The Story
The homeowners had been living with an original 1985 kitchen for almost 40 years. The layout was closed off from the living room, the cabinets were falling apart, and the electrical panel could barely handle a toaster and a microwave at the same time. They wanted an open concept kitchen that felt modern but still warm. I sat down with them three times before we finalized the design because they wanted to get every detail right. That level of care is something I respect.
Ryan, GLME Construction
Project Scope
Full kitchen gut renovation including new layout, custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, and appliance upgrades.
The Challenge
Removing the wall between the kitchen and living room required a structural beam because it was load-bearing. The existing plumbing was galvanized steel that needed to be replaced, and the electrical panel needed a subpanel addition to handle the new appliance load. Permitting took longer than usual because the city of Calabasas required additional structural engineering review.
Our Solution
We installed a 16-foot LVL beam to open up the wall, replaced all the galvanized plumbing with PEX, and added a 100-amp subpanel. The new layout features a large island with seating for four, shaker-style cabinets in a warm white finish, quartz countertops in a calacatta pattern, and a full subway tile backsplash. We upgraded to a 36-inch gas range, built-in refrigerator, and a whisper-quiet dishwasher. Every fixture was LED and the recessed lighting was placed on dimmers.
Materials Used
- Custom shaker-style cabinetry
- Calacatta quartz countertops
- Subway tile backsplash
- 36-inch gas range
- LVL structural beam
- PEX plumbing
Ryan and his team turned our outdated kitchen into the heart of our home. The open layout changed everything about how we live in this house. We cook together now, the kids do homework at the island, and we can finally see the TV from the stove. Worth every penny.
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