These Spring Lake, New Jersey homeowners wanted to open up extra space in their home. Thus, the homeowners wanted to open walls with a flush header on both sides of the fireplace, and remove the walls that separated the kitchen and dining room. The Spring Lake, New Jersey homeowners hired the Design Build Planners to create their remodeling designs for their kitchen and bathroom remodel.
At the top is a dollhouse overview of the project. Below are a couple of before photos of the existing space. Also below are the final computer designs created by Jason Parsons, a Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler.
For their project, three design plans were created. The scope of those plans is listed below.
Plan 1~ ROBUST
- Open walls with a flush header both sides of the fireplace
- Remove the wall from the kitchen to the dining room
- Close in rear pantry door and window and add a stackable washer/dryer
- Demo drywall on the first floor walls and ceiling
- Combine table area with part of the pantry area for a ¾ bathroom
- Shower to have a level entry system, bench, and wall niche
- Pedestal sink and toilet
- Grab bars in shower and at toilet
- Tile floor, shower to the ceiling, and non-wet walls to 4’
- Lower existing kitchen window height
- Raise existing dining room window height (patch exterior with stucco and paint new stucco only)
- Relocate desk area to the stair wall
- Relocate existing sink to a prep/laundry sink
- Move range to the rear wall with metal hood
- Relocate refrigerator to the outside corner
- New apron front sink in island with dishwasher
- Microwave drawer in island
- Raiser splash on island
- Wood table top and four legs wood panels on the rear of the island
- Stone on the fireplace (four sides)
- Wood mantle and floating shelves
- Lighting per plan
- Switches, outlets, circuits as needed
- New raw wood flooring in kitchen area
- Sand existing wood flooring and finish first floor as new
- New drywall as needed including paint
- New railing on stairs
Plan 2 ~ MODEST
Differences from Plan 1
- Curtain depicted in plan
- Subway tile
- Windows in the rear to remain in place—no change
- Dropped header framing with trim on both sides of the fireplace
- No prep sink
- Leave dining room radiator
- Corner cabinet with glass
- Full height, narrow depth pantry at stair wall
- Desk area to be relocated, or at minimum, relocate credenza
- Move range to the fireplace wall
- Relocate refrigerator between the windows
- New apron front sink with dishwasher in the peninsula
- Added seating area at the peninsula
- Add a table under the existing kitchen windows
- Stone on the fireplace over brick only
- Wood mantle and owner supplied media cabinet
- Lighting per plan
- Switches, outlets, circuits as needed
Plan 3 ~ WOW Packages
Changes from Plan 1
- Add a glass door to the shower to have a level entry system, bench, and wall niche
- Wood/metal vanity and sink
- Diagonal tile design, glass feature strip (horizontal and vertical)
- Close in windows and add a new garden style window in a new location (header required)
- Add an additional pantry closet
- Add a prep sink to the island
- Add a pot filler to the range area
- Move range to the rear right side
- Relocate refrigerator to the left side
- New apron front sink with dishwasher at the new window
- Added seating area at the island
- Stone on the fireplace (four sides)
- Wood mantle and floating shelves
- Lighting per plan
- Switches, outlets, circuits as needed
- Add demolition, drywall, insulation, trim, and floor refinish to the first floor bedroom
- Relocate the entry door to the left window location, replace the door with a window
- Add a closet to the living room
- Relocate the door to the porch
- Replace large radiators with smaller, in wall style
- Extend front porch for new door
- Remove overhang gable in front, frame to straight, and patch roof
The homeowners style preferences were for a modern look and finishes. They drew their inspiration from kitchen projects featured on Houzz.com. The design options are a result of homeowners online research combined with an in-home consultation with Design Build Planners. There is also a proprietary profile checklist that homeowners fill out that depicts their lifestyle and kitchen use. After compiling this information, Design Build Planners incorporates their construction knowledge and design creativity for the space with a focus on the budget and overall investment.