Before & After: A Ranch Kitchen with Plenty of Natural Light

Happy Spring!!  Can you believe we made it through another winter?  I feel like this is something humans have been congratulating each other on since the dawn of time.  Spring is something you can’t buy your way into and you can’t buy yourself into the front of the line – everyone experiences it together.  And to think, just last week I was complaining to you about a bomb cyclone about to hit Denver.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen me post photos of this home in progress for the past year. This is a ranch home in Denver’s beautiful Crestmoor neighborhood.  The project was a near total gut and renovation with an absolutely beautiful design by architect Mike Mcatee of Lumen Homes.

In the above shot, there are a few things that are the same – the barstools and the size and location of the little window above the sink.  Everything else was re-worked.  The beams are rustic walnut, the floor is character grade white oak, the banquette has built-in planters that I designed specifically to hold containers by Earthbox.  The husband is an avid plant enthusiast.  The made in Colorado cabinets are from Oak Tree Classic Woodworks.  The countertop is Avenza by Pental, the backsplash is by Crossville, the pendant fixtures are from West Elm.

I love the drama the tilted ceiling brings and the light the clerestory windows give the space.  This is another nice view of the custom banquette that I designed with planters and a shelf that wraps around to hold the house plants.  In addition to adding greenery, it also helps make that dining space more intimate. The shelf is attached with steel posts for security and there’s a nice lip on it so nothing will tip off.  Also good to note, these clients do not have a cat.  The doors open completely up to the backyard and create an inviting and relaxing environment for the young family.

The family didn’t add a ton of square footage.  What they added is more valuable than more space – they added light, drama and a larger open space for the family to be together.  The connection to the outdoors was strengthened with the natural light, large windows and areas for plants.  All of these elements can bring joy on a daily basis to a person.

I will share the rest of the home for my next post.  I’m going to take one week off for Spring Break and will talk to you in April!  Have a great rest of March!

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.”
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young