Orono Kitchen, Living Room Remodel

The owners of this Orono home were referred to AMEK through a professional association with architect Rick Lundin, hired by the family to do some rough conceptual drawings for a reshaped first-floor living area. Matt Schmidt, who heads AMEK's Design and Build team, then worked with the family to refine the concept, add detailed design and then manage the remodel.

The family sought a substantial reshaping of their first floor living space which had a large, open space allowing easy flow between the living and dining rooms, but the kitchen was much smaller and a bit isolated from the main flow of the two larger rooms.

The family desired a larger, more open kitchen space that more closely fit the family traffic flow and that is what AMEK gave them.

The project began by breaking down all the existing first-floor living area spaces including the living room, dining room, kitchen and main floor half bath. A little-used second stairway to the basement was also removed. -- Read More

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Project Images
thumbnailStone Fireplace Before Kitchen Dining Room Remodel

A view of the living room and stone fireplace before remodel. thumbnail Dining Room Before Remodeling Into Kitchen

View from living room into dining room before remodeling began. The project
turned the dining room into the new kitchen. thumbnail French Doors Remodeling Kitchen

Closer look at dining room before remodeling. The French Doors were removed and replaced with a counter and windows. thumbnail Dining Room Remodeling Into Kitchen

View of dining room with open doorway into kitchen prior to remodeling. thumbnail Kitchen Eating Area Before Remodeling

View from dining room into kitchen showing
the small eating area prior to remodeling. thumbnail Kitchen before remodeling

The kitchen prior to remodeling. thumbnail Stone Fireplace Remodeling

View during demolition, which included removing stone from the fireplace. thumbnail Living Dining Room Remodeling Into Kitchen

View of the living room into the former dining room and future kitchen
as the remodeling was taking shape. thumbnail View From New Kitchen Space

View from the new kitchen space looking into the living room during the remodel. thumbnail. Dining Room Space After Remodeling

The new, smaller dining room space was included
as part of the living room. thumbnail Custom Built-In Cabinets.

The living room remodel included a built-in bookcase.
You can see a portion of the new fireplace. thumnailKitchen After Remodeling

The view from the living room into the new kitchen -- the former dining room. thumbnail. View Across Van Gogh Granite Countertops Kitchen Remodel

A view across the Van Gogh granite kitchen countertops toward kitchen windows and perimeter counters where French Doors had been in former dining room. thumbnail Van Gogh Granite Closeup.

A view across the Van Gogh granite countertops
into other corner of the kitchen. thumbnailPorcelain Tile Kitchen Island Backsplash

The two-tiered kitchen island included a porcelain-tile backsplash. thumbnailSoap Stone Countertops Kitchen Remodel Windows.

View of perimeter Soap Stone countertops
and through the new kitchen windows. thumbnailStained Maple Custom Kitchen Cabinets Remodel

The stained maple used in the custom cabinets was
carried through to the built-in refrigerator. thumbnailBuilt-In Coffee Maker Espresso Machine

The kitchen remodel included built-in, stained
maple custom cabinets including one for a coffee and espresso maker. thumbnailKitchen Remodel Two-Sided Pantry

The project included creating a walk-in, two-sided pantry off the kitchen. thumbnailPantry Stainless Steel Door With Round Window

The stainless steel pantry door included a cafe-style round window. thumbnailFamily office/computer space moved from dining room to nook off of kitchen.

Family office/computer space moved from dining room to nook off of kitchen. Entrance To Orono Home Remodel

This Orono home underwent an extensive living area remodel including
converting the dining room into a larger kitchen and creating a new flow to the house.
The kitchen remodel was really a relocation into what had been the dining room. The former kitchen space was reshaped into a mud and laundry room, a home office nook, a remodeled half bath and a pantry space.

That kitchen remodel turned what had been a large dining room into an airy, free-flowing showcase kitchen with a Van Gogh-granite island at the center. Off the new kitchen was functional space including the mud and laundry room, office area, half bath and pantry.

The sliding patio doors that had lined one wall and a corner of the dining room were removed, replaced with a soap stone perimeter counter top with underneath storage. A large picture window along with a trio of double-hung windows kept the kitchen's view of Lake Minnetonka intact.

Other highlights of the kitchen remodel:

  • The two-tier kitchen island with seating for four included Van Gogh granite countertops and porcelain-tile backsplash.
  • Stained maple was used on the custom cabinets as well around the kitchen island, the home office, mud-room lockers, the refrigerator front as well as the built-in areas of the redesigned living room.
  • A stainless-steel, diner-style door leading into the pantry complete with a round window.
  • A built-in coffee and espresso maker.
  • Soap stone countertops along the perimeter and restaurant-quality appliances.

In the living room remodel:

  • The round-rock fireplace was replaced with a textured flat stone finish and a gas insert.
  • The series of sliding doors was replaced by raised, large picture windows with one sliding door for patio access.
  • A built-in cabinet was added on one side of the fireplace.
  • A corner of the living was converted into a dining room space.
AMEK Custom Builders | 9340 James Avenue South | Bloomington MN 55431 | p: 952-888-1200