Northbrook Kitchen Remodel: Breaking Down Walls and Opening Up Possibilities
Here’s something I hear from clients all the time: “We’re jammed in here. There’s not enough space for how we actually live.” In this Northbrook kitchen remodel, that’s exactly what these homeowners were experiencing when they reached out to me. With two active kids in sports, a golden retriever, and constant activity flowing through their home, their kitchen couldn’t keep up. Not because it was small, but because of how it was laid out.
Like a lot of homes across Chicago’s North Shore and the Northwest Suburbs, their kitchen backed up to a dining room they only used for holidays and as a place for the dog’s crate. Separate rooms, closed-off walls, and wasted space everywhere. They were ready for a transformation that would make their everyday life better with more function, more storage, more countertop, and an open layout for living and entertaining.
They came to me with a great vision. Sometimes clients know something needs to change and they just need a kitchen designer to help pull it all together.
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What Wasn’t Working in This Northbrook Kitchen
When I first meet with clients, I ask a lot of questions. How do you actually use this space? What frustrates you every single day? What would make your mornings or your busy weeknights with kids in sports easier?
These Northbrook homeowners had already done that thinking. They knew exactly what was failing them:
The traffic flow was a disaster. With two kids, a golden retriever, backpacks, sports gear, and meal prep happening simultaneously, everyone was bumping into each other. There was nowhere to set anything down without creating counter clutter.
Separate rooms were wasting valuable square footage. The dining room sat mostly unutilized except for holidays and the dog’s crate. The kitchen was partially closed off from the family room. All that separation meant the kitchen stayed cramped while unused space sat right next door.
Storage was completely inadequate. No designated spots for mail, purses, car keys, or charging devices… the million things an active family needs to grab on the way out the door.
The original cabinets weren’t holding up. The original kitchen cabinets to the house simply weren’t wearing well with the demands of real family life.
For a household this active, the kitchen needed to be optimized, practical, and stunning.
Northbrook Kitchen Remodel Design Solution: An Open Concept That Changed Everything
This Northbrook kitchen remodel was all about listening to what these homeowners needed and designing solutions that would transform how they used their space every single day.
Removing Walls to Create One Connected Great Room
The biggest move? We removed the wall separating the kitchen and the family room and the wall between the kitchen from the dining room. Now it’s one big great room where life actually happens.
The kitchen more than doubled in size. Suddenly there were multiple workspaces, room for traffic flow even with kids and a dog underfoot, and sightlines that connected the whole main floor. No more being stuck in a cramped kitchen while everyone else is in the family room. No more wasted dining room sitting empty 350 days a year.
This is the kind of open concept kitchen remodel that changes how a family functions and it’s one of the most requested transformations I see from homeowners across Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, and throughout Chicago’s North Shore.
We didn’t just gain square footage, we changed the entire energy of the home. By breaking down walls, we were able to start opening up possibilities for how this family could actually live, play, and entertain.
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A Two-Level Kitchen Island Designed for Real Life
As part of this Northbrook kitchen remodel, we designed a large island, but one slab of quartz wouldn’t be long enough without a visible seam. So we split it at two levels: the seating area is a thicker 2½-inch profile visible from the family room, while the working surface is the standard 1¼-inch. It’s both functional and visually striking while giving the island real presence without compromise.
The seating end invites homework, casual meals, and hanging out while someone’s cooking. Because of the purposeful seating arrangement, it doesn’t feel like you are bellying up to a bar but rather sitting at the dinner table while sharing details about your day. The working surface provides generous prep space. And because it opens to the family room, parents can cook while staying connected to everything happening with the kids.
Hidden Storage Solutions That Solve the Clutter Problem in This Northbrook Kitchen Remodel
This kitchen has some genuine “ta-da” moments when you open the cabinet doors.
The tall pantry cabinet? At first glance, it looks like a standard tall cabinet. But when you open it, it’s actually a walk-in pantry. Storage for days, allowing the main kitchen area to stay clean, streamlined, and uncluttered.
The family command center? We installed two lift-up appliance garage doors both with hidden electrical outlets and USB ports. One serves as a designated charging station, the other holds daily essentials like purses, mail, and car keys. No more counter clutter. No more “where are my keys?” chaos.
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Northbrook Kitchen Remodel with Elevated Design Details That Make This Kitchen Stunning
The island is slate blue/charcoal for contrast and punch, while the perimeter cabinets are painted white. Floating shelves in walnut, to tie into the wood floors, add warmth and texture. The backsplash is a handmade subway tile, with a different 4×4 tile at the bar area that complements the main workspace while adding visual interest and texture.
Here’s a design move that became a crowd pleaser: the cabinets go to 9 feet, but the ceilings are 10. Crown molding wraps the room above the cabinets, and the cabinets have their own crown. Instead of painting the space above the cabinets, we took the backsplash tile all the way to the ceiling crown. It raised the visual line and made the space feel grand. This is the kind of detail that takes a kitchen from nice to unforgettable.
Everything was updated: the appliances, plumbing fixtures, and lighting throughout—a total transformation optimized for how this family actually lives. Even the existing wood floor was patched and refinished to provide continuity now that the three rooms became one continuous living space.
The Results of This Northbrook Kitchen Remodel: Kitchen That Finally Works for Real Life
A Kitchen Designer Who Partners with Homeowners, Contractors and Architects
I’m Kelly Thayer, and I’ve spent 25 years designing kitchens and baths across Chicago’s North Shore, the northwest suburbs, and throughout the Chicagoland area. I work with homeowners who are ready to transform how they live in their homes and I collaborate with the trades and professionals who make it happen.
For homeowners: My approach starts with listening. I ask how you actually use your space, I guide you through what’s possible, even when that means removing walls, and I care deeply about creating something you’ll be excited about every day. Not just beautiful. Practical, optimized, and stunning. Learn about working with me.
Ready to Talk About Your Kitchen?
If you’re looking at your kitchen and feeling jammed, frustrated, or just done with a layout that’s not working for your life, or if you’re a professional looking for a design partner for your next project, I’d love to hear from you. Call or fill out the contact form below.
I work with homeowners and trade professionals in Northbrook, Glenview, Wilmette, Highland Park, Deerfield, and across Chicago’s North Shore. Every transformation starts with understanding what’s not working and figuring out what’s possible together.
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