Lars Remodeling Project

Open-Concept Kitchen Spring Valley

This Spring Valley remodel removed three walls to turn a closed-in kitchen into an open, warm-toned space with a four-seat island, a new pantry and a dedicated tea station. In the living room, a modern linear fireplace wall with low-mounted TV and built-in AV storage makes the space comfortable for everyday living and entertaining.

Kitchen Remodel Spring Valley

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Spring Valley open-concept kitchen and living area with island seating, dining table, arched pantry door and beverage fridge

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Project Highlights

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The cooktop sits in the island, so whoever is cooking faces the open living space instead of a wall, and the red knobs the homeowners loved add a bit of personality. Tall cabinetry with stacked wall ovens keeps baking and reheating off the counters, freeing up the workspace the old kitchen never had. Crown molding along the upper cabinets and soft toe-kick lighting give the kitchen a finished, tailored look.

With the walls removed, the kitchen, dining area and living room now share one open, connected space. The sage-green island sets the kitchen apart from the living area while its stools give the family a casual place to gather. A new pantry, behind an arched reeded-glass door, and a single full-light French door to the side yard replace the old breakfast nook and oversized slider, adding storage without losing daylight.

The dated full-height brick was replaced with a built-out stacked-stone wall framing a low-profile linear fireplace set just above the floor. The TV hangs low above a slim mantel that holds the soundbar, matching the homeowners’ wish for comfortable viewing, and sculptural wall sconces light the room in place of overhead fixtures. Together they give the living room a clear focal point that works for movie nights as well as everyday relaxing.

Building the wall out made room for the long linear fireplace the homeowners wanted without structurally changing the original fireplace. Power at the base of the wall supports the audio equipment, reflecting the homeowners’ interest in good sound. Light stone, warm wood-look flooring and matching sconces tie the living room to the open kitchen beside it.

The Project Story

Designed for Daily Life

The homeowners’ main floor was divided into small, closed-off rooms. The kitchen was the hardest to live with: it had too little counter space, not enough storage, and no connection to the living room beside it. They wanted an open, connected downstairs. They were just as clear about what they didn’t want. A neighbor had finished a similar project in an all-white palette, and these homeowners wanted something warmer and more personal, with a kitchen that would still stand out visually within an open plan.

Opening the layout meant removing the wall between the kitchen and living room, plus two more walls, so a large structural beam had to carry the loads those walls once supported. The project also included a 125-amp electrical panel upgrade to support the new kitchen and living spaces. The plan accounted for existing kitchen drywall damage from past second-floor leaks, which would be repaired once the walls were opened.

A new island now anchors the kitchen. It holds the cooktop, seating for four along an overhang, and dedicated storage for seasonal items. The island hood vents out through the southern wall using flush-mount ventilation set into a soffit, which keeps the room visually open. The former breakfast nook became a pantry. An oversized sliding door to the side yard was replaced with a 36-inch full-light French door that still brings in daylight.

The finishes reflect the homeowners’ taste rather than a trend. Warm cream-toned cabinetry is finished with a small crown molding, and the appliances were chosen to avoid an industrial stainless look. Everyday conveniences round out the kitchen: a speed oven in place of a microwave, a beverage fridge, and a dedicated tea station.

In the living room, the full-height brick fireplace gave way to a built-out feature wall around a 60-inch low-profile linear fireplace. It sits just above the floor with a flush hearth. The TV is mounted low for comfortable viewing, with clean drywall above instead of stone to the ceiling. Low cabinetry extends to either side to hold audio-visual equipment, and generous outlets are planned for speakers, important for a homeowner who values great sound.

The finished main floor is open, warm and distinctly their own. The kitchen has the workspace and storage it always lacked, the living room is built around how the family relaxes, and the two spaces now work together as one.

Project at a glance

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