USA Kitchen Trends US Kitchen Renovation Trends Vol. 30/11 | Page 12

Top and above: The opening in the main living area was increased in size from 15ft to 27ft. Pocket doors slide away into the wall on the left side of the room. New screens, made from laser-cut powdercoated aluminum, are backlit with LED lighting at night. Above right and right: With white-painted walls and ceilings, the remodeled house is much lighter and brighter than the original. The ceiling in the living room is also higher, as the floor level is now stepped down from the entry. 10 search | save | share at trendsideas.com Before On the inside, several structural walls were removed to open up the space and provide a more flowing interior. “The existing house had a lot of very confined small spaces – it was very compartmentalized, which didn’t fit with the way most people like to live today.” Arched openings, an ornate fireplace, wood paneling and a parquet floor were also banished, and the living room was stepped down from the entry to create an airy, spacious living space. “We added powdercoated aluminum