Elevating a 1989 Home: A Stunning Kitchen and Bath Remodel in Bellevue

*Update February 2026: This kitchen design was featured in the KCMA Design Awards 2026 Lookbook. Visit the link for the full Lookbook here or our summary page here.

This home was built in 1989 as part of a planned community in the Lakemont neighborhood of Bellevue. The homeowners had raised their children in it and saw the potential as empty nesters to create a space they could really update and enjoy in the next chapter of their lives. While they had maintained it very well over the years, the finishes were really starting to show their age by the time we were approached to assist with their remodel.

The homeowners wanted to give their main living areas a complete facelift which included remodeling the kitchen, powder room, hall bath and stairwell. They wanted to update the flooring throughout by patching in hardwoods into the carpeted areas and refinishing all of it in a new stain. The house had leaned browner and redder in its previous life, so the homeowners wanted to update the look with new paint throughout in a more neutral palette. The walls, doors and trim were repainted, and the hardware and lights were replaced.

My interior design firm along with Ashis Bhakta of Elite Construction Contractors LLC were brought on to bring the homeowners’ ideas to fruition. They had lots of beautiful inspiration photos to get the process started and we soon landed on a transitional style with some modern accents. These homeowners were absolutely wonderful to work with and I really enjoyed bringing their ideas to life.

BEFORE & AFTER KITCHEN COMPARISON

The first photo is taken from the nook seating area, and the second picture is taken a little further back from the family room. The kitchen has grown into the nook space and feels much more elevated with all the tall cabinetry.

BEFORE PHOTOS

The original kitchen felt cramped and dated with a layout that didn’t make a lot of sense for a modern entertaining lifestyle. The island was an odd shape with the cooktop built into it which limited its surface area for prep space or eat-in kitchen seating. The angles only served to highlight how awkward the kitchen layout was. At the time that it was built, this layout was very common. The sink tucked into a small, angled wall and the refrigerator felt like it was in the way and taking up a lot of visual space. The soffit made the kitchen space feel squatty, and the lighting was functional but not special. The cooktop hood was a downdraft, which never worked very effectively.

THE NEW KITCHEN DESIGN

This kitchen is one of my favorite remodel transformations. It now feels so warm, spacious and inviting. It has a lot of different features but still feels elegant and refined. I proposed utilizing the space in the breakfast nook for the kitchen and incorporated the nook table into a 10′ island to max out the quartz slab size. The homeowners spend most of their time hanging out with friends and family in the kitchen, so I wanted to create a space that was conducive for gathering with tons of uninterrupted counter space. The new layout moved the cooktop to the perimeter and allowed for a gorgeous white marble-look quartz top on the island to be a feature and keep the space feeling light and bright. The sink was relocated to the large window which allowed for a larger farm sink that really becomes a statement piece with the black and brass Brizo faucet. We removed a short wall that separated the kitchen from the nook. Unfortunately, due to the way the home was framed originally, we couldn’t take out the dropped ceiling area in the window nook. We were able to remove the dividing wall and soffit above the cabinets which still made a large difference to open up the space. A built-in window bench extends the cabinetry into the window alcove and expands the size of the kitchen and gives it a spacious presence. This extension of cabinetry also helps soften all of the angles and make the layout feel more contemporary.

The new layout features a handle-less counter-depth Bosch refrigerator that fits perfectly on the perimeter wall with the built in microwave without impeding the walkway to the formal dining room. Moving the refrigerator allowed us to create a beautiful feature wall with the slide-in range and chimney hood. The pantry closet was converted to a wall of pantry cabinet space and a beautiful built-in bar near the family room was added to an unused empty space.

