Bravo! What a cheerful, happy place you have created. I would linger in that lovely dining space for hours. It looks functional AND attractive. In other words, perfection.

Beautifully done! Thanks for sharing!

That's a terrific transformation . Love that ceiling and all the colors in your decor. Beautiful

Very bright and pleasant kitchen. Wow, that is some serious refrigeration.

I'm so glad you came to post. What a wonderful transformation :)

Beautiful! Doesn't even look like the same house! Can you try to explain how you did the ceilings? And was it a nightmare mess to do?

It looks as though you have 9 ft before?

What?! wowsa I just love befores and afters, esp. ones that surprise the heck out of you. Very nice, good job.

Am I still a Ghost of GW Past if I'm still here? I remember your planning posts but I hadn't realized that you never posted a reveal thread. So glad you did! Better late than never.

Love your ceiling and your desk area. That walnut top is gorgeous! Love the 2 aqua chairs at your table. And all the windows! Swoon! Cool shape to your island. How many can you seat at it? Looks like quite a few.

I contemplated doing away with our formal dining room but DH and friends and family who are realtors all said, "no." They told me, in no uncertain terms, that for our neighborhood and size of our home, it would be a very bad idea. Instead we just made our DR much nicer so that I now want to use it regularly.

" I didn’t know about such things. " You sure did become a master of "such things"!! Amazing job --- looks like a magazine!

Errant, me too! :) I'd always intended to post, but it sometimes takes me a while...

msmagoo, our first floor is 9', and our wonderful contractor simply (ha!) framed out the 8' ceilings, leaving the center still at 9'. Other than the kitchen/dining, the rest is still 9'. Make sense? The whole kitchen/dining area was sealed off during the reno, because it was a complete gut remodel, so YES it was messy! :)

Yes, lisa_a, you are one of the ghosts, past, present, and perhaps future. Hi and thanks! We have four chairs at the island usually, and can squeeeze in one more. The wide angle lense makes the island look longer than it is. And as for dining rooms, it's all about use. If you do, then that's perfect! If we ever wanted to sell this place, which I can't imagine, we'd stage the adjacent living room (not shown in the pics) as the dining room, since it can be important for resale.

BirchPoint, I didn't have houzz when we had this place built! ;)

Haha, schoolhouse, it surprised the heck out of me too! (I'd sort of forgotten what the old space felt like.)

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

Gorgeous! I want that pantry and everything that is "IN" it! :-) I could use that wine rack for sure.

The little details keep catching my eye. Just a couple quick examples, the detail over the fridge and freezer and the turquoise chairs at the table and the desk....but I could go on and on...

I also think that was so smart how you spun the cabinet to the right of the range hood. Fabulous!

Wow! Amazing transformation!

What a wonderful upgrade! I've been wearing out my fingers reading comments and flipping up to look at photos, scroll down, repeat. Do you have LED or other lighting in the ceiling cove? If so, does it provide much useful light, or more just ambience? We're considering something similar, so my fixation-of-the-week is on cans and lumens and kelvins and CRI. The little lights above your table are intriguing too. Also, what's the vent above your fridge/freezer? Thanks for putting together the reveal.

Wow!!!! That is a serious change from the before. It is magazine worthy! I love all of it. So many well thought out details and so bright and cheerful! Congrats to you!

Wow, I love how creatively you reimagined the space. And the "twins" in a kitchen that is not stadium-sized makes me incredibly jealous! It's really such an inspiring transformation, I wish I'd seen it before we redid our kitchen!!

Love the amount of natural light you are having now. Your little desk is pretty nice; it's your corner.

It looks like a completely different house! I love the windows and that walnut desk area. It looks very convenient and useful. Wow! I also love the look/color scheme you chose with the pop of aqua/teal. Very nice.

Thanks for posting the day/year late as I'm in the same delayed state so it makes me not feel so bad. :)

Love your coffered ceiling. And those windows!

It really is so lovely, the dining is a place to linger, much better than a formal dining room! I really like the light fixture over the sofa in the box bay! We have a bay window that I like, but it's hard to light for reading. Yours is a great solution I haven't seen before.

