From Dated to Defined in KC
A young bachelor, new to the area, saw beyond the dated 1950s ranch exterior and 80s-style interior, recognizing the potential of its vaulted ceilings and large windows. Working with his realtor sister, he reached out to our team to transform the choppy, inefficient floor plan into a sleek, modern, and highly functional home.
Our Schloegel Design Remodel team, led by designer Lindsay Brungardt and overseen by Jeff Penrose, completely redefined the main floor. The core goal was to address the closed-off kitchen and the lack of a true primary suite. The result is a stunning, open-concept home in a cute area of Prairie Village, designed for modern living and entertaining.
Table of Contents
The Challenge: Choppy Flow & Dated Style
The 1950s ranch with its 80s-style updates presented significant spatial and aesthetic problems that needed our expert intervention:
- The Problem with Flow: The original floor plan was disjointed and choppy. The kitchen was small and completely separated from the dining room, while the living room felt isolated from the rest of the space.
- Aesthetic Failures: The home was plagued by dated cabinets, appliances, and lighting, plus relics like floor-to-ceiling mirrors in the bedrooms.
- Lack of Primary Comfort: The three main-floor bedrooms were small and disjointed, with no dedicated primary suite. Awkward storage and a tiny, single bathroom serving the entire upstairs made daily living difficult (Where do you even set down toiletries with a tiny pedestal sink?!).
The second bedroom was tiled and quite small. The third was a non-conforming bedroom with no windows. Light did shine in via the skylight.
The Seamless Kitchen Transformation
Leslie Hatfield worked with our client to come up with a plan that would suit his lifestyle, take advantage of the square footage, and tap into the home’s architecture.
- Obstacles Overcome:
- The wall separating the living room and kitchen was structurally challenging, containing the main return ductwork for the home and a ridge beam split.
- The Solution: We relocated the ductwork below and installed a new long beam, completely removing the wall to open the entire space.
Before
After
- Key Design Details:
- The new layout is a highly functional peninsula shape, maximizing counter space and flow.
- Warmth is introduced through complementary wood tones in the beams, upper cabinets, and flooring.
- The sleek, masculine look is achieved using carbon velvet lower cabinets and contrasting Cambria Blackpool Matte™ counters.
- The ceiling’s vaulted space is accentuated by a tall, drywall-wrapped range hood.
- Lighting Expertise: Because there was no void space in the roof rafters to install standard can lights, we implemented track lighting for ambient light, tucking the tracks along the sides of the beams to maintain sightlines. Under-cabinet lighting provides essential task illumination.
- Finishing Touches: The wood tones in the beams, upper cabinets, and floors play off each other and bring warmth into the home. The carbon velvet lower cabinets and Cambria Blackpool Matte ™ counters contrast with the white walls and subway tile backsplash. The drywall-wrapped range hood stands tall in the vaulted space. The black Elkay sink, Kohler Purist faucet, and Top Knobs pulls to finish off this sleek kitchen design.
The Luxurious Primary Suite
With a bedroom already existing on the lower level, we were able to utilize existing main floor square footage to create a breathtaking primary suite.
- The Conversion: We combined two original bedrooms to create the suite. We removed old closets to enlarge the primary bedroom and converted one of the smaller bedrooms into a highly organized walk-in closet.
- Elevated Details:
- The vaulted ceiling and exposed wood beams make the room truly spectacular.
- Natural stained walnut cabinets with bronze fixtures and hardware bring a warm, rich tone to the bathroom.
- A custom walk-in closet beyond features shelves and double hanging space to maximize storage and efficiency.
- Result: The house now boasts a stunning primary suite perfectly scaled to the home and the client’s needs.
Guest Convenience: The New Powder Bath
After losing the only main floor bath to the primary suite conversion, adding a guest bath was essential.
- The Solution: We successfully fit a new powder bath off the main hallway/living room, making it easily accessible for guests.
- Design Details: The space is inviting with carbon-stained poplar cabinets topped with sleek Caesarstone Pure White countertops. Black elongated hexagon floor tile creates a sense of height and contrast, while the rounded mirror and light fixture soften the geometry of the room.
Defining the Entry & First Impressions
The entry, which was previously an undefined "void of space," now provides clear function and architectural presence.
- Creating Definition: We added a half wall to create separation. The client uses this new area as a sitting space, but it is flexible enough to be converted into a home office.
- Curb Appeal: We replaced the old full-glass French front doors with a proper entry door and sidelight, instantly modernizing the home's curb appeal and first impression.
Redefining the Open Concept Living Spaces
By addressing the structural challenges, we opened the main living areas to achieve a cohesive, modern aesthetic.
- Living Room: We moved the partial wall between the living and dining rooms to create immediate connectivity. The black accents from the kitchen continue here with a new ceiling fan and stair railing. Striking horizontal lines bring a calm warmth to the open area.
- Dining Room: The original living room was converted into a new dining room, providing a great view into the backyard. A wood table pops off the contrasting white fireplace backdrop, anchored by a reflective globe light fixture that breaks up the design’s hard edges.
- Waterfall Counter Feature: From the open living area, you can appreciate the continuous flow of the kitchen's beautiful waterfall countertop.
FAQs: Project Details Answered
Q: Why couldn't you use standard can lights in the kitchen?
A: The vaulted ceiling design meant there was no void space in the roof rafters to install traditional recessed can lighting. Our solution was to utilize track lighting, which was cleverly tucked onto the sides of the beams to provide excellent ambient light without compromising the sleek aesthetic.
Q: What material was used to achieve the sleek black countertop in the kitchen?
A: We used Cambria Blackpool Matte™ for the kitchen countertops, peninsula, and backsplash. This material delivers the desired contrast and sleek, sophisticated look.
Q: I love this sleek, moody kitchen design. How can I bring this aesthetic into my own home?
A: Achieving a "moody" or high-contrast look is all about balancing dark, saturated colors (like the carbon velvet cabinets or dark wood tones) with high-end, matte finishes like the Cambria Blackpool Matte™ used here. Think about incorporating texture, wood tones for warmth, and strategic lighting to highlight the drama. Our Schloegel Design Remodel team can help you select the perfect materials to bring a refined, bold aesthetic into your home.
Q: I want to remodel but don't have the budget for a full home renovation. What are my options?
A: We understand that a full home remodel isn't always feasible right away. We specialize in phased remodeling, where we focus on one major problem or area at a time. This allows you to spread the investment out while still making significant improvements. For even smaller projects like installing new lighting, updating a countertop, or minor repairs, our Schloegel Handyman Services team can handle those in a shorter timeframe and within a specific budget.
Q: How did you fit a new powder room and a primary suite on the main floor?
A: We created the primary suite by eliminating one of the existing main-floor bedrooms and converting another into a spacious walk-in closet. This strategic spatial planning freed up just enough square footage off the main hall to install the much-needed powder bathroom for guest use.
Ready to remodel? Contact us to learn how we can make your dream home your reality!