Kitchen & First Floor Remodel
Holliston, MA
Congested Kitchen Transformed for Modern Living
Project Overview
The goal of this first-floor renovation was to address a common issue with Colonial floor plans: congestion in the high-traffic kitchen. This family, who frequently entertains large groups, found the centrally placed kitchen to be a major choke point for foot traffic, and it lacked clear sightlines from the front door. Built in 2005 and located in a quiet neighborhood of executive homes, the house had great bones but needed a reimagined layout to better support a modern family lifestyle.
They wanted to expand the kitchen by removing the wall to the formal dining room, allowing space for a functional kitchen island where their kids could eat breakfast and do homework. This change would also improve the flow between the center hall, living room, backyard, and basement stairs. In addition, they hoped to replace builder-grade cabinetry with custom storage solutions, while preserving the home’s natural light and beautiful views of their wooded backyard.
The Results
We removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the space and reconfigured the layout for better traffic flow. The kitchen now extends into the former dining room, and the dining table sits where the old kitchen was – making room for a much more functional island that suits both everyday routines and entertaining.
Custom cabinets were installed throughout, with storage-specific features and an under-counter ice maker within the island for hosting. We retained all windows for natural light, adjusting cabinet heights as needed. The door to the finished basement was replaced with a French door to enhance openness. The DIY built-ins were replaced with a custom bar area featuring a beverage fridge, perfectly situated between the dining room, living space, and the sliding doors to the backyard. A cohesive color palette inspired by the family’s existing sofa ties everything together, along with custom window treatments and a wool rug that complete this warm, inviting space.
Before
After
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