Question about the kitchen itself: is it bigger than before? Or just better designed for efficiency and storage? (And beauty, of course)

Wow! I love it! The desk area and pantry are very useful and I LOVE the bay windows in the dining area. Did the whole kitchen move down, or the dining room was just repurposed for the pantry/desk. In any event, it's really wonderful.

That is one beautiful kitchen. Love your new dining room. All your details, from the aqua accents to your choice of light fixtures, are perfect. Great ceiling. What is your paint color?

We would LOVE that corner desk area. Truly wonderful - all of it.

Aw, you all are so kind! It feels good when other TKOs appreciate the change.

rebunky, the turning of the cabinet as well as the whole layout was all on the architect. It's good that we had a good one!

A few of you mentioned the dining set. This kitchen was a good high/low exercise. I gel stained the old orange table, and painted the old orange chairs a pretty turquoise. We did buy four new chairs, since we needed more seating, and I thought four turquoise chairs was overkill. The extra seating is stored for large gatherings. (We served 22 people in this area two Easters ago!)

AvatarWalt, I researched lighting until I practically dreamed about it! Sadly, I've forgotten most of it. Everything except the sink pendant is LED. All the recessed housings are Nora brand, and the 4" cans are Ecosmart bulbs from Home Depot. The cove lighting is ambient, not task, but it really opens up the feel of a space to have light washing the ceiling. The vent by the freezer is my solution to makeup air, described here: My makeup air solution

autumn.4, does that mean I should be lurking, looking for a reveal from you soon? ;)

bpathome, the kitchen is bigger, as it took over part of the dining room. Here's what we started with (I cringe when I see comments about 3' aisles like, "Oh, I think it'll be fine!". Well, I can testify that it's not!):

And this is the layout before you'd all convinced me that the dishwasher and prep sink were poorly placed (which my architect tried to do to no avail; you guys are more persistent):

mgmum, see above! :)

romy718, the first floor paint is BM Stonington grey, except for the family room, which is BM Ocean Air.

I hope I answered everyone's questions!

And about the windows... They really make the space for us, and DH insisted that we spend a chunk of our budget on really nice ones. He didn't have to press me on that! We have a western exposure, so in the afternoons we're just flooded with light. In winter, sometimes DH sneaks away from his desk at work and does the last couple of hours of work on his laptop at home in the dining area. He has a difficult time when the hours of light get so few. We have an exterior roll-down shade for summer afternoons when it gets just too darn hot.

'Nother question, this time about the pantry: did you add an electrical box in there? Or did you move it from somewhere else?

And, the pocket door, I like the handle, it solves a drawback to pocket doors, but does it mar the door jamb? Or does the door not go into the wall far enough for that to happen?

We needed another electrical panel for the stuff we added to the kitchen since the old one was full. The pantry handles haven't ruined the door jamb yet, though the doors otherwise would fully retract. All the snack stuff is in the pantry, so there's lots of kid activity in there, and the setup is holding up in spite of this, thank goodness.

Thanks. I really like your pantry, and that whole set up with the desk by it, a window, the coffee :)

i also like your island shape, I was pondering something like that for my kitchen which is a traffic route from garage to the stairs. It would help guide bodies. Do you like the shape for moving around and for working on?

Thanks, bpathome! Yes, though the island shape was necessitated by clearances, it functions really well for me. I prep right by the sink, and the depth is ample for prep work. The seating area gets the extra depth, and that's critical.

I'm amazed at some of the transformations I see on GW, and this is one of the most amazing. The kitchen and adjoining spaces are beautiful, and I would think that even if I weren't partial to white kitchens. I love the desk, shelves, and pantry. I would say 'Enjoy', but I'm sure you've been doing that for 3 years. ;)

Thanks, mama_goose! I'm partial to green kitchens, and yours is a favorite! I'm extremely happy with my white kitchen, though it was a teensy bit of a chicken-out.

maybe....it is really complete but I haven't camouflaged my outlet covers yet. ;)

So when I saw your reveal I thought hmmm, now if I was hanging out in that kitchen at 4 a.m. I don't think I'd have the blues. I think I'd sneak down there and just relax and go ahhhhhhhhh. I really love those windows and I can see why dh would steal away and sit there - AND you have a window at your desk! I have always been drawn to kitchens that have a 'bonus' window that is additional to the one over the sink. I think they are very cool!

