Hallway inspiration from Atlanta Homes
Now that I’ve shared our plan to move the kitchen into the dining room, and shift the dining area into the original kitchen — along with the idea for a compact “butler’s pantry” in the adjoining hall — I wanted to show how these spaces relate to one another. Several readers asked for a floor plan to help visualize the changes, so I sketched a simple layout to illustrate our thinking.
A reader recently asked what the view will be from the front door into the new kitchen. That’s something we’ve considered as well, so here’s how the layout would look if we keep the existing entrance. It’s true that seeing a kitchen from the front door isn’t always ideal — hello, dirty dishes — but in our configuration the doorway would reveal only a small portion of the kitchen, and you wouldn’t see the sink until you step into the room.
Right now, looking through the front door you see our current dining room, which will become the kitchen. Many smaller or open-concept homes have kitchens visible from the entry, and while it’s not perfect, it can work well with thoughtful design choices.
Here’s the quick sketch of our main floor (not precisely to scale) so you can see the circular flow and how the rooms connect. The primary living spaces are along the back of the house to take advantage of the view. Our plan is to move the kitchen into the current dining room to make better use of that orientation.
The house is compact: the main living areas and bedrooms are all on one level, but a finished basement gives us extra space. It’s a modest, straightforward floor plan — nothing sprawling — and aside from relocating the kitchen, the layout functions well for our family. Our bedrooms are cozy, but comfortable for now.
We considered other possibilities, including removing walls or shifting a bedroom or staircase, but the most practical and economical option so far is to open the wall between the existing kitchen and dining room. That approach preserves structure and budget while giving us the improved flow we want. Once we consult with a contractor or designer we’ll finalize the details, but this plan feels simple and right for now.
Thinking about the view from the entry, we’d design that visible corner to look intentional. Instead of placing appliances or a counter where the entry views into the room, we’d install a floor-to-ceiling closed cabinet there. That built-in will hide clutter and dishes and create a clean, streamlined view from the front door. The sink will be placed beneath the window overlooking the backyard, so it won’t be visible from the entrance.
We’ve been slowly progressing on painting the long hallway that connects the kitchen, bedrooms and entry. We painted the walls white and are nearly finished with the first coat on the built-ins. This humble built-in will serve as our “butler’s pantry” — a handy spot near the kitchen for serving dishes, small appliances, or extra pantry items.
Before
Painting the hall white already makes a noticeable difference compared with the previous darker walls. Even small updates like paint can refresh the look and feel of a space and make it feel more connected to the rest of the house.
We haven’t chosen new hardware yet. Right now we’re leaning toward classic pulls large enough to cover old screw holes, with a subtle modern or mid-century vibe to keep the look fresh. Our short-term goals for the hall are to finish the paint, add new hardware, and install flush-mount light fixtures. Over time we’ll consider adding white paneling, a Dutch door, new interior door hardware, and possibly a revised bedroom entrance to further refine the space.
On the floor plan’s right side you can also see the location of the new side yard area and how it integrates with our plans. I’m excited to move forward with the finer kitchen decisions — cabinet colors, appliances, flooring and countertops — and already have some ideas to explore.
Zoldan Interiors – High Gloss Magazine
I can’t wait to plan the kitchen details and share updates as they come together. Related: Our House Tour (Video).