We believe a house should evolve to meet a family’s changing needs, and this kitchen with its adjacent sitting area is about as close to “finished” as anything in our home gets. Over the past couple of years it’s been steady — we swapped the light for my dream bubble chandelier and finally landed on seating that fits the space perfectly. Aside from a few small accessory updates (like a toaster I got for Christmas), the room has settled into a rhythm that feels effortless. We shot the photos for this post a while back, which is why some small items changed after the pictures were taken.

Because our older posts don’t reflect these tweaks, we wanted to share an updated overview of the kitchen. It’s been remarkably functional for our family — a place to eat and cook, to drop backpacks and jackets, to gather before school, and to hang out when friends and family come by. The layout allows the kitchen to serve many roles without feeling cluttered.

Video Tour

A video walkthrough gives the best sense of the flow, so we included one showing the small kitchen and attached sitting area. Having two loveseats in the sitting area finally solved the tricky layout created by the bedroom and front door openings. The video helps you visualize how traffic moves through this compact, multi-use space.

Note: You can also watch this video on YouTube.

A Truly Multi-Function Space

The kitchen really is the heart of our home. It sits at the center of the floor plan and naturally becomes where everyone starts and ends their day. We lounge on the sofas, play games at the table, and share most meals here. Because this room is also the main entry for our family, it doubles as a landing zone — there’s no separate foyer, mudroom, or laundry room. Backpacks, jackets, and the laundry area all live here. A porch off the kitchen stores outdoor cooking supplies and the grill, along with extra cabinet space for shoes and seasonal gear.

It works hard for us, and we’re grateful for every function it serves.

Kitchen Before & After

We love a good before-and-after, so here are a few comparisons showing how the room evolved. Early on there was a window that we later replaced with a door to create the functional kitchen porch. That change opened up storage and improved flow to the outside.

And here’s the same angle after the remodel:

When we first moved in we arranged things to get by while we figured out what the room needed. That initial setup wasn’t ideal but gave us time to learn how we actually lived in the space.

Over time we transformed the space to better suit daily life. The sitting area being open to the kitchen is one of our favorite choices — there are often people gathered while someone else cooks, and the table encourages conversation unlike an island where everyone faces the same direction. This was a conscious choice based on how we wanted to live here, not on trends or resale pressures.

A New Chandelier

A favorite update was adding the glass bubble chandelier. It felt like a discovery on Pinterest and instantly set the tone for the room, adding a soft, beachy glow that complements the mauve cabinets and warm accents. The light became the finishing touch that made the space feel intentional and cozy.

We’ve kept seasonal flowers and fresh details in the photos and video — little touches that keep the room feeling lived-in and joyful.

Patience Pays Off

Many neighbors said they couldn’t picture how the house could work when they toured it before we bought it. We saw the potential and let the house reveal its best layout over time. It took a couple of years to commit to a full kitchen renovation, and experimenting during that time helped us make wiser decisions. Small houses can feel larger with thoughtful rearranging and time to understand how you use the space.

Our best piece of advice: don’t rush a kitchen renovation. Living in a space and observing how you actually use it will save time, money, and regret. Let the room evolve before making permanent choices.

Looking Beyond The Kitchen

One challenge was that the kitchen looks directly into a bedroom. To avoid an awkward sightline, we added storage and floating shelves so the bedroom feels like an extension of the living area rather than a private space on display. The result is cohesive and intentional, with custom built-ins and a fireplace mantel that tie the rooms together.

More On Our Kitchen Reno

For those interested in the full timeline and details, we documented the multi-year renovation and related projects in several posts covering the before tour, early living-in stages, the cabinet painting process, the porch conversion, organization strategies, and storage upgrades. These resources show the slow, thoughtful process that led to a kitchen and sitting area that genuinely work for our family.

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