I'm so happy you posted your reveal. I came to GW Kitchens 9 yrs. ago during a lake build, left after that (occasional check ins..) then came back in 2013 for our home kitchen remodel. Somewhere along the line I must have confused your user name with a similar one. In my mind yours was an entirely different kitchen.

So this straightens things out for me as well as offering a view of a stunning remodel. I echo comments above about the great light you've brought in and the clever use of finishes. What a lovely, functional, livable home!

Yeah, autumn.4, I gave up on hiding the outlet covers, just decided to go with stainless, since it's all over my kitchen. Good luck with your last touches! And as for the blues, I haven't had 'em since I stopped having to get up at 4:00 to go to work! :)

amck2, I'm curious about my GW doppelgänger! ;)

Love love love it! I really like how the new space was designed after incorporating your dining room into a new pantry and desk area. And all the new windows! For kicks, I clicked on the link for your architect and discovered he is relatively local to me (I'm in Annapolis). Did he actually design your kitchen layout also, or just do the drawings for your new space? Or does he have a kitchen designer he prefers to work with? I have a project I need to do in phases, first kitchen, then possible bump out on front of house that would completely change the exterior so I need someone with vision. Kitchen would involve moving a bathroom and possibly a wall. I assume you would recommend him? And two years later, are you happy with your cabinetry? I really want white, but nervous with four kids (though older, they are not exactly careful!).

ive been sitting on this project for way too long (project paralysis!) but can't wait any longer. Seeing your kitchen is motivating me. How did you hear about the architect and did you interview any others before choosing him?

Thanks, 4kids4us! Yes, Stewart Smith designed the space, including the kitchen layout, then produced all the drawings for permitting. After several conversations and lots of information gathering, he presented us with several concepts. There was one that worked really well for us, and we asked him to use that, but also incorporate a few ideas from the other concepts. And so he produced this final design. You can see from his website that he has vision! (I'll include a before and after shot of the back of our house here so you can see for yourself.) He doesn't work with a KD that I know of. He designed our layout, then I ordered cabinets and chose all the finishes myself (with lots of input from my GW Ghosts). I would 100% recommend Stewart! He's done a lot of amazing work in my neighborhood (of which he is a resident), and I didn't interview other architects for the job, as I was confident he would be able to create what we wanted (though we didn't know what that was). He is very good at structural work, and we had three bumpouts so that was very important to us.

As for the cabinetry, it's holding up well. I have four older kids also, and the traffic in this space is unrelenting. I'd do white cabinets all over again. I might not, however, do a dark stained island again. Maybe a more mid-toned stain, though it wouldn't look as dramatic, because the dark stain shows marks and dust a lot.

Good luck with your project - it sounds significant and exciting!!

Exterior before:

Exterior after:

Very pretty! You did a fantastic job!

Love the transformation of the back of your house. Those windows are fantastic. I'm putting his contact info on my TO DO list. I'm not sure if I'll have time before the holidays to get started with him but perhaps my New Year's resolution will be to stop lollygagging and get moving! When you say that he doesn't work with a KD, does that mean that he worked with you to plan out the cabinetry layout and provided all the measurements so you knew what to order? I have a general idea what I want to do with my space, but due to structural constraints, I'm not sure it will work structurally, or aesthetically. I've had a contractor look at it but I don't know that I'd trust him to get the aesthetics right. IOW, he agreed with what I was considering and said it was possible, but I'm thinking a professional, like a trained architect, would better provide me with whether the finished project would be visually appealing. If that makes any sense.....

Thanks, 4kids, we love our deck too; we spend so much time out there now! As for a KD, I think you'd probably want to hire an independent. Stewart did write in sizes of cabinetry on the layout he drew, but there's so much more to ordering cabs than that. A KD would help with all the details, like adding filler so that you can actually open your drawers at the corner of your L kitchen. Finally, I'm sure he would help you determine whether your idea is workable. Good luck with your project!

fouramblues - This was a rare treat to see your reveal, both inside and out. You do have a great architect - I'm sending the outside pictures to my timber framer brother :) I really enjoyed the pictures of your outside with the wonderful accent lighting. I love how the ceiling transformed the kitchen and am wondering a little why you didn't continue it throughout. Would you mind posting a few close-ups of the paperstone? I am not familiar with the term.

