Transitional Kitchen Family Room Remodel in Lake Forest

When you initially walked into the kitchen and living area of this Lake Forest home, you found a color palette of outdated earth tones that felt heavy and not in-line with the beautiful backyard and pool area these spaces open to. The medium-tone oak cabinetry sits beside muted granite countertops. Moreover, the dining area feels cramped and oddly separated from the kitchen.

A big part of this design and remodel project centered around finding a way to improve the flow of the space and also to create a sense of cohesiveness and an updated design as you moved from the kitchen to the family room.

The Kitchen Cabinets Remodel Lake Forest

Pivotal to the transitional remodel in this Lake Forest home was the selection of cabinetry. To brighten and modernize the kitchen, where the footprint went largely unchanged, we chose 3-inch Shaker cabinets in straight white. They feature solid maple doors, and unique customizations including a valance set over the sink, as well as hidden storage underneath the peninsula. Wainscotting detailing cleverly conceals these storage additions.

We created a custom refrigerator door for a seamless design. There is also a custom microwave cabinet, so this small appliance is covertly out of view.

Tile and Countertops

The overall color palette in this kitchen remodel is gray and white. The stone kitchen countertops are polished Gray Savoie granite, and the profile is a 1 ½-inch square mitered profile.

Paired with the gray square-edged countertops is a sleek, modern tile backsplash consisting of Eleganza Vetro tile in Snow White with gray grout. This glass tile is a premium selection, evoking stylishness, with a clean edge, subtle texturing and a very glossy finish.

This tile is carried up to the ceiling behind the wall-mounted range hood.

Kitchen Appliances and Sink

The appliances in the Lake Forest represent some of the finest available. The appliance package includes the eye-catching Zephyr wall-mounted stainless range hood, as well as a Wolf professional-quality convection steam oven.

There’s a compact yet functional bar area between the refrigerator and the ovens, and this is where you’ll find not only additional countertop space and cabinet storage overhead but also the inclusion of a sleek 24-inch stainless steel wine cooler.

The sink serves as not just a functional addition, but also a beautiful feature piece. The farmhouse sink features a Blanco Cerana 33-inch Fireclay Front Apron design. Additionally, it sits beneath a large window with backyard and pool views.

Dining Space

Directly adjacent to the kitchen is a stunning, custom dining space, where there was once a cramped and somewhat awkward area with minimal space to eat.

What replaces that is a custom-designed and built banquette-style bench with a high back, paired with a butcher block dining table.

The homeowners and designer created the butcher block table together. Moreover, the tabletop features solid natural walnut with an oil-rubbed finish. The richness of the wood is an ideal pairing with the airiness of the rest of the kitchen design.

The Family Room

To keep the design cohesive and flowing naturally, APlus Kitchen also revamped the homeowners’ family room. The walls showcase a modern icy blue-grey. In addition, custom cabinetry sits to the right of the newly redesigned fireplace.

The fireplace features a natural stacked stone façade and a floating mantel that matches the butcher block dining table. To the right of the fireplace, custom floating shelves pair with a built-in cabinet. Additionally, the cabinet offers spacious storage drawers.

Under the corner windows in the family room is a built-in seating area, again with a butcher block-inspired top, and additional drawer storage underneath.

The ceiling feels high and open thanks to the recessed lighting, and large windows ensure plenty of natural light comes into the family room.