In the Lakes at Hazel Dell area of Carmel, Indiana, this redesigned kitchen makes room for cooking, making coffee and gathering at the island. A custom arched hood anchors the cooking wall, paired with alder cabinetry and pale quartz throughout the room. Seating wraps around two sides of the island, while a separate beverage station and pantry keep drinks and storage close at hand. A new sink-window grouping and an enlarged living room opening strengthen the connection between the kitchen, dining and living spaces.
Project at a Glance
Location: Lakes at Hazel Dell, Carmel, Indiana
Project type: Kitchen remodel
Scope: Kitchen layout changes, new cabinetry and island, custom hood, sink window replacement, beverage station, pantry and an enlarged opening connecting the living room with the kitchen and dining area
The Challenge
Giving this kitchen a stronger architectural presence started with two limitations: a cooking wall with little room for a statement feature and a lower, narrower opening that restricted its connection to the dining and living spaces. Updating cabinetry and finishes alone would leave those underlying issues unresolved. Bringing the rooms together meant considering both how people moved between them and what they would see from each space.
Turning the cooking wall into an architectural focal point set the direction for the makeover. Removing the upper cabinets created room for a broad arch, recessed niches and a quartz-backed cooking alcove. Widening and raising the living room opening brought the kitchen, dining and living spaces into a more connected layout, with views that now draw the eye toward the arch.
Before and After
An arched cooking alcove replaces the former upper cabinets, and seating now wraps around two sides of the island. New cabinetry, quartz surfaces and the revised window arrangement complete the kitchen makeover.
Widening and raising the living room opening created a stronger connection to the kitchen and dining area. New trim and applied molding finish the opening on the living room side.
An Arched Hood Built Around the Cooking Area
A broad arch frames the induction cooktop, with the ventilation insert concealed above it and recessed niches tucked into either side. Those small shelves keep everyday items within reach and give decorative pieces a place, leaving the countertop clear for cooking.
An Island for Preparation and Seating
Seating wraps around two sides of the island, with an open work surface at its center. Keeping the sink and cooktop on the perimeter leaves the quartz top available for preparing meals, setting out food or sitting down together. Substantial wood legs frame the seating overhang.
A 6 cm countertop edge gives the island a substantial finish, balanced by the wood legs beneath the seating overhang. Along the perimeter, a slimmer 3 cm profile keeps the heavier edge treatment focused on the center of the room.
Alder Cabinetry and a Reworked Sink Wall
Shiloh’s Napa inset cabinetry suits the architectural detail of the cooking alcove. Doors and drawer fronts sit within their frames, while a Walnut finish with black glaze emphasizes the alder’s grain and the cabinet profiles. That depth of color balances the pale quartz and white hood. Honey Bronze pulls repeat the brass tones in the lighting, and arches in the glass-front beverage cabinet and sink-side shelving tie the woodwork back to the hood.
At the sink, a new three-window grouping pairs with a clear stretch of quartz counter. Creating the window opening involved changes to both the framing and exterior brickwork. Beside it, matching wood panels integrate the refrigerator into the cabinet run.
A Beverage Station and a Separate Pantry
Coffee and drinks have a place of their own along the beverage wall. A small sink, instant hot-water dispenser and beverage refrigerator keep the essentials together, with counter space for preparation. Open wood shelves and a reeded-glass cabinet provide display space against the beige marble herringbone backsplash.
Beside the cooking alcove, a reeded-glass pocket door opens to the separate pantry. It slides into the wall rather than swinging across the kitchen aisle, a useful detail where storage and cooking areas sit close together. The glass and transom give this practical doorway a finished presence beside the hood.
Products and Selections
- Cabinetry: Shiloh Alder Cabinets with Napa inset doors and a Walnut finish with black glaze. Arched reeded-glass cabinet at the beverage center.
- Countertops and Cooking Wall: Corian Quartz, Valente Pearl, with eased edges; 3 cm perimeter profile and 6 cm island edge profile; matching cooking-wall backsplash, ledge and niche shelves.
- Beverage Backsplash: Beige marble herringbone tile from Floor & Decor, product 100840156.
- Cabinet Pulls: Top Knobs Ellis in Honey Bronze, including matching appliance pulls.
- Main Sink and Faucet: White Kraus Bellucci granite composite sink; Brizo Odin pull-down faucet in Brilliance Polished Nickel with a wood-accent lever.
- Beverage Plumbing: White Blanco Rondo sink; Brizo Odin instant hot-water dispenser.
- Cooking Appliances:
- Fisher & Paykel 36-inch induction cooktop, CI365DTTB1
- 30-inch convection wall oven, OB30SDPTDB1
- 24-inch convection speed oven, OM24NMTDB1
- 24-inch warming drawer, WB24SMB1-SET
- Refrigerator: Fisher & Paykel 36-inch integrated French door refrigerator, RS36A72J1 N.
- Dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel integrated double DishDrawer dishwasher, DD24DTX6I1.
- Ventilation: Zephyr Monsoon Mini II hood insert, AK9534AS.
- Beverage Refrigerator: Landmark 24-inch stainless steel beverage center, L3024UI1BSG-RH.
- Pantry Entry: Reeded-glass pocket door with transom.
Pro Tip from Larry Greene
Designing around integrated appliances involves more than their width and height. Panel thickness, door clearances and ventilation can influence the surrounding cabinetry and the proportions of a custom hood. Working through those details in the drawings helps preserve the design and reduce adjustments during installation.
Why This Project Stands Out
One sweeping arch gives this kitchen its signature. Repeating that curve in the beverage cabinet and sink-side shelving ties the room together, while separate cooking, cleanup and beverage areas make room for more than one activity at a time. An open island and the connection to dining and living spaces give people several places to gather.
Questions Homeowners May Ask About a Kitchen Like This
What needs to be planned before building a custom arched range hood?
Plan the ventilation insert, duct route, cooktop clearances and lighting before the surround is framed. In this kitchen, a Zephyr insert and Fisher & Paykel induction cooktop sit within the custom arched surround, with recessed niches and a quartz ledge incorporated around them. The appliance installation instructions guide the clearances.
What is the difference between inset and overlay kitchen cabinets?
Inset doors fit within the cabinet face frame; overlay doors sit over it. This kitchen uses Shiloh Napa inset cabinetry in alder with a Walnut finish and black glaze. The frame remains visible around the doors and drawer fronts, defining the cabinet detailing.
Can a refrigerator and dishwasher match stained wood kitchen cabinets?
Yes, when the appliances are designed to accept custom panels. The integrated Fisher & Paykel refrigerator and double DishDrawer dishwasher in this kitchen have panels matching the alder cabinetry. Panel dimensions, handles and operating clearances belong in the cabinet plan before fabrication.
What affects the cost of a kitchen remodel with layout changes?
The investment depends on both the selections and the construction behind the new layout. Here, the scope included a new window opening, an enlarged living room passage, custom hood framing and changes to plumbing, electrical and ventilation, along with cabinetry, appliances and surfaces. A complimentary consultation gives our team a starting point to discuss your home and the work you have in mind.
Plan a Kitchen Around the Way You Use It
This Lakes at Hazel Dell area kitchen brings a custom cooking feature, open island seating and dedicated storage into one connected space. Learn about our kitchen remodeling services, schedule a consultation to discuss your home, or visit our Carmel remodeling showroom to compare cabinetry and materials in person.
