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Brookfield Kitchen Addition
Project Details

Project Year: 2020

Location: Brookfield

Updates Included: Addition

Rooms: Kitchen

Features:

  • 36’ x 6’ addition created space for an open layout without compromising the home’s original structure.
  • 11-foot island offers room for prep, seating, and everyday connection.
  • Quartz countertops and luxury vinyl plank flooring deliver style, durability, and easy maintenance.
  • Plato Woodwork cabinetry with full-height installation eliminates soffits and maximizes storage.
  • Layered lighting design combines LED recessed lights and pendants for brightness and flexibility.

A Kitchen Designed to Bring People Together

For this Brookfield family, the kitchen had long been a source of frustration. The dated design, limited storage, and dark, cramped layout made everyday cooking and family time feel more like a challenge than a joy. They dreamed of a kitchen that would be both a practical workspace and the heart of their home—a place to prepare meals, help their kids with homework, and host family and friends with ease.

Expanding the Space for Everyday Life

From the start, the goal was clear: to create a kitchen that would serve multiple purposes, including cooking, gathering, and supporting everyday family life. At the heart of the new space is an expansive 11-foot island, where meals are prepared, homework is completed, and guests can gather without crowding the cook.

Removing the original island allowed for a circular first-floor flow, which resolved the traffic bottlenecks that had existed in the past. Custom cabinetry provides the storage the family previously lacked, and the refined white finishes offer a clean, classic backdrop that can adapt to changing décor over the years.

Spacious modern kitchen with white cabinets, wooden floors, island with blue chairs, pendant lights, and a dining area in the background.

Timeless Design Meets Everyday Practicality

To support the family’s needs, every material was chosen with intention. Quartz countertops provide durable, low-maintenance beauty. Luxury vinyl plank flooring withstands daily wear from children and pets without sacrificing style. LED recessed lighting and pendant fixtures illuminate work zones and offer flexibility in both mood and ambiance.

Cabinetry from Plato Woodwork extends to the ceiling, replacing soffits with polished finishes and additional storage. Soft, neutral tones throughout the space keep the kitchen bright and welcoming at all times of day.

A Seamless Transformation, Inside and Out

This transformation was not without its challenges. Removing a 23-foot section of wall and supporting the second floor required precision engineering and the installation of a 1,600-pound steel I-beam, which was lifted into place by crane in order to achieve a flush ceiling and seamless finish. All of this was managed during the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, requiring thoughtful communication, careful coordination, and unwavering attention to safety. The result is a testament to both superior craftsmanship and the dedication of the entire remodeling team.

From Start to Finish

Before

  • The rear exterior of the home featured outdated siding, peeling paint on the trim, and limited architectural interest.
  • A narrow footprint provided no opportunity to expand or improve the kitchen layout.
  • The placement of the electrical pedestal, combined with the absence of landscaping, left the area feeling unfinished and exposed.
A white two-story house with wooden chairs on a patio. The yard is green with trees in the background.
Before
A white two-story house with a manicured lawn, patio chairs, and a barbecue grill in a suburban setting. Trees surround the yard.
After

After

  • A thoughtfully designed 36-by-6-foot addition created essential space for a more functional kitchen and improved the overall flow inside the home.
  • Matching shingles and aluminum siding ensures that the new structure blends seamlessly with the original exterior.
  • Relocating the electrical pedestal and enhancing the landscaping resulted in a cleaner, more intentional outdoor aesthetic.
  • New windows enhance both curb appeal and natural light within the expanded kitchen space.

Before

  • The side perspective of the home reveals how confined the original kitchen footprint was, limiting both functionality and the potential for expansion.
  • Maintaining access to the backyard patio was important to the homeowners, who frequently used the space for both relaxation and entertaining.

After

  • The kitchen addition extends naturally from the existing structure, creating a unified exterior and enabling a more spacious interior layout.
  • A new patio door improves access to the backyard, while updated siding and trim give the entire rear elevation a refreshed and polished appearance.
Suburban backyard scene with a white house, patio set, grill, and trampoline surrounded by trees and grass, under an overcast sky.
Before
A suburban white-sided house with a spacious backyard, patio, and wooden chairs surrounded by lush greenery under a clear blue sky.
After

