Kitchen Remodel/Reshaping the space

Phase 1: Planning: The old kitchen | The general idea | Kitchen theory | Rough layout | Appliances | Utility connections and lighting | Cabinet theory | Islands and peninsulas | Cabinet front styles | Cabinet selection | Reference Phase 2: Preparation: Schedule | Cabinet installation preparation Phase 3: Implementation: Reshaping the space | Cabinet installation | Cabinet installation trouble shooting | Appliance and sink installation | Countertop and backsplash | Tile work | Outcome Kitchen Remodel Home

Reshaping the space

In the case of my own project, the remodel did not just mean a new kitchen, but a reshaping of the space, too – walls and ceiling:

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  The original space
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  After demolition
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  After reconstruction
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  On completion

If someone is an architect and has an expert spacial sense, they will probably walk through a room and then come up with a new, better and more beautiful shape just like that. But someone who is untrained in architecture may have difficulties to imagine a potential or future space that does not lie directly in front of them. On any account, a visual simulation will be a priceless aid. For want of access to pertinent software like SketchUp, Revit or 3D Studio Max, I used what was easily available for me: Blender, that is a well-documented free and open source software. You do not need to become proficient in a 3D computer graphics software if you only want to use it for one project; some basics will probably do. But even then it is not just helpful, but also fun.

Next, I show you a random selection of my Blender renders. They are from various stages of my design process. I did those mostly to familiarize myself with the space shape that I designed. But as you can tell, there were also helping me in the long process of decision making about cabinet front products and about colors.

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A story of demolition and reconstruction in 20 pictures

The works that are documented in the following images spanned over a time period of 15 weeks, even though, for various reasons, only a part of those days were actual construction work days. Because we were still living in the house and needed a makeshift kitchen during the construction, the northernmost part of the space, which required only very little work, was sectioned off and put behind a dust curtain.

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  Sectioning off of several clean spaces (that were supposed to be kept habitable) behind dust curtain walls; removal of flooring
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  Demolition and removal of the old kitchen
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  Removal of dry wall and building insulation from the walls, removal of the old ceiling light installation
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  Removal of dry wall and building insulation from the ceiling and the suspended ceilings; removal of some wall studs; installation of a temporary support (right)
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  (The same, as seen from the living room)
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  (The same, as seen from the living room)
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  Removal of the rest of the needless wall studs. My happiest day, because I wanted that wall to be gone so badly!
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  (The same, as seen from within the kitchen)
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  Reconstruction and extension of the suspended ceiling (left); construction of a soffit (foreground); new electrical connections; modification of the water connections
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  Construction of two new walls (center, right)
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  Extension of the existing wall (foreground)
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  (The same, as seen from within the kitchen)
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  The soffit got a plywood case. More electrical and water connections; preparation work for the lighting
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  (The same, as seen from the living room)
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  Part of the ceiling needs to be suspended because it holds the ducts of our forced air heating system.
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  New building insulation, and a new window, too
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  (The same, as seen from a different angle)
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  New drywall, taped already
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  (The same, as seen from within the kitchen)
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  After drywall mudding, and already with some wall paint