What We Were Working With
The original layout was a closed-off galley-style kitchen isolated from the rest of the living area, with oversized soffits eating up ceiling height, one weak overhead light, and almost no counter space to speak of. Worn wood finishes and decades-old cabinetry made the whole room feel dark and dated. This was part of a whole-home renovation, so the kitchen needed to pull its weight as the centerpiece, not just an afterthought.
What We Did
We removed the non-load-bearing walls separating the kitchen from the main living area, which immediately changed the entire feel of the home. From there, we built out floor-to-ceiling European-style high-gloss white cabinetry - no soffits, no wasted vertical space, just clean lines running all the way up. The reflective finish does a lot of work in a smaller footprint; it bounces light around and makes the room read much larger than it actually is.
The island was a custom build, compact enough for the space, but designed around a professional-grade KitchenAid gas range with a stainless steel island hood above it. That became the focal point of the whole kitchen. On the perimeter, we paired Calacatta-style quartz countertops with a linear glass mosaic backsplash that ties the gray wall tones into the white cabinetry without competing with either. Stainless steel appliances throughout: dishwasher, built-in microwave — keep the material palette tight and cohesive.
Lighting was a full redo: recessed LED cans across the ceiling, plus under-cabinet task lighting that makes the counters actually usable at night.
The Result
The kitchen went from the least functional room in the house to the one everyone gravitates toward. The open layout creates a real connection between cooking and entertaining (the cook isn't stuck in a box while guests are in the next room). The work triangle between the range, sink, and refrigerator is clean and efficient. And the high-gloss white against warm hardwood floors gives it that modern-but-livable balance that works in Northern Virginia homes without feeling cold or sterile.
Ready to start your kitchen renovation?
If your kitchen is stuck in a previous decade and the rest of your home has moved on, we'd be glad to talk through what a remodel like this could look like for your space. NextDay Remodeling works throughout the NOVA region — Arlington, Alexandria, and the surrounding areas.