For a couple who loves to cook and eat together, the old-fashioned separation of their small kitchen from the living and dining areas made cooking more difficult and left the cook feeling isolated. Narrow counters, minimal storage and an unsightly view of late-afternoon traffic added to the issues the homeowners had with their original kitchen. 

“I wanted the kitchen to be open, and I wanted space — lots of space,” explains the homeowner. “Two people couldn’t be in the kitchen without bumping into each other.” The homeowners didn’t just want a new kitchen: They wanted a total form-and-function remodel of the living space to update their Windward abode.

In addition to more space, the homeowners wanted their new kitchen to be outfitted with energy-efficient appliances and have plenty of counter space and storage. Unlike some remodeling stories, these homeowners knew precisely how they wanted their new space to be laid out. With the expertise of contractors Misty and David Wheeler of PMI Builders, the homeowners were exact about their floor plans and able to create a kitchen perfectly suited to their lifestyle and needs. Keeping in close contact with the homeowners, the Wheelers made sure they received everything on their remodeling wish list. “Remodeling is a big investment,” says Misty. “We always want to be prepared and get it right.”

To open up the living space, the team knocked down four walls and relocated the kitchen to the center of the house-away from the noisy street. Both the plumbing and electrical had to be reworked throughout most of the house. All of the homeowners’ requests were integrated into the new space. The Wheelers aligned the back countertops with the edge of the new, 36-inch side-by-side refrigerator, increasing the counter depth by at least 4 inches. The homeowners opted for a series of built-in, pullout drawers, rather than basic, two-door cabinets, for easy access to pots, pans and spices. Choosing a built-in, single-convection oven, rather than double ovens, allowed the oven to be placed at a convenient height for the homeowner’s use and provided extra drawer space below.

“If it doesn’t work for me, then I don’t need it,” says the homeowner. “Just my one oven is a perfect height for me. Misty and David made sure this was my kitchen.”

The Wheelers turned the narrow galley way where the original kitchen was located into a walk-in pantry with plenty of shelf space to keep things organized. The polished travertine flooring, laid throughout the entire remodeled area, serves as a unifying element to the new living space and balances out the kitchen’s dark-wood cabinetry. Outfitted with energy-efficient appliances, the new kitchen opens up to the living and dining areas, creating a perfect flow from one space to another.

“Misty and David are very special,” says the homeowner. “They were very respectful to our space and to us. I hope people have the same experience we had.”