Renovation update: work has officially begun on our kitchen and dining room, and the addition for my parents is underway too. I’ll share more about the addition in a separate post, but today I wanted to give an overview of the progress and what we’re noticing so far.
Removing the peninsulas and raising the openings between the kitchen and dining room created a more dramatic change than I expected. The whole main floor feels different — not just because it’s been gutted, but because the sight lines and the flow between rooms have opened up. Of course the space will feel different again once cabinets, flooring, and new windows go in, but the improvement in light and movement is already noticeable.
For reference, here’s how the space looked just before the project began about a week ago. There were several elements dividing the rooms and hanging down from the ceiling. It was a charming layout and it worked well for us — this isn’t a dramatic “everything was awful” before-and-after. We simply had the opportunity to make changes at the same time we built the addition for my parents, and it made sense to reconfigure these spaces now.
I often imagine building a home from scratch so I could decide everything from the start, but there’s also great joy in shaping an existing home to fit your life. We chose this house to be our forever home, and these updates are helping it better reflect how we live and what we want. Would we have been happy in a different house? Yes. But we loved this one and it arrived at the right time, allowing us to make thoughtful changes instead of reacting to problems.
The remodel will be messy for a while, but we’re excited about the outcome. If you’re in an older home or considering a move, it’s worth weighing whether a remodel or modest updates could get you what you want. Sometimes renovating is more cost-effective than buying new, and sometimes it isn’t — but it may still be the best choice for your situation.
One of the impactful changes was lifting the header openings between rooms. If you’re considering similar work, consult an experienced contractor before removing walls or headers — structural changes aren’t always possible, but they can transform how a home feels. In our case we decided not to remove the entire wall because we like having some definition between the kitchen and dining room. It keeps the spaces cozy while still open.
Although the main floor will remain the same overall size, this new layout suits our needs better. It improves traffic flow and light without making the area feel too open or hotel-like — we want a balance of openness and defined rooms.
About the mudroom: it will remain in place with only minor adjustments. We’ll keep access to the garage from the mudroom, but the existing exterior door to the backyard needs to be removed because of the addition. While it’s disappointing to lose that direct source of natural light, the new dining room will gain three new windows, so the area visible from the mudroom will actually become much brighter.
The previous dining room windows are being relocated to the new dining room wall and will be flanked by narrow bookcases. Although these windows don’t frame a dramatic view — mostly green shrubbery and a neighboring garage — they will bring in a lot more daylight and maintain privacy.
To restore backyard access, we’re adding a new set of double French doors with sidelights and a transom in the kitchen. They’ll open onto a small landing or deck and lead to the backyard. So while some features are altered by the addition, we’re reintroducing and improving other elements to make the home even better for our family.
You can also sneak a peek at the addition’s foundation in these photos — framing begins soon. I’ll post a dedicated update about the addition as it progresses.
Outside, we’re widening the driveway slightly to add an extra parking spot and creating a walkway from the driveway to the backyard. The crew plans to pour concrete soon, and sod has already been delivered.
Thanks for reading this progress update — I’ll share more photos and details as the project moves forward.
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More Posts about Our Kitchen Remodel:
My New Kitchen Floor Plan + Parents’ Addition and Exterior Elevation
Adding Character in a Kitchen Remodel: The Tale of Our New Range and Faucet
Our New Kitchen Design Mood Board (and five questions that helped me make decisions!)