Kitchen & First-Floor Transformation
Sherborn, MA
Segmented First-Floor Gets Modern Redesign
Project Overview
This farmhouse’s first-floor remodel was inspired by our clients’ need to replace a tight and inefficient floor plan with a warm, connected space. After more than 25 years of thoughtful upgrades to their 1955 home, this project marked the final major renovation, focused on transforming the kitchen and surrounding first floor.
The existing kitchen was dark, cramped, and no longer met the homeowners’ needs for storage, cooking, and entertaining. Aging finishes, outdated appliances, and an ineffective layout were compounded by mechanical limitations, including a single HVAC duct serving the entire wing.
Core goals included improving flow, maximizing natural light, enhancing views of the backyard, and creating better access to outdoor living spaces. The new design honors the home’s New England architectural roots while introducing a more open, functional layout aligned with the home’s recent renovations.
The Results
A key design move reimagined an underused pantry into a “working back kitchen” for cooking and cleanup, paired with an “entertaining front kitchen” that remains guest-ready while supporting daily family life. The back kitchen includes custom cabinetry, a distinctive tile backsplash, a copper sink, and tailored storage. The front kitchen centers on a 5’ x 7’ island with ample seating, complemented by a beverage fridge, ice maker, and integrated storage. Oversized pullouts and custom drawers within the island are tailored to store dog food, treats, leashes, and daily essentials for the homeowners’ five golden retrievers. Rift-cut white oak cabinetry, a wine fridge, and built-in media to further elevate the space’s function and style.
Beyond the kitchen, the project addressed the entire first-floor experience. A wall of windows and French doors floods the space with natural light and provides easy access to a new deck, screened-in porch, and backyard. The new staircase acts as a striking focal point while improving flow, and the updated entry hall provides clean, integrated storage with refined millwork. New wide plank white oak flooring with radiant heat ties the first floor together.
Structural and mechanical upgrades resolved long-standing issues while enhancing comfort and efficiency. These include radiant floor heating, improved HVAC and plumbing, reinforced framing, and high-performance insulation. The result is an open-concept space that transforms a once-dark, inefficient layout into a cohesive environment tailored to the homeowners’ lifestyle, supporting everyday living, easy entertaining, and long-term comfort.
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