While dramatic transformations can make for a captivating exercise, the power of subtle changes should not be overlooked. When Katie Gebhardt, principal designer and founder of Solstice Interiors, spied the kitchen and main bath of this home in the mountains of San Diego, California, she knew they needed an elevation more than a complete overhaul.

Before: Kitchen

“The original kitchen had this beautiful, high-pitched ceiling and a tapered detail in the drywall above the range where the hood vent is,” says Gebhardt. “These were elements I knew I wanted to work into the new design.”

The designer connected with the homeowners through a mutual friend, and the scope of the project was to remodel the kitchen and dining area—at least initially. “They wanted to bring the space to life within its existing footprint, update all materials, and refresh furnishings and fixtures,” Gebhardt remembers. “We ended up updating flooring and finishes throughout the entire home, designing new millwork throughout, renovating the main bathroom and kids’ bathroom, and building a custom built-in desk area in their main bedroom.”

After: Kitchen

There were two reasons why the plan expanded: Gebhardt and her clients were working well together, and the details grew in prominence when they got their due. “The goal was to keep the space classic, light, and bright with warmth layered in,” she says. “The base and permanent finishes stuck to timeless features—white oak, marble, white ceramic tiles, neutral painted cabinetry—and then mixed metals and lighting brought in that textured balance.”

The kitchen layout was kept as it was, but the eye-catching ceiling feature was accentuated with tongue-and-groove cladding offset by cedar-wrapped beams. The original built-in desk, which was mostly a spot for odds and ends, was converted into more storage that continues into the dining nook.

Before: Dining Area

After: Dining Area

Before: Main Bath

As for the main bathroom, the same rules applied. There wasn’t a need to change the locations of the vanities, shower, or tub, but everything needed a gentle push into the current era.

After: Main Bath

“In the original bathroom, the tub separating the dual vanities was framed-in and tiled, which just took up the whole room,” Gebhardt says. “We updated elements as they were, just as we did in the kitchen. The footprint remained the same, and plumbing locations remained the same, but we gutted what was there and started over with that same brightness complemented by warmth and texture.”

A freestanding tub quickly resulted in more square footage, while matte marble tiles on the floors and ceramic tiles behind the vanities echo the kitchen’s perennial appeal. What began as a friendly meeting in the fall of 2019 was finished by the spring of 2020.

Shop the Look

In some ways, seeing the potential in existing features isn’t as easy as scrapping the past completely, says Gebhardt. But it’s worth it to try.

“You can make such an impact by reworking what is within a home’s bones,” she says. “It’s a good idea to really contemplate what you’ll gain by moving components around as you consider what will ultimately be functional and visibly pleasing.”

More Before & After:

In This Portland Tudor, an Irresistibly Quirky Kitchen Steals the Show

A Couple Spend Six Weeks and $16.7K Fashioning an Airy Kitchen

Project Details:

Builder: Tom Appelton of Appleton Design Co. / @adc_general_contractor

Interior Design: Solstice Interiors / @solsticeinteriors