Water’s Edge Estate: A Kitchen Reimagined for Gathering
Before: A Kitchen with Potential, But Not Flow
Some homes are just waiting to exhale. That was the sense at Water’s Edge Estate when we first arrived. Incredible lake views. Architectural volume. Generous ceiling height. But the kitchen and sitting room configuration didn’t quite support the way the homeowners loved to live and host.
The original kitchen was functional, but it felt compressed against one side of the home. An adjacent sitting room took up valuable space yet didn’t truly contribute to how the homeowners lived day-to-day.
Before: The kitchen felt visually heavy, isolated, and disconnected from the adjoining spaces.
Design Decision: Butler’s Pantry or Open Concept?
During initial planning, we presented two design directions:
Option 1: Convert the adjacent sitting room into a butler’s pantry and prep space.
Option 2: Remove the dividing wall entirely and introduce a 15-foot island as the heart of an open-concept kitchen.
Both were beautiful in their own right, but the decision ultimately came down to lifestyle.
These clients love hosting. They wanted people gathered in the kitchen, sharing stories while food is being prepared, refilling glasses, staying awhile. So the open-concept plan won, with zero regrets.
A 15-Foot Island That Brings Everyone Together
Opening the space allowed for a dramatic 15-foot island to anchor the kitchen.
Sculpted ogee countertop edges soften the scale
Paneled posts (with hidden storage and outlets!) add architectural sophistication
Seating is integrated along one full side for conversation and gathering
The island is now the true heart of the home where hosting happens as naturally as everyday living
A Statement Hood Wall with Integrated Appliances
To balance the length of the island, we designed a 6-foot custom hood feature wall, flanked by glass-front cabinetry and fully integrated Thermador appliances. It creates a focal point without overpowering the room.
This moment is both grounded and refined — the kind of detail that reveals itself slowly.
Coffered Ceilings for Architecture, Scale, and Sound
With 12-foot ceilings, proportion and acoustics mattered.
We ran coffered ceilings across the entire open-concept space, which:
Introduced a tailored architectural rhythm
Visually unified the kitchen, dining, and living zones
Helped soften sound reflection — an early priority for the homeowners
Additional acoustic layers included:
Switching tile to hardwood flooring throughout.
Placing large-scale rugs strategically
Installing custom acoustic wall panels framed in oak and wrapped in designer fabric
These panels perform quietly, while reading like an art installation rather than sound treatment.
Lighting That Creates Warmth and Soft Presence
Lighting was selected for atmosphere, not just illumination.
Over the island: Pendants with shades prevent glare and create soft, comfortable light for seating and conversation.
In the dining area: A two-tier calcite chandelier was chosen specifically for the height of the ceiling. The natural mineral flecking diffuses light in a warm, organic glow.
Art lighting: A brass picture light layers in a gallery-like sense of curation.
- Accent Lighting: Toe-kick lighting washes the floors with a subtle evening glow, making late-night clean-ups and early-morning coffees feel calm and quietly luxurious.
Every light source is warm and intentional, nothing harsh, nothing competing.
The Result
The kitchen now feels open, welcoming, and lived in — while maintaining the quiet luxury and restraint of tailored design.
Where there was once a room that felt closed off, there is now flow.
Where the architecture once felt visually unanchored, there is now balance.
Where gathering once required adjusting the home, the home now invites gathering intuitively.
This renovation didn’t just change finishes.
It realigned the home with the way the homeowners love to live.
Warm. Connected. Open. And deeply inviting.
For more timeless interior inspiration…
Be sure to browse our blog, where we share more thoughtful design ideas that blend beauty with livability.
If you’re planning a renovation and could use expert guidance, explore our Interior Design Consulting Services — or, if you’re looking to partner with a design-build team you can trust, simply fill out our Contact Form or book a Free Discovery Call below to get started.
As always, thank you so much for being here, please share this with a friend who is about to renovate.
Follow along for behind-the-scenes, project progress, and daily inspiration over on Instagram @juxta.interiordesign.
- Design for Well-Being -
More from the Journal:
If you enjoyed this project, you may also love these reads:
→ A Case for Closed Kitchens
Storage, sound control, and calm—why a closed (or semi-closed) kitchen still makes beautiful sense
→ Project Reveal with 4 Tips on Timeless Design for your Next Reno!
What keeps a home classic? Four principles we return to—proportion, palette, quality, and restraint.
→ Tips for Making Long Lasting Decisions in your Renovation
Decide once, love it for decades: finishes and layouts that outlast trends and heavy use.
Photography by Life Outrageous
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