South Kingstown, RI
Kitchen and Living Room

Private Residence, Renovation

Bowse Builders

Designed by Mary Jane Robillard

Schrock logo

Cabinetry: Schrock
Door Style: Shaker Style
Finish: White Cabinets with Marine Blue Island
Hardware: Top Knobs in Brushed Nickel
Countertops: Granite, Kashmir Brazil, large 18-gauge single bowl sink, radius edge
Backsplash: Handmade White Porcelain Subway Tile with Light Gray grout
Flooring: New Oak Hardwood

The homeowners wanted a light, bright kitchen with more storage space, countertop space, and a place for four to sit and eat. So we removed the wall between the kitchen and living room and installed a load bearing beam to open up that space. They were kind enough to provide "Before" pictures (shown in the next section) so you can better appreciate the transformation in the "After" pictures.

After considering several options, the homeowners ultimately chose my suggestion and we removed the slider and installed a single French-style door. This brought in natural light and allowed a 36" wide, tall pantry cabinet (with roll out trays for easy access) to be installed next to the full-depth refrigerator against the wall.

Instead of the old peninsula layout, a modern island opens up the flow. Usefulness was improved with pull-out trash, deep drawer base cabinets for pots and pans, and a tray divider cabinet. Plus the island provides casual seating for four that better fits their lifestyle.

The dishwasher was relocated next to the sink, and to save countertop space, we installed a microwave hood and vented it outside. The side door was replaced with a matching French-style door, in addition to the wall being removed, bringing more light into the living room area.

A banquette of cabinets topped with granite was added in the living room for additional storage (where a small table is shown in the "Before" pictures). All of these design choices make the living room and kitchen truly feel like one big open space.

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South Kingstown, RI – "Before"

Private Residence, Kitchen and Living Room

The homeowners were kind enough to provide these four "Before" pictures so you can better appreciate the transformation in the "After" pictures.

This is a typical Cape Cod style home where the kitchen and living areas were separated by a wall. The homeowners felt the living room was cut-off and lacked enough natural light. Dinner preparations left the cook isolated from the family.

The dishwasher was next to the stove, not next to the sink, which would make more sense. The refrigerator was just sitting against a wall with a microwave on a cart next to it. The hood vent over the stove did not vent outside, it just recirculated.

There's a picture of a table against a wall in the living room near the staircase, which now has a banquette of cabinets for more storage.

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