Pine Valley

ICON Custom Builders partnered with Amanda Hiatt Interiors for this kitchen renovation inside a 1930s Tudor home.

The original kitchen layout was cramped with an awkward work flow. It didn’t accommodate the homeowners’ lifestyle and desire to entertain their friends and family.

The peninsula and corner fireplace made the breakfast room and gathering area feel disjointed, and the work space in the kitchen was too tight. 

“The homeowners were very excited to update their kitchen and have us utilize the existing space to its fullest potential,” said project manager Douglas Brown.

Reimagining the kitchen layout was critical in making the space more functional and comfortable for this family. The biggest updates involved removing the peninsula and repositioning the existing corner fireplace to an adjacent wall. 

“While no square feet were added, this change immediately made the spaces feel brighter and more connected,” shared interior designer Amanda Hiatt.

The breakfast room originally held a 4-top table, but the homeowners wanted the space to seat 8. Our solution was a floating banquette that provides ample seating without the space feeling too heavy.

“We not only created a desirable work area, but a space where the whole family can linger and connect without stepping on one another,” Amanda added. 

With every project, Amanda’s intention is to create a beautiful, functional space that tells the family’s story. This story celebrates the transition from a cozy space for two to an entertaining area to gather with friends and their three grown children.

“This is a Tudor style home built in 1930 and I felt it important that its kitchen feel as if it could have always been there – just with more modern touches,” shared Amanda. 

This aligns with our specialty at ICON Custom Builders – preserving a home’s original character and charm while making essential modern updates to improve functionality. 

Panel-ready dishwasher drawers and an indigo AGA stove limit the amount of stainless steel in the remodeled kitchen. Natural stone (quartzite) countertops with a warmer neutral cabinet finish and brushed brass fixtures make the space feel more aged without feeling too stark. Millwork above the fireplace and custom built-ins on either side feel cohesive with details found in other areas of the home. 

Despite so many things being removed or relocated in the kitchen, it was very important to the homeowners that the beautiful stained glass window remained. Douglas shared, “Amanda was able to come up with a great layout that allowed for this featured attribute to remain as a focal point in the kitchen while everything else around it changed.”

Amanda’s intentional design decisions are based on the character of the original home and the family who calls the space home.

“In order to fully tell their story, I incorporated their art collection from extensive travels into the space, including shelves filled with favorite pieces picked up from trips around the world,” Amanda shared. A Moroccan rug from a recent trip anchors the new “keeping room,” or gathering space, adjacent to the kitchen.

Amanda’s signature kitchen feature – especially in older homes – is a hidden space for appliances. With the skilled help of Jenny Newman at West End Cabinets, we were able to install two appliance cabinets, complete with power on multiple shelves, to house the microwave, toaster, blender, and other small appliances. “You can simply open the doors, make your smoothie, and then close it all back up” Amanda shared. 

Douglas’ favorite feature in this kitchen, and a specific request from the homeowners, is the coffee bar. “The way it is set off on its own in the kitchen area makes it very special,” he shared. 

In many kitchens, having designated zones for certain activities – making coffee, washing dishes, preparing dinner, or gathering with loved ones – improves the flow and streamlines everyday life.

Like many home renovations, this project was not without its challenges. For example, the new layout required the range to move to the opposite wall. It seems simple, however this new wall was an interior wall and the range hood needed to vent to the outdoors. Douglas channeled his creativity and found a way to effectively snake the ductwork and route it through the roof. 

Additionally, the homeowner requested that we incorporate a beloved set of antique black cabinets into the new design. However, the upper cabinet depth was not ideal for daily dishes in the kitchen. Our creative solution? Repurposing the cabinet set to hold the homeowners’ barware and serveware in the newly created breakfast room. 

“Skilled craftsmanship made that possible,” Amanda said. “We’re all delighted with the newfound use of that area.” Plus, the cabinetry’s distressed details pay tribute to the age of the home, further celebrating its original character. 

Creative problem-solving like this demonstrates how important it is to work with an experienced team – from the project manager to the designer to the craftspeople. This expertise allows clients to trust that we are proactive problem solvers who thoughtfully balance beauty and function.

ICON Custom Builders enjoyed collaborating with Amanda Hiatt Interiors to achieve this kitchen renovation. We are incredibly thankful for Amanda’s partnership and for the client’s trust in our team to get the job done. 

As you can tell from the before and after photos, this was quite the transformation. A cramped kitchen with an awkward layout became an open, functional, and enjoyable cooking and entertaining space. 

Now this local Winston-Salem family will continue telling their story as they carve out new memories in their warm, welcoming kitchen.