The suburban New Jersey couple with two children felt that their kitchen of 173 square feet was not able to keep pace with the expanding family. The wall was a barrier that separated the kitchen from a vast, unoccupied playroom, which forced it into a smaller arrangement. The white cabinets that were the basic, as well as the standard granite countertops and the general design of the space, required attention also.

To create a more spacious and open design with a warm and welcoming feel, the homeowners looked through images of inspiration on Houzz. Then, they hired interior designer Carly Gockeler to help update the room. Gockeler removed the wall and remodeled the kitchen area into a former playroom. The addition of 170 square feet of space to the kitchen allowed her to enhance flow and function with a central kitchen island. An alder-like island base, a shiplap wood range hood, and soft gray cabinets with an X-shaped design on some Shaker-style fronts give the room a welcoming modern farmhouse style.

Before: The former kitchen wasn’t very well-maintained, however, the wall that housed the microwave and range was a barrier between it and the unoccupied playroom, which limited its possibilities. “A short peninsula could barely hold two stools, while the refrigerator sat on a wall [to the right] that protruded from the living room on the other side,” Gockeler notes. “It was too small, with no flow and was almost a one-person kitchen. With two children needing space, they could go in to eat their meals without disrupting cooks.”  KraftMaster Remodels Following: Gockeler removed the wall that separated the kitchen from the playroom. She also widened the kitchen’s dimensions, almost doubling the area. She also moved the refrigerator’s division to the living space by about 2 feet to increase the kitchen area’s size and improve circulation around the new narrow island.

Cabinets with soft grey cabinets (Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams) and soft off-white wall surfaces (White Dove, by Benjamin Moore) create a warm and inviting atmosphere. “Their entire house is very warm and inviting,” Gockeler states. “They wanted to keep the kitchen light and bright but didn’t want a white kitchen.”

A new peninsula with a longer length has space for three low-back wood stools. The shelves are made of wood and can store books and plants. The flooring is made from oak and has a matte finish.

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Cabinets StarMark CabinetryKraftMaster RenovationsThe: The narrow island has a marble-look quartz countertop and an alder base, which adds comfort to the the kitchen. “It was taking what they currently had in their home and bringing in the warmth and character with some wood tones, without making it too heavy,” Gockeler states.

White ceramic pendants with cracks are suspended over the island. LED ceiling and undercabinet lighting provide additional lighting.

The wall has been removed. The kitchen is now connected to a back deck via an opening in the glass.

10. Kitchen Island Pros recommend  Kitchens with KraftMaster RemodelsWeathered Shiplap planks made of spruce are wrapped around the range hood, which measures 30 inches.

Tiles for backsplashes made of off-white ceramic offer an encaustic-worn look and a subtle pattern. “The client found inspiration photos she really loved, and they all had handmade encaustic-look tiles, so we found some that would work with her budget,” Gockeler adds. “The color palette is soft enough to not be too bold but still add character to the backsplash.”

Black knobs and pulls in matte black give a different look. The countertops around the perimeter are marble-look quartz.

Rustic chimney range hood made of shiplap in brown Castlewood, and the backsplash is Decora Redondo ceramic floor and wall tiles eight by 8 inches. The Tile ShopKraftMaster Renovations Two pantry cabinets on the left side of the 36″ stainless steel French door refrigerator have rollouts for dry items and small appliances. “That’s where the kids can get their snacks,” Gockeler says.

The flush-frame inset cabinets have cross-shaped details on the doors to the pantry and an X design on some of the cabinet’s doors, giving a farmhouse look for your space. KraftMaster RemodelsA cafe and bar is setween the pantry,,the 30-inch wall oven, and a 30-inch flat-panel microwave. “It’s like a coffee bar in the morning and a wine bar at night,” Gockeler says. Two sleek glass-fronted upper cabinets are paired with an X-fronted cabinet and a wooden shelf. KraftMaster Remodels: A new breakfast area has been created within the playroom. A built-in bar, as well as storage, is located on the wall. The table is reclaimed pine and blends well with other wood hues within the kitchen. “They really wanted that homey warm space to have their breakfast in the morning, be connected to the kitchen and be together as a family,” Gockeler adds. KraftMaster RemodelsThe built-in cabinets are a great place to store the seasonal meals and excess items. Various pillows provide an element of color to the top of the banquette that is identical in color and style to the island’s base.

Are you new to home renovations? Learn the basics of remodeling with CraftMaster RenovationsGockeler. doors that connect the kitchen and breakfast nook to the living room. The glass-paneled doors in the pocket make space. “It’s giving the kitchen that farmhouse charm again,” Gockeler adds. “They have that same style throughout the house.” Before the photo KraftMaster Remodels: This look from inside the old playroom reveals how the kitchen was shut away from the spacious space. The house is divided into two living rooms, so the owners felt this space was not being used. KraftMaster Renovations After: “By taking down that wall, the middle of the house would be one large open space,” Gockeler says.

The other end of the cooking area is a formal dining space. Before the photo KraftMaster renovations, This floor plan of the previously used kitchen shows how the wall for the range (center) separated it from an area for playing (right). The border for the refrigerator (center lower) made the appliance fit into the design. KraftMaster Renovations After: With the wall down, Gockeler expanded the kitchen into a playroom, creating the space for the islands (center) and a breakfast space (right). The fridge’s wall (center lowest) into the living room (bottom) makes traffic flow more manageable. “I am very happy we achieved an open space for the whole family to gather with multiple seating options,” Gockeler adds.