Asked on Jan 26, 2012

BEFORE & AFTER Atlanta Kitchen $75k

Designs by BSB
by Designs by BSB
Quite a transformation for a Mid-Century Style home in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta. This renovation was featured on HGTV Bang for Your Buck! It is a FULL scale renovation including relocating doors/windows, removing walls, and moving a laundry room to another area of the home. All work was performed by a Licensed Contractor. Kitchen Design and Cabinetry provided by DESIGNS BY BSB.
Here is a design statement if you would like to read more about the how/what and why of the design with the homeowner.
This kitchen was small, inefficient and incredibly outdated. The home is mid-century style, so the first objective was to have the interior flow with the overall theme. Due to lack of options of the small space with numerous doorways, the walls to the laundry room were removed and the washer and dryer were relocated to another area of the home. The sink was relocated to the larger existing window on the rear side of the house (old laundry area), and the old sink window was closed to offer additional storage and a location for the new professional range.
While the floor plan was enlarged by 30%, the width of the room was still a major challenge in the design. There simply was not adequate space to allow for a large island; and definitely no room for an eat-in kitchen. The solution was a short peninsula design along with a small, shallow floating island to fill the awkward floor space in the middle of the kitchen. While the walk ways are more narrow than recommended, the clients felt it was worth the sacrifice to gain the added counter space that aids as an ideal prep area and transfer between work stations.
To achieve a modern look, streamlined elements were used throughout. The dark, flat panel maple cabinetry set the stage to display the sophisticated glass tile backsplash and frosted glass cabinet doors, which carry warm hues of green. The raised glass counter top and island were designed with stainless steel columns to help keep the visual flow while enhancing the balance of metal with the appliances and toe kick.
Xenon under-cabinet lighting, recessed cans, and sleek halogen pendants and sconces were strategically placed to enhance the elegant features, in addition to provide high quality task lighting. Furthermore, to improve the natural light source, the existing single door to the patio was increased to a double French door. The hardwood floors replaced the old tile, adding warmth to the room. And finally, the island received an exotic Zebrawood counter top creating a focal point that united the dark cabinetry and oak floors.
A- BEFORE - view from living room
A- AFTER -view from living room to kitchen, door way opened wider
B -BEFORE - Kitchen (laundry room is behind refrigerator wall)
B- AFTER - Laundry room relocated to basement. Door to carport moved to the left.
C- BEFORE - Laundry room is behind ref.
C- AFTER. Laundry room moved to basement. window added for sink, new door to patio
  25 answers
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 26, 2012
    One more view - couldn't seem to share the last 2 images in original post.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jan 26, 2012
    Wow...hard to tell its the same space with all of the major structural changes...well done
  • Janet C Janet C on Jan 26, 2012
    I would not have thought I would like the dark colors, but they really work. Nice.
  • This is my kinda kitchen that I don't have!
  • Caroline G Caroline G on Jan 26, 2012
    Looks great! really like the dark cabinets - add warmth to the kitchen without making it feel small. Nice job!
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 26, 2012
    Thanks everyone! It was an incredible transformation... huge huge improvement for the kitchen area. The laundry was worth moving! Vern Yip disliked this kitchen when he gavel his comments for Bang for your Buck. What I thought was a sad is that he gave no consideration to A) the architecture of the home and B) the homeowner's style. On the episode it was being compared to 2 traditional designs... which is ok, the show is all about which kitchen had the biggest bang for their buck, not which was was the best style.
  • Terry S Terry S on Jan 27, 2012
    just beautiful...wow very nice
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Jan 27, 2012
    I like it - I like the contrast of the glass and cabinets with the brick wall.
  • Faidra at  CA Global Inc Faidra at CA Global Inc on Jan 27, 2012
    great job Becky, love those cabinets and the legs on the island give it a sleek look
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 27, 2012
    Thanky ou Terry, Donna and Faldra .. the customer made this project the true blessing. they were decisive and had clear communication about what their wants v.s. needs were! While many (like Vern :) can easily give constructive criticism, the fact the homeowner is blissful with the results is what truly makes a project successful!
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Jan 27, 2012
    That is the nicest kitchen, not overdone; simple, beautiful, quality. The cabinet finish looks like laminate which will never need painting (-: Every aspect of the design looks well thought out and so tasteful. CP
  • Pedini of Atlanta, LLC Pedini of Atlanta, LLC on Jan 28, 2012
    Great transformation. It is amazing how a bad kitchen can ruin a home and make it look dated. This remodel had to have added a huge amount to the home value.
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 28, 2012
    CP, actually this is stained maple! And I can imagine this being painted by a homeowner one day. The clients really wanted stained maple and thru the design phase the cabinets kept getting darker and darker. In the end, it nearly looks like a painted finish, and in all honesty - I think that may have been a better option! The smallest of scratches is quite difficult to patch or repair!
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Jan 28, 2012
    The clear finish that goes over stain, especially the catylized kind, is harder than paint and should wear well for a non-laminate finish. And a stain pencil can do wonders. Kitchen cabinets go through a lot of wear and tear, just touching them with our hands in the same place is brutal on coatings. And it is such an ordeal to refinish them on site, that's why I'm a fan of laminate, and there is a nice variety of it available now. CP
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jan 28, 2012
    Agreed ... but its amazing what damage tool belts can do to the finish *frown* hint: one of the subcontractors got a very big repair invoice
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Jan 28, 2012
    He won't make that mistake again
  • Harold M Harold M on Jan 28, 2012
    Like the wider opening Very nice
  • Jan P Jan P on Jun 03, 2012
    Gorgeous!!!!
  • Therese C Therese C on Jun 03, 2012
    Fantastic new space! You should have ALL of us over for coffee!..j/k..beautiful!
  • Sheryll S Sheryll S on Jun 03, 2012
    I don't care for it, but it is beautiful.... new is new and I can not tell from the pictures all the plumbing changes and who knows what else was fixed up. Do you know if they are planning to dramatically change the room with the sofa's in it? It is just not cohesive to me.. and a lot of money, they better like it. lol And it is definitely betther than my tiny kitchen any day of the week. It is a beautiful job.
  • Designs by BSB Designs by BSB on Jun 07, 2012
    This was really a major overhall. There was a 5' x 10' laundry room behind the old location of the refrigerator (now the kitchen sink). Besides the major plumbing change here - the door to the car port was moved over 5', a new window over the sink and new french doors to the deck. The living area? There were large changes, I was not greatly involved in this room so I do not know if they had additional plans.
  • Lisa House Lisa House on Nov 11, 2015
    It's beautiful but I could never justify spending that amount of money for a one room remodel, my daughter just bought a beautiful 1400sq ft home for that amount of money. That's just me, we all have our own opinions, and desires.
  • Denise Boyce Denise Boyce on Nov 11, 2015
    Doesn't look mid century at all. Too modern and condo-ish for me, the glass surface on the eat at bar would be a real pain too. But if you like ultra modern and sleek it's a nice space. I would have gone with longer bar shaped handles on the cabinetry and tried to fix the odd offset balance between the window and height of the cabinets. Love the floor and butcher block. How cool it must have been to be involved with the show. Hope you get some business out of the exposure!
  • Jeannie Jeannie on Aug 03, 2016
    Fantastic!! Like a brand new home!
  • Dic7882179 Dic7882179 on Aug 20, 2016
    75K ?????? Holy moly, my house is not worth that much.