While I'm asking, how about a few backsplash close-up pictures? Love how the natural light permeates the space and am still smiling at the thought of your DH coming home early to work at the table. Wonderful transformation!

I'm glad I got another notification of a message on this thread, as it's always a treat to take one more look at your kitchen, fouramblues. Thanks for the information on the lights--do you have any "I wish I had"s on lighting? Was there a during-construction debate about whether to put cans in more of the ceiling? I like the look without them in the recessed part of your kitchen ceiling, and in the family room too, but I worry that we need them with our 9'+ ceilings in DR and LR (hard to avoid them in the kitchen).

Also, given your location in a hot-and-cold part of the country, do you find that the make-up air changes the temp of the room much when you have the fan on? Something new for me to fret about . . .

Four,

Gosh, my old GW friend, I haven't been spending as much time in kitchens recently as our new puppy is taking up our time.

Gorgeous job on the kitchen and exterior. I love your lights, ceiling and your twins. I could go on but others have said it all. I would love to see more shots from in the kitchen

I am so glad you finally did get your Buckingham. I am so jealous as you had enough width to do what I could not do in my kitchen. Your island looks great!

Is that home made peach jam in the pantry? If so, heading over for a visit!

Thank you for your kind words, oldbat! Wow, I got lost for a while on your brother's website - gorgeous! As for our ceilings, only the dining/kitchen was totally gutted. I wouldn't have been willing to deal with the mess involved with coffering the other rooms. Not sure I'd want to anyway - I like that it's a special focal point. I took a couple of shots of the splash today, but the color isn't right. I'm including them here anyway.

AvatarWalt, you're too kind! But I don't know what to tell you about can lights. I love them in my kitchen and dining, but we added a few on the perimeter of the play room (grey couch at far end of the room), and I really don't like them there. That lighting makes me feel like I'm being interrogated every time I sit on that couch. We also need more light in our family and living rooms, but m not convinced cans are the solution. And it does get a little chilly when I turn on the MUA in the winter, so I'm careful to turn it off as soon as possible. I haven't noticed a big difference in the summer.

Hi, a2! A new puppy? Please post pics!!!!! I miss seeing you around, but I'm not here much anymore either. I'm loving my sister countertop to yours! From the pics of your kitchen it doesn't look like you had to make compromises - functional and gorgeous, not looking sad for lack of an island! Good catch on the jam. :) Yes, it's spiced peach, plus a few others. I have a fig tree that's just getting big enough to produce, so I'm going to have to add fig/orange to my repertoire. Take care!

wow! beautiful! I espeically love your lighting and ceilings!

can you share info about your cabinet mesh inserts above your fridges? they are so much more decorative than the typical.

fouramblues - What a great backsplash, thank you for posting the pictures. The shelf is perfect right there! I had not known about paperstone before, very interesting to see it being used.

Fantastic reveal, thanks for sharing! I'd love to sit in that lovely dining area every day and for special meals, too! Love the use of the twins, and all those beautiful windows. Your kitchen seems warm and harmonious but also bright and light, this looks like one which would recoup the investment at resale.

Thanks, michoumonster! I stole the refrigerator vent idea from phorbin (phorbin's kitchen reveal). The GC's guy, Julio, made a frame, painted it with spray paint I ordered from the cabinet company, and put in the punched metal sheet I picked up at Home Depot. I wanted the metal painted like phorbin's, but Julio, who always competently and quietly did what I asked, objected. He thought it really should stay silvery to go with the refrigerator. I said that I'd try it his way, but that I'd ask him to paint it if I didn't like it. I decided he was right, and we left it unpainted. :)

Thanks for the kind words, kksmama! I know one should never say 'never', but we plan to never sell this place, so resale wasn't a consideration. :) But it's nice to know that, if things change, our reno has added value. Probably not what we spent, but oh well!