In Carmel’s West Clary neighborhood, we redesigned this kitchen around a larger island, more built-in storage and a clearer division between cooking, cleanup and seating. The existing room already had generous square footage, but the long island, overhead bulkhead and scattered appliance locations made the center of the kitchen feel more divided than it needed to be.
The new plan keeps the kitchen within its existing footprint while changing how the room works. We removed the bulkhead above the island, relocated the sink to the island, moved the refrigerator, added full-height cabinetry and built a larger center island with seating and storage. White perimeter cabinets and a contrasting island keep the architecture connected to the rest of the home without making every surface read the same.
Project at a Glance
Location: West Clary, Carmel, Indiana
Project Type: Kitchen
Scope: Large island, built-in storage, new cabinetry, relocated sink and refrigerator, two dishwasher locations, quartz countertops, backsplash and lighting
Kitchen Before Pictures
Before construction, the kitchen had gray cabinetry, dark countertops and a long island beneath a dropped bulkhead. The sink sat along the perimeter, while the island provided seating but also reinforced a visual break between the kitchen and adjoining living area. The refrigerator, ovens and storage were spread across several cabinet sections rather than working as one organized wall.
During Construction
Once the original cabinetry and island were removed, the change in the room became easier to see. The bulkhead over the island came down, the ceiling was repaired, and the new cabinetry established a cleaner perimeter. As the island took shape, the relocated sink, expanded work surface and new circulation path became the center of the plan.
After: A Larger Island Reorganizes the Kitchen
The finished island is larger and more useful on both sides. Four seats line the living-area side, while the working side holds the relocated sink, cabinetry and two dishwasher locations. Moving cleanup into the island keeps that function at the center of the kitchen and frees the perimeter for cooking, appliances and storage.
Built-In Storage Along the Appliance Wall
The refrigerator now sits within a full-height run of cabinetry instead of standing between smaller cabinet sections. Tall doors extend the storage wall vertically, and the cabinet plan adds rollout trays, a spice pullout and sheet-storage dividers so more of the interior space has a defined use. The salvaged refrigerator was reused in its new location, which allowed the appliance wall to be reorganized without replacing every appliance simply for the sake of the new layout.
A Clearer Cooking Zone
The cooktop remains on the perimeter, but the new cabinet layout gives the cooking zone more breathing room. A built-in cabinet hood replaces the more exposed arrangement from the original kitchen, while white backsplash tile and under-cabinet lighting keep the work surface easy to read. From this side of the room, the aisle between the cooktop and island stays open all the way toward the bay windows.
Materials That Keep the Room Light
Shiloh maple cabinetry in Soft White forms the perimeter, with a Beige finish on the island for subtle contrast. MSI Calacatta Mirragio Cove quartz continues across the perimeter and island, and matte white 2-by-8-inch tile runs in a horizontal brick pattern at the backsplash. Dark hardware gives the cabinetry definition without changing the light overall palette.
Products & Finishes
Cabinetry: Shiloh maple cabinetry; Soft White perimeter and Beige island; Greensboro door style with Edge 750.
Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs Lydia pulls and Ringed knobs in Ash Gray.
Countertops: MSI Quartz, Calacatta Mirragio Cove, 3 cm eased edge.
Backsplash: Sonoma Tile Makers Stellar 2 x 8 Matte White tile in a horizontal brick pattern with TEC Optic White grout and matching liner.
Sink: Kohler Riverby undermount sink in White.
Faucet: Brizo Tulham pull-down faucet in Lux Steel.
Pro Tip from Larry Greene
When I look at a kitchen with a generous footprint, I do not assume it needs more square footage. In this project, moving the sink into the island and consolidating tall storage around the refrigerator gave the existing room a much clearer working pattern without expanding the kitchen.
Why This Project Stands Out
The biggest change is not a single finish. It is the way the island, appliance wall and cooking zone now work together. The room gained more seating, more built-in storage and a better-defined center while staying within the same general footprint.
Reviews from homeowners
Project-Specific Questions
Can a large kitchen island hold the sink and still have room for seating?
Yes. In this West Clary kitchen, the island was sized to place the sink and cleanup functions on the working side while providing four seats on the opposite side. The larger footprint also created additional cabinet storage below the counter.
Why would a kitchen include two dishwashers in the island?
This project places two dishwasher locations on the working side of the island near the relocated sink. Keeping those functions together concentrates cleanup in one zone and leaves the perimeter available for cooking, refrigeration and storage.
How can full-height cabinetry improve kitchen storage without adding a separate pantry?
Here, the refrigerator wall became a floor-to-ceiling storage zone. Tall cabinets, rollout trays, a spice pullout and sheet-storage dividers use the existing wall more completely without adding another enclosed room.
Can an existing refrigerator be reused when the kitchen layout changes?
Yes. The existing refrigerator was salvaged and moved to a new location within the redesigned appliance wall. The surrounding cabinetry was planned around that new position so the refrigerator could be reused while the storage layout changed.
Let’s Talk About Your Kitchen
This West Clary kitchen shows how a larger island and built-in storage can change the way an existing room functions without adding square footage. Explore more of our kitchen remodeling work, contact our team to discuss your home, or visit our Carmel showroom to see cabinetry, countertops and finish options in person.
