(Part 2 of Our Main Floor Renovation Series)

After weeks of dust, noise, and a plywood-and-tarp situation where our wall used to be, the moment we finally started putting the kitchen back together felt… surreal.

This part of the renovation was less about demolition and chaos and more about intention — deciding how we actually wanted this space to function, feel, and support the way we live every single day.

So let’s talk about what we changed — and why it mattered.

A Kitchen That Finally Flows

One of our main goals was to fix how the kitchen moved and functioned. Before, it worked ok… but it never quite flowed. It never felt like there was enough counter space, and more than 2 people at a time working felt too full, despite not having an island.

Now, the flow feels intuitive:

There’s space to move without bumping into each other
Multiple people can be in the kitchen at once without it feeling crowded
And everything has a place that actually makes sense

This wasn’t about making it bigger — it was about making it work better and feel good to be in.

The Window That Changed Everything

Let’s start with the biggest visual shift: the window. We didn’t just replace the old one — we tripled its width. And honestly? This decision alone transformed the entire kitchen.

Before, the light was minimal, almost nonexistent. Now, natural light pours in all day long, and the kitchen feels bigger, calmer, and more connected to the outdoors in a way it never did before.

As a photographer, light is something I’m deeply attuned to, but even beyond that, as a human being, this change altered how the space feels emotionally. It went from enclosed and dim to open and energizing.

And yes — this is the same window that required a tarp wall and two storms. Worth it. Completely.

We used Renewal By Andersen (shoutout to our salesman, Jake Granitz, who made the process easy - would definitely recommend - be sure and tell him Kelley Chance sent you).

Renewal does NOT frame in for larger windows, though, so that was on Sam, and explains why we were the ones cutting the hole. He had to adequately support the outer wall while he reframed and added a larger header for the window, so we had a little mini wall in the kitchen for a short bit.

The Island: Our Functional Anchor

It’s wild that we never had an island here before, because it just feels like it should’ve always been here! When we were designing the layout, I went back and forth a lot - was 2’x4’ even big enough to do anything on? Would it be too big and make the room feel crowded?? Turns out, it was the perfect size for our space!

It’s where groceries land the second they come through the door, right next to the fridge, which makes unloading and organizing so much easier.

It’s the central anchor that makes the whole kitchen feel grounded. Everything radiates outward from it in a way that just makes sense when you’re actually using the kitchen day in and day out.

The Peninsula: Where We Actually Hang Out

If there’s one place in this kitchen that truly holds our family rhythm, it’s the peninsula.

It has two bar seats on one side, and two shallow-depth cabinets and drawers on the other, which might not sound exciting… but it’s become one of our favorite spots in the entire house.

One of those cabinets ended up becoming our downstairs game storage (our family has a LOT of games), which I didn’t realize would be such a game-changer — literally.

Now we’ll pull out Flip 7 to play while one of us is making dinner, or grab Dumb Ways to Die and play a round together at breakfast. It’s casual, easy, and completely woven into daily life instead of being something that requires a whole setup.

And this space wouldn’t exist without removing that dang plumbing column. That one structural change didn’t just open sightlines — it gave us a place to connect in small, everyday ways that feel really meaningful.

Countertops That Make Me Weirdly Happy

Our countertops are one of those things that I didn’t realize would bring me as much joy as they do. This was one of the few things we hired out, because giant slabs of quartz were something we definitely didn’t want to mess around with! B&H Midwest Granite in Basehor, KS did a great job on them.

They’re durable, beautiful, and somehow manage to elevate the entire space without screaming for attention.

We went with Calacatta Delios, which I think gave the perfect balance of light and bright, but also warmth. We did a 12” matching backsplash, as well as a 4” ledge over the range side, and a quartz windowsill to match on the other wall. They function so beautifully and we get compliments on them all the time!

Let’s Talk Cabinets

We went with Menards Klearvue cabinets — and this is the one questionable choice we feel like we made…

There are things I genuinely loved:

The flexibility in design
The ability to customize our layout
And the value compared to other options (ie your girl was on a budget, and custom cabinetry just wasn’t an option right now)

There were also things that tested our patience…

Delays
Missing pieces
Reeeeeeal questionable customer service
Moments where I wondered if this was a personal character-building exercise

Would we choose them again? The jury is out… they allowed us to get the look and function we wanted within our budget, which was important. And they look nice. But they’re also definitely a budget option, and if you look too closely, that’s evident.

Light, Everywhere

Between the expanded window and new lighting, it’s like a whole new world in here. We went from 3 hanging lights and a can light above the sink that kind of did the bare minimum, to a whole lighting system that feels warm, inviting, and clean, with more than enough light to see what you’re doing at any time.

We went with 3 dimmable gold arm lights above the sink, and a gorgeous glass globe with 3 disc lights on a different dimmable switch. Plus we added under cabinet lights (LOVE) and a range hood that has a light as well. It’s adjustable and works so nicely at any time of day.

I also switched all our lighting through the main floor to 3000k bulbs, so everything matches, and it’s that nice warm glow without being too yellow.

The result is a space that feels warm, inviting, and usable at all hours — which sounds like a small thing, but completely changes how a kitchen is experienced.

The “Extra” Things That Changed Daily Life

Some upgrades don’t photograph dramatically — but they change everything.

Like our water filtration system, which gives us clean, great-tasting water straight from the tap because I’m really not that bougie, except when it comes to tap water. 😂

We went with a Cloud reverse osmosis system that we’re really loving. One of my favorite features is that it actually monitors when the filters need to be changed, and lets you know via an app. We had a pretty good filtration system before, but kept thinking, “we probably need to order new filters,” until we realized it had been THREE YEARS since we changed them. Oops… So we’re really appreciating the reminders that the Cloud system offers.

If you use my link it will give you $100 off your purchase!

Or the under-cabinet nugget ice maker, which I will absolutely defend as a worthwhile luxury. It gets used constantly and somehow brings joy disproportionate to its size. To be honest, I’m not a huge ice person, myself, but this was Sam’s one request and it really is pretty awesome. It makes 60 pounds of nugget (Sonic) ice per day and all 3 boys are obsessed with it. We got this one from Home Depot as a more budget friendly option and we’re thrilled with it. We had a small problem with the first one we ordered, but customer service was fantastic about getting us a replacement in a hurry.

Our range hood was such a nice addition. We hadn’t had one before, and didn’t have the ability to duct it outside, but this one has charcoal filters so we still get the same air-clearing effect, plus it looks great and adds light above the stove.

Finally, our hot water gold pot filler. This was one of those things we really weren’t sure we needed, but the walls were opened up and I’m married to a man who can plumb things, so we figured why not? It’s a relatively inexpensive project, and it really is handy for pasta nights. Plus, it just feels like kitchen jewelry - what’s not to love??

These are the kinds of features that don’t make headlines in a renovation reveal… but make you love living in your home.

A Kitchen That Feels Like Us

At the end of the day, what matters most to me isn’t whether the kitchen looks good in photos — it’s how it feels to live in. Now, it feels easier, lighter, and far more supportive of the way our family actually moves through a day.

There’s room to work without feeling cramped, room to pause without feeling in the way, and useful storage for days (more on that in Part 3). It fits the way we live, and that’s exactly what we wanted.

👉 In Part 3, I’ll share the small changes and hidden upgrades that made the biggest difference — including our under-stairs pantry, trim glow-up, new storage options, and the behind-the-scenes choices that quietly transformed the entire main floor.

Our Dream Kitchen Comes Together (Pt 2/3)