Case Study: Kitchen and Dining Room Renovation

Overall Kitchen Before

​After many long hours reviewing and considering all of the different design solutions for this kitchen and dining room, I guided my clients to the design that created the most functional kitchen and flow from one room to another.
Previously, the homeowners had to walk through their kitchen and into the dining room to gain entry to the family room. With the new design, the family room now feels connected through the open concept design and relocation of the entryway. A new option for lounging was made possible with the addition of built-in banquette seating in the dining room and better visibility of the kitchen from the living room was created by enlarging the entryway. Granite counter tops, high-end appliances, and custom lighting are some of the highlights of this newly renovated area.

Overall Kitchen After

Refrigerator Wall Before

Refrigerator Wall After

• Refrigerator and desk replaced with coffee bar
• Island replaced with peninsula
• Entry to living room enlarged and French doors added

New Refrigerator Wall After

• Custom built-in look with pantry, refrigerator, and double ovens (previously, this wall was unused)

Cooking Area Before

Cooking Area After

• Larger cooktop
• Larger prep area on both sides of the cooktop
• Built-in water faucet for filling large pots

Cooking Area After

• Cook top and microwave were relocated to separate areas
• Island replaced with a peninsula
• Refrigerator relocated and built in
• Cut-out window in front of sink was expanded and incorporated into a new entry into the family room

Microwave Wall Before

Microwave Wall After

• Microwave is relocated to a designated prep station

Sink Area Before

Sink Area After

• Sink area is completely open to family room

Dining Room Before

Dining Room After

• built-in banquette seating
• removed the window treatments (privacy is not a concern)
• orientation of floor boards were changed 

This project took place over about a two-year period. What sets me apart from other designers is that my clients are DIYers (do-it-yourself). We schedule a consultation, I prepare conceptual designs, dimension floor plans, inspirational pictures, elevations, etc and my clients either do the work or hire contractors. I may or may not see the finished project because my work is on the front end. 

Here is what my client said (found on my website on Houzz):

"We hired Jody Pear Designs to design our kitchen and adjoining family room. We completely gutted our kitchen, rearranged it and opened it up into our family room. Jody provided many different design options and drawings for us to choose from. The drawings were very helpful for us to visualize what everything would look like before it was done. She worked with us with the budget we had and met all of our deadlines - if anything she was waiting on us to decide things. Jody was always there to answer any questions we had about any of the drawings. When it came to color options for walls and carpet and bringing it all together, she knew exactly what we wanted (even when we weren't quite sure) from working with us and asking in detail what colors we were working toward. We are hiring the work out ourselves and have been working on this project slowly. We are just about ready to decorate and will definitely be calling Jody soon. Jody is wonderful to work with and has such a positive, upbeat attitude toward everything she has done for us."

This review was written prior to me returning to assist with the decor and taking these photos.

As much as I love to design, my greatest pleasure is in connecting with my clients, listening to their ideas and wishes and working together with them to create their kind of beautiful!

Here's the Before & After again