A Charming, Older Home Kitchen Remodel in Bellerive

Project Summary

Location: Bellerive

This project was a kitchen remodel in an older house in Bellerive, an old-town neighborhood in St. Louis.

Bellerive is an area quite well-known for its large, old, high-ceilinged character homes.

Our clients came to us with a common dilemma: should they move now that their grown children have moved out or should they stay and renovate? He wanted to move, but she just could not bear the thought of leaving the charm of their older home or their neighborhood. One thing they could agree on was that their kitchen did not work for them.

In the end, they decided to remodel the kitchen and fall in love with their home again.

The Challenge

Older brick homes are full of charm....and challenges. We couldn’t make changes to the shell of the room, and the clients didn’t want to compromise the historic character. The placement of the existing windows and doors dictated the layout of the entire space.

The range and hood fit best between two large windows and became a focal point of the room. We were even able to sneak in spice storage on either side of the hood in a tight space that would otherwise be unusable.

The main part of the kitchen ends at the last window, but we extended shallow cabinets with counter space down the length of the wall. These custom-sized cabinets meant the heavily used kitchen table could stay and they gained extra storage.

The Transformation

The kitchen was just wide enough for a center island, but we were careful to maintain enough clearance around it and the appliances. The addition of the island is perfect for entertaining since it acts as a buffet and features a drink fridge and wine rack.

The clients selected a contrasting stain and decorative panels to make the island stand out. Raised panel cabinets and a colored subway tile backsplash create an updated traditional feel in the kitchen.

Additional Touches

The windows and doors were not the only original piece to stay. An existing hutch was updated with a fresh coat of paint. They picked a pop of color to make it stand out against the other, neutral colored cabinets. Their daughter even helped select the perfect shade of blue. We made sure to create a space to house the TV and various small appliances on the pantry wall.

In the end, we were able to work with the existing home, rather than against it. The space is now more functional for everyday life and for entertaining. The kitchen is a room they will both enjoy for years to come.

To learn more about our kitchen remodeling services, browse more of our featured projects, or reach out to us directly to schedule a conversation.

Ready to get started?

schedule a call

Would You Like To Download a Collection of Our Featured Projects?

If you've made it to our website, chances are great that we've worked in your neighborhood. Whether your family has grown since you moved in or your kids have gone off to college, remodeling can transform your home and lifestyle both visually and functionally.

In our latest ebook, we invite you to discover the vision, the challenges, and the transformations behind a few of our favorite remodel projects.