After 40 Years in Their Home, This Couple Completed a Kitchen Renovation Worth Waiting For

Text by Hannah Nance     

Reimagining a home you’ve lived in for nearly four decades is no small feat, but it’s one Kathryn Phillips had been looking forward to for years. She and her husband, Michael, had thought about moving but joke that it was never going to actually happen. “I have a young neighbor who mentioned one time how nice it was that my children get to visit the home they grew up in,” she recalls. “That’s really special.”

So, in the summer of 2018, the Phillipses finally took their ideas to interior designer Meg Wallace and started the project of renovating their 1978 galley-style kitchen. Their goal was to change the layout of the space and open it up to the sunroom and the dining room. While the couple was excited for the change, they knew it wouldn’t be a simple process. Michael, a real estate developer, says he understood just how large an undertaking the renovation would be, adding, “Building is much easier than renovating.”

The remodel was completed after Christmas of that year, and the couple agreed that the months of hard work were well worth it. Between Meg’s eye for design and Kathryn and Michael’s impeccable attention to detail and planning, the kitchen’s layout is natural and cohesive, with a sophisticated yet casual design. 

A large charcoal island anchors the space with a wood countertop. To give the space a little extra definition, the Phillipses chose white cabinetry for the surround and soapstone counters, a feature Michael loves thanks to the durability and sleek look. 

One of the most unique parts of the kitchen is the pass-through Michael added above the sink to the sunroom. The folding windows were custom-made and, in addition to bringing the view of the couple’s gorgeous garden in, welcome plenty of natural light into the otherwise dim kitchen. 

The flow from the kitchen to the dining room is seamless, with an identical color scheme and similar fixtures in both. The dining space features the same sophisticated yet casual feel as the kitchen, with an elegant linen banquette and end chairs paired with a custom-made farmhouse table and bench. 

The cottage-style kitchen feels drastically larger thanks to the practical design, which is perfect for the couple and their growing family. Now, they have plenty of space to comfortably gather around the table with their children, just like the old days.