{"id":61413,"date":"2025-02-05T13:59:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T19:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/normandyremodeling.com\/?post_type=case-studies&p=61413"},"modified":"2025-10-02T12:50:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T18:50:02","slug":"bungalows-new-layout-creates-larger-kitchen-with-family-room-connection","status":"publish","type":"case-studies","link":"https:\/\/normandyremodeling.com\/case_study\/bungalows-new-layout-creates-larger-kitchen-with-family-room-connection","title":{"rendered":"Bungalow\u2019s New Layout Creates Larger Kitchen with Family Room Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ivory<\/span><\/p>\n

The original goal for this bungalow-style home in Evanston, IL<\/a> was to create a larger kitchen that could accommodate an island. But when Normandy Designer Abby Osborn<\/a> learned that the adjoining screened porch also needed structural attention, she partnered with Normandy Designer Vince Weber<\/a>, and together they revamped the first floor layout to achieve all the family\u2019s goals and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe original kitchen was small and isolated from the rest of the living areas. So, our first step was to shift a load-bearing wall, which increased the square footage in an underused office<\/a>, and we moved the kitchen there,\u201d Vince says. \u201cThe former office connected to a back room, so we opened up the wall between the back room and new kitchen to create a nice flow between the new kitchen and new family room, making both spaces feel larger and more cohesive.\u201d\"Ivory<\/p>\n

The new family room was widened to line up with the dimensions of the new kitchen, thanks to a small addition. The former kitchen location became the new mudroom<\/a>, and the adjoining screened porch<\/a> that was falling down was replaced with the new expanded deck.<\/p>\n

Traffic flow between rooms also improved due to the layout shift, and a new hallway runs between the mudroom, dining room and kitchen<\/a>. \u201cYou used to only be able to get to the kitchen through the dining room, which is typical of these old bungalows,\u201d says Abby.<\/p>\n

\"IvoryWith the new layout determined, it was time to move on to the fun stuff: choosing what functional details to add (like a coffee bar<\/a> and separate beverage center), along with materials and finishes. In the kitchen and family room, they chose neutral, timeless finishes that combined white and walnut cabinetry<\/a> with gold accents.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince she loves baking, the delicate marble countertop was a must-have splurge, ideal for working with chilled pastry dough. But we kept it to the island<\/a>, out of the heavier work zones, and went with a more durable quartz product for the perimeter counters,\u201d Abby says. \u201cThe family room beverage center was originally planned to be closed cabinetry floor to ceiling, but we didn\u2019t want it to be too heavy. We instead opted for floating shelves and then added those in the kitchen coffee bar area as well. Simple details elevate the design.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family room features a tray ceiling<\/a>, along with a row of new windows to flood this part of the home with natural light. \u201cThe arched opening between the new kitchen and family room pays tribute to the bungalow style, making the changes feel consistent with the character of the home,\u201d Vince notes.<\/p>\n

For the mudroom, printed floor tiles and blue-green cabinetry add a wow factor. \u201cWhile she wanted more classic colors in the kitchen and family room, she really likes color, so we put it in places that wouldn\u2019t be overwhelming,\u201d Abby says. The mudroom cabinets act as an overflow pantry<\/a>, and the gold hardware complements the gold finishes in the kitchen.<\/p>\n

The first-floor bathroom located near the new kitchen got a refresh, too. \u201cWe converted the tub to a shower with a top-rail sliding door, shifted the window over, and refreshed all the fixtures and finishes,\u201d Abby says. \u201cYour design options can be somewhat limited in a small bathroom, so having a nice pop of color and shape with the hexagonal floor tile<\/a> invites some fun personality into the space.\u201d<\/p>\n

While sweeping changes weren\u2019t initially in mind, the home\u2019s need for structural attention provided the opportunity to rethink the way they used the back part of the house, instead of just focusing on updating the kitchen. \u201cThis is a case when all the elements that needed attention fit together nicely to create a cohesive new layout,\u201d Vince says. \u201cShe not only gets to enjoy a new, larger kitchen but a connection to an upgraded family room, and the new mudroom is a welcome update that will serve them well for many years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you have ideas you\u2019ve been toying with to improve the layout of your home? Schedule an appointment<\/a> to learn more about the process and speak with one of our designers<\/a>. To get regular design ideas<\/a> and tips, subscribe to our newsletter<\/a>, or follow us on Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> or Pinterest.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Ivory \"Walnut \"Home<\/p>\n

\"Soft<\/p>\n

\"Mudroom \"White \"Shower<\/p>\n

\"Arched<\/p>\n

\"Ivory \"Marble<\/p>\n

\"Wdrd \"Wdrd \"Wdrd<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new layout can mean a whole new home: What started as a kitchen remodel to fit an island, turned into a first-floor revamp that connects the beautiful new kitchen with a sun-filled family room<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":60762,"parent":0,"menu_order":10,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mo_disable_npp":"","inline_featured_image":false},"class_list":["post-61413","case-studies","type-case-studies","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","casestudies-home-remodeling","casestudies-kitchen-remodeling","casestudies-all"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBungalow\u2019s New Layout Creates Larger Kitchen with Family Room Connection - Normandy Remodeling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This bungalow-style home needed some opening up to make room for a kitchen with an island, and the result was a connecting family room too\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/normandyremodeling.com\/case_study\/bungalows-new-layout-creates-larger-kitchen-with-family-room-connection\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bungalow\u2019s New Layout Creates Larger Kitchen with Family Room Connection - 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