and blend the kitchen and living spaces.

SWITCH TO OPEN SHELVING

One important change we made to this kitchen was to swap out the upper cabinets for open shelving. Open shelves don’t take up the same amount of space that traditional cabinets do and they visually open up the space. Another bonus is that you can style and accessorize your shelves however you want, adding another layer of visual interest and personality. We love adorning open shelves with our favorite dishes, glassware, cookbooks, and even greenery.

TAKE YOUR TILE TO THE CEILING

One of the biggest kitchen mistakes commonly made in kitchen design is stopping the kitchen cabinets or tile short of the ceiling. Not only does this visually minimize your ceiling height, but it also can look inexpensive. Running your kitchen backsplash all the way up to your ceiling creates the effect of elongated walls and heightened ceilings, making your kitchen feel taller and more airy.