Vacation Kitchen Makeover

Lisa Sherry Interieurs took on the big project of making over a dated '70s floor plan to create an open, light and inviting kitchen and dining area. Walls came down and a free-flowing design was put in place.

The completed first floor of this vacation home now feels open and bright, and reflects the home's coastal setting on Bald Head Island, N.C. The remodeled space is a perfect place for entertaining.

What did the homeowners want most from this remodel?

This is a vacation property where entertaining is key. The kitchen needed to be open to the dining and living spaces. By taking down walls and using open shelving, everything became free flowing.

The space needed to be brighter so we added larger windows and took care to choose the right materials. The owners also wanted to open up the kitchen to the amazing screened-in porch.

What was the most important issue to the family?

The kitchen needed to be the central entertaining space as well as being open to the entire first floor. By removing the right walls, we were able to do this successfully.

What were the challenges you faced with this project?

Knowing that this space was very outdated, we faced the challenge of envisioning its true potential. The space was so dark and needed to be opened up by removing walls and creating more space. Once this was done, the transformation was remarkable.

Does the end result match your original vision for the space?

When the kitchen walls were opened up into the dining area, we realized we needed to add windows in the dining room that opened out to the screened-in porch to see the water beyond. We found the overall effect was much more open than we initially proposed.

What lessons did this project teach you?

I feel that working with the right contractor is crucial to creating your vision. Another thing that I learned is it's always the questions of “what if” that I like as a challenge or “why not?”

What hidden gems did you discover that made the difference in this project?

The materials used in the kitchen reflect the home’s coastal setting by using travertine tile, a driftwood finish on the cabinets and a capiz-shell chandelier. I feel that they give the space a true coastal vibe.