A real home · The origin story

The heart of my home, made whole.

What began with a leak turned into a six-month renovation—and taught me how much better a room works when every decision is made with the whole space in mind.

My kitchen renovationMore than $35,000 invested

My finished kitchen showing the reclaimed space and the professional-style range at the heart of the room

Before · 2015

01 / What happened

More than new finishes.

A broken faucet and dishwasher soaked the cabinets and the floor beneath the sink. The appliances were failing, and once we opened things up, it was clear that a patchwork repair would not be enough.

I decided to rebuild the kitchen as a room, not replace one damaged item at a time. That meant new cabinetry, granite, better lighting and a coordinated set of Frigidaire Pro appliances.

I chose the appliances first. Their size, finish and placement shaped the cabinets, counters and lighting around them. Nothing was selected in isolation.

The original kitchen before the renovation, including the enclosed pantry that took up valuable floor space — BeforeThe enclosed pantry on the left crowded the room. Replacing it with pull-out storage gave us roughly five more feet of usable space.

The remodeled kitchen with coordinated cabinetry, appliances and granite — AfterThe same room, rebuilt so every piece works together.

One room, reconsidered as a wholeFrom water damage and worn-out fixtures to a kitchen built for everyday life.

02 / The decisions

Every choice affected the next one.

I served as general contractor for about six months and coordinated four trades. Each person had a specific job, but I had to make sure their work added up to one room.

01
Frigidaire Pro appliancesThe practical starting point for the layout
02
Custom cabinetryStorage sized for the room and the way I use it
03
Granite and lightingHardworking surfaces with enough warmth for daily life

The finished kitchen showing its coordinated cabinetry, appliances, island and lighting

Planned as one room

03 / Where Sienna Arbor began

This kitchen changed the way I think about a space.

Start with the pieces that matter most. Build the rest around how you want to live.

That is the approach I’m bringing to Sienna Arbor. An outdoor kitchen, fire table or pergola should not feel dropped into place. It should fit the setting, work with everything around it and make people want to use it.

When the product is chosen first, it becomes the centerpiece of the space, not an add-on.

Return to Sienna Arbor