Like many families with older children, this local Glen Ellyn couple called in our kitchen remodelers to expand the size of their kitchen and create a more open, airy feel for their main level. The home had plenty of space that included a formal living room, formal dining room, family room with eat-in area, and kitchen with butler’s pantry. What it didn’t have was an effortless flow between the areas used daily for cooking, eating, and gathering.

Additionally, the kitchen had become outdated, feeling dark and dismal despite the abundance of natural light. Our clients wanted to brighten up the kitchen hoping that the cheerful interior would inspire the family to congregate in this part of the house. No easy feat with teenagers.

How to lighten up a dark kitchen

We created an open plan kitchen with an island to solve the issues with functionality and circulation. It was achieved by eliminating the walls that restricted flow and opening up the entry to the dining room.

How do you expand a small kitchen

Eliminating the rarely used butler’s pantry allowed us to expand the kitchen and add a large island for food prep and gathering.

To accomplish this, it was necessary to install a supportive header and eliminate the lower butler’s pantry ceiling. This required the strategic rerouting of the second floor bathroom plumbing. To create a sense of symmetry and consistency in the space, a clerestory window was added below the header and framed to match the existing adjacent entry from the living room.

What color scheme makes a kitchen look bigger and brighter?

Inspired by the owner’s Scottish ancestry, the island cabinetry boasts a beautiful blue hue, paired with stools upholstered in a sprightly plaid. The built-in buffet area provides additional storage. It’s topped with a beautiful wooden top stained to coordinate with the stunning tones of the flooring, which allows for a perfect table setting.

The built-in buffet area provides additional storage, topped with a beautiful wooden top stained to coordinate with the stunning tones of the flooring.

The owner’s opted for stainless steel appliances, inspiring the selection of brushed silver light fixtures and polished chrome hardware. Marble-look quartz offered a durable, lightly colored surface to reflect sunlight and enhance the cheer factor. According to this happy family, this uplifting space is now the favorite of everyone in the household… except for Buster… who still prefers his dog bed.

Why is TKS Design Group the best choice for a kitchen remodel?

We have been specializing in kitchen remodeling for over 15 years. We merge outstanding quality and innovative design to bring tailored solutions to homeowners in Glen Ellyn and the vicinity. Our process is designed to cater to your needs and ensure the highest standards of quality. As a design + build company, we take care of every facet of your project, including thorough planning, selection of durable materials, and sophisticated construction.

Reach out to us to discuss your ideas and get all of your burning questions answered. Let’s spruce up your home together!

Read what the homeowner had to say about their experience working with TKS Design Group…

“ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!!! We could not ask for a better experience with TKS team. We had a full kitchen remodel done and it is beautiful, we just love it! The entire team–including the owners, the designers, and the contractors were all very professional, punctual, responsive and reliable every day of our project. They kept us updated every day about what was done with our kitchen, what was happening the next day and if there were any delays with deliveries or supplies. The quality of the products (countertops, cabinets, appliances, tile backsplash, etc) are all excellent quality and look amazing. The contractors showed up every day on time and cleaned up very nicely at the end of the day–and always showed up! The designers really listened to our wants and needs for our kitchen and worked with us to make sure we liked the overall design. We also had some major structural work to do to our kitchen and they had a very good structural engineer make safe and aesthetically pleasing suggestions with a challenging wall in our kitchen. We had to have our floors refinished on our entire first floor and they look perfect. If you are looking to have your kitchen remodeled, whether a big or small project, hire TKS Design Group! You will be so happy you did!”

– Erin B., Glen Ellyn, IL