Custom Kitchen Remodel in Seattle’s Squire Park Neighborhood

Neil Kelly’s in-house design consultant Amanda Sava helped our client create the kitchen of her dreams. The finished project featured an eclectic mix of styles and materials that aligned with the historic qualities of her home.

Project Objectives and Client Wishlist

Our client wanted to transform her 250-square-foot kitchen into a light-filled cooking and gathering space while incorporating some of the original features of her 1900s Victorian-style home.

“The client was not afraid of an eclectic mix of styles and finishes and preferred ‘real’ items like marble and solid brass to complete the look,” Sava says. After weighing all the possible options, we landed on an open layout with a table-style island and space for guests to gather.

Our clients’ wishlist for this Seattle kitchen remodel included:

• Better lighting
• Enhanced functionality
• Open layout
• Table-style island
• Space for guests to gather
• Preserved original features (or incorporated Victorian style)

If you’re a fan of multi-use spaces, you’ll appreciate this Kitchen and Makerspace in Eugene, Oregon.

Project Planning and Design Challenges

There were a total of six doors and two windows in the existing kitchen. “The client didn’t want to get rid of any of them, so fitting everything they wanted into the kitchen was a challenge.”

Additionally, our client wanted to preserve various pieces and materials. In addition to the doors, this included wainscotting and trim. Since we couldn’t guarantee they’d work in the renovation, having backup options was crucial.

Lastly, since the home was built in the 1900s, there was a fair amount of asbestos and lead. For this reason, we had to keep changes to walls, doors, and windows to a minimum.

Kitchen Renovation Design Solutions

To solve the door and window issue, we closed the French doors that were taking up substantial space and changed one of the long windows into a new glass door. “We added a higher, wider window in the previous French door space to keep light while still allowing a full-length counter,” says Sava.

The new door had to be placed in the existing window space, which created a challenge with the depth of the base cabinets. However, we were able to overcome this obstacle with symmetrical offset cabinet depths.

Special Features, Customizations, and Finished Results

With a blend of Victorian design, sustainable materials, and creative freedom, the finished project highlighted many notable features and customizations.

Special features of this unique kitchen remodel include:

• Custom cabinetry from Crystal Cabinet Works painted Polo Blue by Benjamin Moore
• Paneled luxury Dacor refrigerator/freezer to match cabinets
• Built-in countertop cabinet for hidden, easy access to coffee maker
• Light marble countertops from Meta Marble & Granite
• Large vintage-inspired Aga range
• Handmade, recycled Fireclay Tile for the backsplash
• A period-appropriate wall-mounted sink with an unlacquered brass faucet from Waterworks
• Over-sink window with lattice detailing and display shelves on either side
• Mitzi chandelier to complement existing Hippo Hardware sconces
• Reclaimed Douglas fir wood flooring

“I love the handmade tile, and the client loved that it was handmade and recycled,” says Sava. “I also love the Waterworks faucet since it is unlacquered brass and will patina with age.”

Take a look at another Seattle-area Kitchen Remodel we did in Bellevue, Washington.

Before-and-After Kitchen Renovation in Seattle, WA

With better functionality, maximized space, and statement-making design details, our client was thrilled with the finished results of her transitional kitchen remodel. If you’re thinking about a custom renovation for your own home, the design/build remodeling experts at Neil Kelly would love to hear from you.

Our team of seasoned professionals works on homes of all sizes throughout the Pacific Northwest, with design centers in Seattle, Portland, Eugene, and Bend. Contact us today.