The new space in front of the range has a generous walkway to avoid the kitchen feeling tight again. Now there is a functional and aesthetic work triangle that creates efficient work zones. Although there are many different finishes, they all come together to create balance and harmony. We utilized four different cabinet styles, two different quartz countertop colors, two different tile backsplash colors, and three different metal colors. The black painted island stands out nicely against the white and wood perimeter cabinets. The metal and glass door at the bar helps to define that zone and make it feel special alongside the green backsplash tile that defines the bar area. The black soapstone-look quartz on the perimeter counter contrasts nicely against the white and wood cabinetry. The black countertop also allows the slide-in range cooktop to disappear into the counter which makes the space feel larger. The brass pendants tie in with the black and brass faucet and creates a nice focal point above the island. The stainless appliances are neutral and allow the other finishes to stand out.

BAR AREA

STORAGE FEATURES

To maximize the layout as much as possible, we utilized a lot of different organizers to set them up for many years of functional cooking. There is a nice appliance garage to tuck away the toaster and coffee maker. The trash and recycle is easy to access with a spacious pull out. Roll outs are utilized throughout to make accessing deep cabinets easier. Utensils, knives and spices now have a home that is efficient to the cooking work space.

THE ENTRY

Ashis and his team reframed the stairs for new carpet and squared off the rounded edges. The new wood square posts and rail are simpler and lend more to the transitional look. Since the stairs are the first thing you see upon entering the home, this change dramatically updated the look and feel of the home.

BEFORE

The walls and ceiling throughout the main floor got a new coat of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray in a flat sheen. The stairwell chandelier was replaced with a contemporary black metal light fixture that mimics the new black metal balusters. The updated stair rail, posts and carpet makes a big difference in modernizing the entry.

The front door, study doors and rear patio door were painted Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black. The other interior doors were painted Pure White to match the trim, and all of the brass hinges were swapped out to black.

POWDER ROOM

The Powder Room is located right off the entry and got a beautiful update. The powder is always a great place to add some designer finishes, and this powder room doesn’t disappoint. We debated doing either a wallpaper or tile accent wall. We ended up going with a 5×5 rich green tile accent wall behind the vanity that goes floor to ceiling. The green contrasts beautifully with the brass wall mount Kohler Purist faucet and the brass sconces. The floating vanity and the backsplash tile create a cohesive color story with the kitchen utilizing the same tile as the bar and the same cabinet paint color as the kitchen island. The vessel sink gives it a designer moment and a new tall mirror makes the room feel grander.

HALL BATHROOM

The upstairs hall bathroom is now primarily used for guests since their kids have moved out. The homeowner wanted to create two separate vanities that makes each sink area feel more private and special. The separate vanities give an opportunity to add a decorative hamper or bring in some greenery. They never really used the tub, so they wanted to replace it with a walk-in shower that feels a little more luxurious and spa-like.

For the hall bathroom interior design, we carried the same wood tone up from the kitchen on the stained alder cabinetry. We chose a soft taupe tile that blends well with the cabinets. The tub was replaced with a tiled shower and fixed glass panel. We used a white elongated subway tile in the shower in a double herringbone pattern. The pan and back of the niche are a matte glass mini hex mosaic with a marble pattern. Continuing the black fixtures, we chose black plumbing and light fixtures that contrast nicely with the hard surface finishes. The Kohler Purist line was used here as well, and we found a light that mimics the same lines. I like to use toilets with a flush skirt and concealed trapway in my remodels. The flush sides make for a more contemporary look and is much easier to keep clean without having places for dust to accumulate. Framed black mirrors and a taller slab backsplash immediately elevate the space from a builder basic look.

What do you think about this beautiful update? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

SHOP THE LOOK

1. Brizo Kitchen Faucet
2. Kohler Kitchen Farm Sink
3. Kitchen Pendant Lights
4. Kohler Powder Faucet
5. Kohler Powder Vessel Sink
6. Kohler Flush Skirt Toilet
7. Kohler Hall Bath Faucet
8. Kohler Hall Bath Shower

*This post was revised 8/19/25 to update product links. Note: I may earn a commission from product links. I only recommend products I’ve used and loved.

All photos copyright Olivia Horine Design.

If you are located in the Bellevue area and are interested in a kitchen or bath remodel, please feel free to drop us a line below!