Lars Remodeling Project

First-Floor Addition & Indoor-Outdoor Remodel in Encinitas

This Encinitas first-floor remodel and addition reworks the kitchen, great room and rear patio to create a stronger connection between indoor and outdoor living. Expanded storage, an island with seating, improved circulation and a redesigned covered patio make everyday routines and entertaining more functional.

Kitchen Remodel Additions Encinitas

Book a Complimentary Consultation

View Project Gallery

Wide view of Encinitas remodeled kitchen with large seating island, white cabinetry, wood flooring and vaulted ceiling.

Featured Spaces

Project Highlights

01 of 03

The cooking wall uses a full-height quartz backsplash and a wood-accented range hood to create a defined focal point within the remodeled first floor. Generous surrounding cabinetry, broad counter surfaces and the professional-style range organize everyday cooking while the adjacent windows bring natural light into the workspace.

A dedicated beverage and wine-storage area extends the function of the remodeled first floor beyond the main kitchen. Built-in cabinetry, open shelving and a tall glass-front wine refrigerator consolidate serving and storage in one location, helping keep entertaining activity from competing with the primary cooking area.

The large central island creates a shared destination for seating, serving and everyday gathering within the expanded first-floor layout. Its dark wood base provides visual contrast with the surrounding white cabinetry, while the wide countertop and four-stool seating arrangement make the remodeled kitchen more useful for both daily routines and time spent together.

The Project Story

Designed for Daily Life

This Encinitas project was planned as a substantial first-floor transformation, combining an approximately 313-square-foot addition with roughly 851 square feet of interior remodeling and a redesigned rear deck and patio cover. The homeowners wanted the main level to function more naturally for everyday living while creating a stronger relationship between the kitchen, gathering spaces and backyard.

The kitchen was a central part of that plan. Early design discussions called for painted Shaker-style cabinetry, abundant drawers and spice storage, a walk-in pantry, quartz countertops and an island with seating for two to three people. The homeowners also wanted significant wine storage, with space planned for as many as 250 bottles, along with updated lighting and a thoughtful appliance layout. Rather than treating these elements as isolated upgrades, the planning focused on making storage, cooking and casual seating work together efficiently.

Changes extended beyond the kitchen. The homeowners considered squaring off the rear of the house and reworking the great-room area, adding a powder room and moving the laundry from the garage into the interior. A new backyard door system was also part of the discussion, helping support a more direct connection between the remodeled first floor and the outdoor living areas.

That indoor-outdoor relationship continued at the rear patio. The existing deck and patio cover were to be replaced and redesigned to accommodate a television area, seating and dining, while the outdoor kitchen concept included a barbecue, sink and practical storage. Together, these changes were intended to make the backyard a more functional extension of the home rather than a separate destination.

One planning challenge involved the front entry. Removing the existing step had implications for the adjacent stairs, railing, flooring and entry detailing, so those elements had to be considered together rather than altered independently. The notes also indicate that some exterior eaves might require replacement depending on the termite inspection, but they do not document a confirmed structural repair or construction discovery.

The finished project brings the first floor, addition and outdoor living areas into a more coordinated plan, giving the homeowners improved storage, stronger circulation and more flexible spaces for cooking, dining, entertaining and daily routines.