Bulaful Home Kitchen - Before & After

The kitchen and dining area were the largest, and most impactful, undertaking of our Bulaful home renovation. Much like the living room, I could immediately see the potential: generous square footage, beautiful natural light pouring in from both the front and back of the house, and great bones. Still, despite all of that, the layout simply wasn’t working for our family.

After spending time living in the home (which I always recommend before renovating) and exploring countless design ideas, we finally decided to take the leap and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome.

To maximize the space, we reimagined the entire layout of the kitchen and dining area. By removing the wall between the two rooms, we created one expansive, open space that feels both comfortable and functional. We added a multipurpose zone with a bar, wine fridge, secondary dishwasher, and microwave, and opened up the connection between the foyer, staircase, and dining area to improve flow and natural light throughout the main level. That said, we intentionally kept the wall between the living room and kitchen intact. As much as I love a spacious kitchen and dining area, there’s something to be said for a separate living space — and it’s nice not to stare at dirty dishes while entertaining or watching a movie. We also used this wall to house our pantry cabinets, which hold all of my baking essentials and the kids’ snacks.

Now, the space feels bright, clean, open, and polished - and it’s become my favorite place to start each morning.

I designed the kitchen as a blend of traditional and modern - clean lines and sleek plumbing paired with classic details like the three-piece crown that ties back to the rest of our home, and natural quartzite countertops. It took months to find the perfect slabs, and they’re still my favorite feature in the space! Most of our appliances are Monogram, and I chose an induction cooktop, which my husband, the cook in our home, absolutely loves. I also love the look of paneled appliances to break up the stainless, so we paneled our Sub-Zero French-door refrigerator and freezer, as well as both dishwashers. And of course, the kitchen is thoughtfully organized, from rollouts for spoons, spatulas, and cutting boards, to dedicated drawers for bowls, and linens, plus double-decker drawers designed to neatly store pots, pans, lids, and all the miscellaneous kids’ items we inevitably accumulate.

The most important detail in this updated, open-concept space is one you can’t even see: the steel beam. Installing it allowed us to fully open the space while ensuring everything remained structurally sound. Removing the existing wall between the kitchen and dining room also made space for the new 9.5-foot island, something I had envisioned from the start. I wanted an island that offered ample prep space and storage, and this one delivers beautifully.

The contrasting dark wood stain adds depth and warmth, grounding the room and making the island feel as though it’s always belonged there. A classic Shaws fireclay sink was a non-negotiable; I’ve admired it for years and knew it had to be part of my new kitchen. Lighting, on the other hand, took a bit more time to get just right, and I ultimately decided on these woven pendants that bring a subtle touch of coastal texture and complete the space.

The bar area was another spot that originally felt tight and crowded, largely due to the narrow pantry. To open things up, we removed the pantry closets on both sides (including the one in the kitchen), took down the wall, and added cabinets spanning the entire length of the space. We did encounter a minor design challenge with the HVAC behind the wall, but quickly resolved it with some design adjustments, which is necessary in every renovation.

Some of the standout features in this area include the glass cabinet, a secondary dishwasher, a wine fridge, and our five-in-one Advantium microwave oven which we use daily. Plus, a thoughtfully organized drawer dedicated solely to my favorite teas. :)

We’re incredibly lucky to have generous square footage in the kitchen. After removing some of the existing pantry cabinets, I knew I wanted to fully utilize the wall between the kitchen and living room as a dedicated pantry wall. Creating a designated home for snacks, dry goods, and everyday essentials was a must, and this did the trick. To keep everything inside the cabinetry beautifully organized, we incorporated rollouts and ample shelving.

In my eat-in kitchen I wanted to create a casual, family friendly space that felt clutter-free. With two young kids anything I can do to lessen the mess is a win. Removing the existing wainscoting was the first step, and from there we transformed the area into a natural extension of the kitchen. Our table, made by local Charlotte company Kauffman & Co., expands from a 60” round to a 108” oval and seats up to twelve - perfect for hosting. I’m a sucker for a good stripe, and found the perfect Kravet fabric for my Roman shades. The light fixture has a woven rattan wrap and I love how it ties the space back to the kitchen pendants. The reeded buffet offers generous storage, and the original art is by Dallas artist, Taelor Fisher.

As part of the interior renovation, we also refreshed the staircase and opened up the connection between the foyer and dining area to improve flow throughout the home. By exposing the first five steps and introducing new treads and railings, the staircase feels lighter, more open, and thoughtfully integrated into the overall, updated design.

Bulaful Home Kitchen - Before & After

Bulaful Home Living Room - Before & After

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