A small kitchen remodel that finally makes the kitchen work

Material palette showing rift white oak cabinetry, quartz countertop sample, green ceramic tile, chrome hardware, and white paint selections arranged with a red tulip.

Designing a kitchen remodel for a professional chef comes with high expectations. In this Beaumont-Wilshire home in Portland, the goal was to rethink how the kitchen and dining room worked together so the space could function the way a real working kitchen should.

The problem

The existing kitchen was surprisingly difficult to use. Doors, windows, and circulation paths interrupted nearly every wall, leaving very little continuous space for cabinets or work surfaces. Meanwhile, the dining room sat right next to the kitchen but remained a separate space, and the small bay window there didn’t function particularly well for a table or built-ins.

Existing kitchen with stove, sink under a window, and doorway leading to the dining room before the kitchen remodel. — The original kitchen was so tight it was almost impossible to photograph in one frame.

Existing dining room with bay window and small dining table prior to the kitchen remodel. — The original dining room sat just off the kitchen, with a small bay window that was difficult to use effectively.

The solution

The solution wasn’t just to make the kitchen bigger—it was to rethink the entire cooking and dining areas. Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room created the opportunity to reorganize the layout into one unified space rather than two loosely connected rooms.

Hover over image to move slider.

Existing floor plan showing the original kitchen separated from the dining room with a small bay window area. — Before

New floor plan showing the kitchen and dining room combined into one space with an island and sink relocated to the bay window. — After

A continuous wall of cabinetry now anchors the kitchen, paired with a generous island that finally provides real working space for a professional chef. The kitchen sink was moved to the existing bay window, with the sill raised to countertop height, turning what had been an awkward architectural feature into a natural place for the sink. With the sink relocated, the original kitchen window was closed up, allowing the cabinetry and layout to finally make sense.

Finally, some real counter space

With the layout reorganized, the kitchen could finally gain something it never had before: a long, uninterrupted run of countertop. A slide-in range with a simple under-cabinet hood fits neatly within the run, keeping the wall clean and functional. The relocated sink in the bay window now has generous space behind it—something that’s rarely possible along a standard counter-depth wall.

Kitchen with rift white oak cabinetry, green tile backsplash, and farmhouse sink centered in a bay window with island seating in front. — A long, uninterrupted run of countertop finally gives this small kitchen room to work.

The island does the heavy lifting

The island is where this kitchen really comes to life. One side is dedicated to seating and circulation, while the other side becomes the primary prep space for cooking. It creates a natural separation between guests and the work of the kitchen, while giving a professional chef the kind of generous workspace that simply wasn’t possible in the original layout of this kitchen remodel.

Kitchen island with seating on one side and prep space on the other, facing a wall of rift white oak cabinetry and range. — The island creates a clear divide between prep space and seating, giving this small kitchen room to cook and gather.

Floor-to-ceiling storage

Full-height cabinetry on the opposite wall houses the built-in refrigerator along with generous pantry storage. Keeping these taller elements together creates a clean backdrop while adding the kind of storage a hardworking kitchen needs.

Kitchen view with island in the center, rift white oak cabinetry, farmhouse sink under the bay window, green tile backsplash, and tall pantry cabinets. — Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry houses the refrigerator and pantry storage, keeping the working side of the kitchen clean and organized.

Rift white oak cabinetry brings warmth to the space, paired with durable quartz countertops and ceramic tile from Fireclay. Chrome hardware keeps the palette simple and clean. And one element from the original kitchen was worth saving: the large farmhouse sink, which was carefully preserved and reused in the new design.

Making use of every inch

We didn’t stop the remodel at the kitchen. A small niche near the back door provided just enough room to tuck in a tall storage cabinet. Designed with flush inset doors to match the character of the original house, it quietly blends into the architecture while providing a home for cleaning supplies and other everyday essentials that small houses always seem to lack.

Tall built-in storage cabinet beside a short stair leading up to the kitchen, with wood floors and a glimpse of the island beyond. — A small niche near the back door became the perfect spot for a tall storage cabinet.

Thinking about your own kitchen remodel?

Sometimes the best renovations aren’t about adding space, but about making the space you have work better. If you’re thinking about a kitchen remodel—or reimagining any part of your home—we’d love to help. Feel free to reach out to start the conversation.