Renovated first-floor kitchen with navy island, gray shaker cabinets and stainless appliances in Arlington, MA

Arlington, MA · Brattle

Arlington First-Floor Kitchen Renovation

1 chimney

removed to open the kitchen

~288 sq ft

renovated

14 weeks

of construction

The project

This Arlington family's kitchen was a closed-in room of about eleven by eleven feet, with oak cabinets, laminate counters and the range set against an old brick chimney. A wall and a narrow doorway cut it off from the dining area next door.

We measured and photographed the house and worked through several layouts over the spring and summer, each with 3D views, before settling on the final plan that fall. The key move was taking out the old chimney and the wall beside it so the kitchen could open to the dining area. The plan also took out a side window, raised the window over the sink and lined one wall with tall pantry cabinets.

The finished kitchen has gray shaker cabinets with black pulls, a long navy island with white quartz and seating, a farmhouse sink under the window with open wood shelves, a white arabesque tile backsplash, double wall ovens and a gas cooktop under a chimney hood. New oak floors run through the space.

What's included

KitchenFirst floor

Add-ons

Old brick chimney removedWall to the dining area opened upWindow over the sink raisedWall of tall pantry cabinetsDouble wall ovens and gas cooktop with chimney hood

Before and after

Before: Kitchen: the range against the old brick chimney and the narrow doorway gave way to an open kitchen with a long navy island and seating. — Kitchen: the range against the old brick chimney and the narrow doorway gave way to an open kitchen with a long navy island and seating.

After: Kitchen: the range against the old brick chimney and the narrow doorway gave way to an open kitchen with a long navy island and seating. — Kitchen: the range against the old brick chimney and the narrow doorway gave way to an open kitchen with a long navy island and seating.

Before: Back corner: the old fridge by the back door became a wall of gray shaker cabinets, stainless fridge and double wall ovens. — Back corner: the old fridge by the back door became a wall of gray shaker cabinets, stainless fridge and double wall ovens.

After: Back corner: the old fridge by the back door became a wall of gray shaker cabinets, stainless fridge and double wall ovens. — Back corner: the old fridge by the back door became a wall of gray shaker cabinets, stainless fridge and double wall ovens.

Before: Sink wall: the small sink and dark wood cabinets became a farmhouse sink under a raised window, with open wood shelves and arabesque tile. — Sink wall: the small sink and dark wood cabinets became a farmhouse sink under a raised window, with open wood shelves and arabesque tile.

After: Sink wall: the small sink and dark wood cabinets became a farmhouse sink under a raised window, with open wood shelves and arabesque tile. — Sink wall: the small sink and dark wood cabinets became a farmhouse sink under a raised window, with open wood shelves and arabesque tile.

Finishes we used

Kitchen

Gray shaker cabinets with black pulls, a navy island with white quartz, a white arabesque tile backsplash, a farmhouse sink, double wall ovens and a gas cooktop under a chimney hood.

Floors

New oak floors through the kitchen.

Projects like this

Kitchen opened to adjoining rooms, 16 projects we built 2020–2025

$130k–$225k

Typical range (middle half of jobs), change orders included. Your price is set in a fixed-price agreement before work starts and changes only if you change the job.

Get a range for your house

Questions about this project

What did this Arlington kitchen renovation include?

We removed an old brick chimney and the wall beside it to open the kitchen to the dining area, raised the window over the sink, lined one wall with tall pantry cabinets and built a new kitchen with a long navy island.

Can you remove an old chimney to open up a kitchen?

Often, yes. Here the old brick chimney and the wall beside it came out so the kitchen could open to the dining area.

How long did construction take?

About 14 weeks from the start of construction to completion.

What do projects like this cost?

Kitchens opened to adjoining rooms that we built from 2020 to 2025 typically ran $130k to $225k. Your price is set in a fixed-price agreement before work starts.

Planning something similar in Arlington?

Start with a design meeting. We design it, price it and build it with our own team.

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