Before

  • Dark oak cabinetry and laminate countertops gave the kitchen a dated, closed-in appearance, limiting both functionality and visual appeal.
  • Soffits consumed valuable overhead space, making the room feel smaller and reducing potential storage capacity.
  • The family loved their home and neighborhood, but the kitchen no longer supported their lifestyle, particularly when gathering with friends or extended family.
A kitchen with brown cabinets, white countertops, dining area, and wall decorations. Ceiling fan and lights create a cozy atmosphere.
Before
Spacious modern kitchen with white cabinets, wooden floors, island with blue chairs, pendant lights, and a dining area in the background.
After

After

  • A stunning 11-foot island now anchors the space, offering generous room for food preparation, casual dining, and homework sessions.
  • Comfortably built-in seating for four encourages everyday meals and simplifies holiday hosting.
  • An enlarged opening to the dining room improves natural light and enhances flow between spaces, while an expanded window above the sink brings additional brightness to the kitchen.

Before

  • The original kitchen layout featured a peninsula that, along with narrow doorways and walls, restricted the natural flow of movement between rooms.
  • Unattractive soffits and limited natural light contributed to a cramped, dim environment that no longer supported the family's needs.
  • Without space for a kitchen island in the existing footprint, expanding the area was essential for improving both functionality and comfort.
A kitchen with white countertops, wooden cabinets, and dining area. Decorative banners and wall art enhance the modern space. No landmarks present.
Before
Bright kitchen with large island, blue chairs, flowers, and lemons. Wooden floor, modern décor, and large window overlooking green trees.
After

After

  • Crisp white maple cabinets from Plato Woodwork, designed in a full-overlay Shaker style, provide a timeless and clean-lined appearance.
  • A custom island with turned wood posts from Plato Woodwork offers both seating and architectural interest, uniting design with function.
  • Modern stainless steel fixtures from Kohler, including an undermount sink and Bellera faucet, add a polished and contemporary finishing touch that complements the space elegantly.

Before

  • The dining room was carpeted with aging material that was difficult to clean and impractical for a busy household.
  • The space lacked cohesion with adjacent rooms, and the flooring felt disconnected from the rest of the main level.
  • Outdated features such as the chair rail and limited natural light made the room feel darker and less inviting.
A cozy dining room with a wooden table and chairs, pendant light, decorative curtains, and neutral walls. Adjacent living space with a lamp.
Before
A cozy dining room features a wooden table, chairs, blue rug, potted plants, modern art, and large windows with patterned curtains.
After

After

  • New white-painted wainscot paneling adds visual interest and a handcrafted character to the dining space.
  • Luxury vinyl plank flooring in a warm, natural tone now extends seamlessly from the kitchen into the dining room.
  • Enlarged windows and a widened kitchen opening increase natural daylight and improve circulation between rooms.
When your home fits your life, everything flows with ease. Let’s build that space together.
Outcome & Client Impact

This kitchen is not just larger, it is better in every way. Brighter, more welcoming, and designed for everyday living, the space now supports every stage of family life, from early mornings to late-night snacks and from busy weekdays to quiet weekends.

By choosing to remodel rather than relocate, the homeowners gained not only additional square footage but also renewed joy in the home they already loved. This kitchen now serves as the heart of the house and will be the setting for many meaningful moments in the years to come.

Bright dining room with wooden furniture, large window, and blue rug. Kitchen visible through doorway. Decorative artwork on the wall enhances the space.
A cozy dining room features a wooden table, chairs, blue rug, potted plants, modern art, and large windows with patterned curtains.
A blue front door partially opens, framed by two glass panels. Flanking plants add greenery. Exterior lights are mounted on white siding.
Modern kitchen with wooden flooring, white cabinets, and large island. Four blue chairs, flowers, and lemons add color. Dining area visible through doorway.
A spacious modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a long island, blue chairs, pendant lights, and a window showcasing greenery outside.
A two-story white house with a well-maintained lawn, patio seating, grill, flowerbeds, and surrounding trees under a clear blue sky.
A suburban white-sided house with a spacious backyard, patio, and wooden chairs surrounded by lush greenery under a clear blue sky.
Spacious modern kitchen with white cabinets, wooden floors, island with blue chairs, pendant lights, and a dining area in the background.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, center island, stainless steel appliances, wooden floor, indoor plants, and pendant lights, creating a bright, inviting space.

Dream Big. We’ll Handle the Rest.

S.J. Janis Company stands ready to bring your vision to life with unparalleled expertise and a commitment to excellence. Contact us today to discover how we can turn your dream home into your real home.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, center island, stainless steel appliances, wooden floor, indoor plants, and pendant lights, creating a bright, inviting space.

Dream Big. We’ll Handle the Rest.