Kitchen Transformation: Dated to Modern

This Sun West Lodi Kitchen renovation started with a client referral, which we love! Jon, the homeowner, had researched interior designers and spoken with his neighbors, Don and Amy. We had just completed a project for the couple, and they gave us rave reviews. Jon was impressed with our work and gave us a call. Here’s how the transformation happened…

The Men of the House
Jon and his sons, Trevor and Jack, needed an updated kitchen. Their pristine old kitchen was no longer functional for the three of them. It was cut off from the living room with a layout that was difficult for two cooks to navigate. They wanted a modern kitchen.

I was impressed at their detailed description of their needs and focused attention to our advice. Jack is interested in construction, and he paid particular attention to the CAD drawings and offered to do the demolition.

Before: A Dark Cramped Kitchen
The kitchen was a dark space with a few small windows off to the side and a wall between the kitchen and living room. So, we designed a space full of natural light with an open flow that could accommodate more than one chef at a time. 

Our challenge was to determine if we could remove the shared living room and kitchen wall. A quick review by our engineer confirmed with the proper support beams, it was possible. Next, we needed to design a layout that allowed for function and flow by opening the space. 

Another challenge was adding more natural sunlight, which meant reconfiguring the windows. This was a simple fix by closing off windows in the nook area and adding three large picture windows.

Open, Modern Kitchen Reveal 
Let’s talk about these gorgeous finishes and appliances. The cabinets are walnut with a bourbon stain and slim Shaker profile. The countertops are quartz in a suede finish. We installed state-of-the-art stainless-steel appliances and cheeky subway tiles with a dimensional pattern.

A long bank of full-height cabinets takes the place of the walk-in pantry, and a new bank of dish drawers under the new windows allows for additional storage. A tall pull-out pantry next to the refrigerator makes finding the food sundries easy. 

The island/dining table is especially clever, with a sink, dishwasher, trash pullout and one cabinet with rollout drawers perfect for towels and plastic wraps. On the front of the island is a drop-down table with four custom seats.

Under the induction cooktop are pull-out utensil cabinets, spice drawers and pot drawers. It’s so important to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Jon doesn’t like clutter, so he’s happy with all the storage for specific kitchen items.

The pantry between the kitchen and dining room became a butler’s pantry and the passage from the kitchen to the dining room. The butler’s pantry has a wine chiller and extra cabinets for beverage serving. We closed off the previous opening to the dining room to allow for a wall to put the cooktop and double ovens. Moving the sink to the new extra-large island makes the workflow more efficient. 

Happy Clients, Gorgeous Kitchen
Although we’re always careful not to start a project until we have all the parts and pieces in our warehouse, the supply chain events of 2021 caught us off guard. We completed the entire kitchen, but the wall ovens were delayed for ten months! The sweet gentlemen of the house were so gracious and never complained. They even joked that the big rectangular cavity was the perfect spot to store dirty dish towels! It tore me up to not deliver as promised, but this beautiful kitchen was definitely worth the wait.

I hope this kitchen inspired you to start your kitchen renovation. Let us support you in your next project.

Written by: Kathleen Jennison

Breathtaking kitchens, show-stopping master suites, and swoon-worthy living rooms are all in a day’s work for Certified Interior Designer Kathleen Jennison. She specializes in helping creative, stylish homeowners take their spaces from basic and bland to beautiful, functional and truly unique. Starting with a brand-new home? Kathleen and her team will take away the stress, worry and decision overload and help you make first-rate selections every step of the way. Remodeling your existing place? She’s got you covered there, too; her award-winning combination of wisdom, experience and fabulous taste will turn your big vision into reality while saving you from costly mistakes. With her extensive credentials, including a bachelor’s degree in interior design and business administration, and stunning portfolio of past projects, Kathleen Jennison is the accomplished designer you’ve been looking for. 

404 N. Harrison
Stockton, CA 95203
209.915.0442
kathleen@kathleenjennison.com