Project Diaz: Kitchen and Pantry Renovation Plans

There’s so much our IDCO Studio Director of Strategy, Christine Diaz loves about her beach bungalow home. For starters, it’s nestled in a picturesque community of the Jersey Shore, just a ten minute walk to the water. And then, of course, there’s the 3-bedroom layout that works beautifully for her young family, including her husband and two boys. The pain point for the Diaz household primarily lies in their kitchen, which lacks counter space, pantry storage, and natural light. That and some leaky appliances which have seen better days.

The Diaz family enlisted the help of Unique Kitchens and Baths to renovate their kitchen plus dual-purpose laundry/pantry, and have graciously invited us along for the ride. Christine is outlining all the UKB design plans, including how they’ll pull off the butler pantry of her dreams.

 

Design: Light & Dwell, Photography: Amy Bartlam

 

Kitchen and Pantry Renovation

THE OVERVIEW

 

 

Project: Diaz Family Home

Location: Ocean City, New Jersey

Architecture Stye: 1950s Bungalow

House Stats: 1200 square-feet, 3 beds/1 bath

Scope of Work: Full-gut renovation of the kitchen and connected laundry room

 

 

floorplan + before photos

 

Christine loves a lot of things about her beach bungalow home, but the kitchen is not one of them. “It’s all very dark, there’s no pantry, and there is practically no counter space,” she said. “Everything is terrible, including peeling wallpaper, holes in the floor and ceiling, and a leaking refrigerator. Oh, and an electric stovetop—no thanks.”

Above all, her wishlist prioritizes organization. She brought on Unique Kitchens and Baths to reimagine the kitchen and connected laundry/pantry with custom cabinetry and a more functional layout for her family. “We explored opening up the wall to make room for an island, but it didn’t end up working with our floorplan and square footage,” she said. “To make the most of our layout, we’re designing a galley kitchen that feels as spacious and airy as possible.”

As for cabinetry color, Creamy White by Benjamin Moore is the current frontrunner, while Table Linen by Portola is in mind for the walls and ceiling.

 

design inspiration

 

Design: Amber Interiors, Photography: Jess Issac

Design: Chris Loves Julia

Design: Athena Calderone, Photography: Sarah Elliott

 

design must-haves:

 

Custom Inset Cabinetry

Marble Slab Backsplash

Calacatta Paonazzo Countertops

Larger Sink Window

Plaster Hood

Built-in Organization

Toe Kick Step Stool Under Sink

Unlacquered Brass Hardware

Butler’s Pantry With Laundry

Appliance Garage

Integrated Appliances

 

 

Original wood floors run throughout the majority of the Diaz family home, and they’re hoping to extend that to the kitchen. “The wood floor exists underneath the current tile, so we’re hoping to salvage it and have our entire home’s floor sanded and stained a light, neutral hue rather than its current orangey undertones,” Christine said. “If not possible, herringbone wooden floor of my dreams, here I come.”

For the connected pantry slash laundry room, plans involve creating a full butler’s pantry with laundry and an appliance garage. “Our new butler’s pantry is the existing laundry room,” she said. “There’s so much under utilized space right now, so we’re making it multipurpose to make sense for our family and our petite square footage. The custom cabinetry so beautifully imagined by Natalie, our Unique Kitchens & Baths designer, will help us maximize every inch.”

 

 

 

kitchen and pantry renovation:

project diaz renderings

 

The renovation process won’t be an easy one, but Christine and her family are confident they’re in good hands. Unique Kitchens and Baths is continuing to fine-tune plans with the Diaz family, and we can’t wait to showcase the final reveals. In the meantime, Christine shared a few of her selects so you can get the look with her excellent taste.

 

 

SHOP CHRISTINE’S SELECTIONS

 

 

KITCHEN

Refrigerator

Range

Range Hood

Sink

Faucet

Knobs

Latches

Pot Filler

Picture Lights

Sconces (code Anastasia15 to save 15%)

Zellige Tile

 

PANTRY/LAUNDRY

Sink

Faucet

Sink Strainer

Drinking Water Faucet

Pocket Door

Exterior Door

Drying Rack

Peg Rail

PROJECT CREDITS

Design: Unique Kitchens and Baths

 

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For more industry and interiors content, check out these posts:

• Tour a San Fransisco Victorian Flat
• Step Inside a Modern Tuscan Retreat
• A Reimagined Open Concept Home in Scottsdale
• Archway to Heaven: My Primary Bathroom Reveal
• A Home Office Turned Sophisticated Boardroom

 

IDCO Studio is a boutique creative agency specialized in beautiful and unique marketing solutions for interior designers. Focused on branding, web design and Instagram marketing, IDCO Studio is a woman owned and operated team of creatives based in Austin, Texas. The Identité Collective, which began as a business blog quickly grew into a collaborative community focused on providing business strategy and visual inspiration to the interior design community.

Now you can find our shop of resources, templates and custom branding and web design work over at IDCO Studio—leaving The Identité Collective as a permanent resource for our beloved design community.