Sacramento Enhanced Kitchen Remodel

The most impactful change in this kitchen wasn’t a surface — it was the passageway. The original entry between the kitchen and dining room was narrow and framed in a way that made the galley feel isolated from the rest of the house. The team removed a portion of the framing, widened the opening, and refinished the transition so the kitchen now reads as connected to the dining space rather than walled off from it. Standing at the sink, the view now extends through to the dining table, the art on the wall, and the natural light from the adjacent room. In a galley layout, that kind of visual breathing room changes everything.

On the opposite wall, the existing window was relocated and recentered — a move that required reframing, new window installation, and exterior stucco repair. The result is a more balanced composition on the end wall and better natural light distribution across the full length of the kitchen.

The cabinetry is where this project’s value story comes through clearly. The design specified IKEA SEKTION frames with HAVSTORP beige fronts — a flush inset, soft-close shaker door with 1.5″ stiles and rails, a 1/4″ bevel detail, and a recessed panel. Flat drawer fronts, a 4″ toe kick recessed 3.5″ with straight leg extensions, and paint-grade finish throughout. Thirteen cabinet assemblies in total, configured across two walls.

On the sink wall: a 30″ farmhouse sink base (modified to accept the Kohler Whitehaven apron-front), flanked by a trash pull-out, a panel-ready dishwasher with a matched HAVSTORP front, and upper cabinets running to the ceiling at 42″ height with 14″ depth uppers above.

On the fridge wall: the refrigerator maintains its original position, flanked by a full-height pantry with adjustable shelves and interior roll-out trays — the kind of organized storage that a galley kitchen demands. Adjacent to the pantry, an appliance garage fitted with a BLUM Aventos HL vertical lift system and pocket doors keeps countertop appliances accessible but out of sight. It’s a detail that separates a kitchen that looks clean on photo day from one that stays clean on a Tuesday.

The result reads far more custom than the IKEA platform might suggest. Properly installed, with solid hardware and a thoughtful elevation package, the HAVSTORP line delivers a look that punches well above its price point.

The countertops are honed Carrara Marble — 2cm slabs with a 1.5″ mitered edge that gives the profile weight and presence without looking heavy. Rather than stopping at a standard 4″ backsplash, the same Carrara marble was carried up a full 18 inches behind the countertop on the sink wall — creating a continuous surface that ties the lower and upper cabinets together and gives the kitchen a material richness that reads as intentional and cohesive.

The veining in the Carrara catches different light through the day, especially after the window relocation brought more even illumination across the countertop workspace. It’s the kind of natural stone choice that ages well and rewards the decision for years.

The Kohler Whitehaven 29-11/16″ Farmhouse Sink anchors the sink wall — a substantial apron-front basin that required modifying the IKEA base cabinet to accommodate its dimensions. Paired with the Brizo Litze Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet and a matching Brizo Litze Beverage Faucet, the fixture setup gives the workspace a professional, layered feel. The Brizo Litze line has a refined industrial aesthetic — clean gooseneck geometry with a knurled handle detail — that complements the warmth of the HAVSTORP cabinets without matching too precisely.

A new garbage disposal was installed, along with a refrigerator water line tap on the plumbing side, rounding out the functional upgrades beneath the surface.

The KitchenAid 5.8 Cu. Ft. Slide-In Gas Convection Range sits flush between the base cabinets — a pro-style unit with substantial stainless steel knobs and continuous grates that anchor the cooking zone. Above it, a GE JVM Series Over-the-Range Microwave handles ventilation duties while keeping the countertop workspace clear.

Both required electrical relocation — the range outlet, microwave circuit, and countertop receptacles were all repositioned to align with the new cabinet elevations. New outlets were also added inside the appliance garage, ensuring countertop appliances can be used inside the garage without trailing cords across the workspace.

The original flooring and subfloor were fully demo’d to start fresh. New subfloor was prepped and a separation membrane was laid before the tile installation — a step that protects against cracking as the subfloor moves over time, especially important in an older Sacramento home.

The Bedrosians porcelain floor tile was laid in a two-tone checkerboard pattern — alternating white and soft gray tiles that add visual rhythm to the long galley without overwhelming the room. It’s a classic pattern that nods to the home’s character while reading as clean and modern against the Carrara and HAVSTORP palette above.