Complete Kitchen Remodeling Project in Marlton, New Jersey
This kitchen remodeling project in Marlton, NJ transformed a closed-off kitchen and dining room into a larger, open-concept space designed around the way the homeowners wanted to use their first floor.
Completed by Next Level Remodeling, this project went well beyond new kitchen cabinets and countertops. The renovation required structural changes, removal of a load-bearing wall, installation of a flush structural beam, a new kitchen window, new hardwood flooring, electrical and plumbing modifications, HVAC work, custom cabinetry, lighting, tile, trim and paint.
The result is a dramatically different kitchen and first-floor layout that demonstrates what is possible when kitchen design and construction are approached as one complete remodeling project.
Project Details
Project: Complete Kitchen Remodel
Location: Marlton, New Jersey
Contractor: Next Level Remodeling
Project Type: Kitchen Renovation / First-Floor Remodel
Cabinetry: Fabuwood Allure Galaxy
Cabinet Finish: Mocha
Countertops: Quartz
Flooring: Armstrong/Hartco American Scrapes 5″ Hickory – Candy Apple
Wall Color: Seapearl
Trim Color: Decorator’s White
Structural Work: Load-Bearing Wall Removal + Flush PSL Beam
Additional Features: New Kitchen Window, Custom Wood Hood, Appliance Garage, Pantry Roll-Outs, Bar Cabinetry, Under-Cabinet Lighting, Island Pendants, Hood Ventilation & Make-Up Air
The Existing Kitchen: A Layout That Divided the First Floor
Before the renovation, a load-bearing wall separated the kitchen from the adjoining dining area. Rather than simply updating the finishes within the existing footprint, the remodeling plan called for changing the architecture of the space.
The existing kitchen was completely demolished, including the cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, tile flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting and electrical devices. The pantry was also removed as part of the new layout.
Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room created the opportunity for a much larger visual connection between the spaces—but because the wall was structural, opening the floor plan required more than conventional demolition.
Removing a Load-Bearing Wall to Create an Open-Concept Kitchen
One of the most significant components of this Marlton kitchen renovation was the removal of the load bearing wall shared by the kitchen and dining area.
Architectural plans were prepared for the structural modifications, and the project called for a 7″ x 9-1/4″ PSL beam installed as a flush beam.
Installing the structural beam within the ceiling allowed the kitchen and dining areas to be opened without leaving a large dropped header dividing the rooms.
This is an important distinction in an open-concept kitchen remodel. Removing a wall can make rooms physically larger, but leaving a substantial header behind can still visually separate them. The flush-beam approach helped create a much cleaner transition between the renovated kitchen and the surrounding first floor spaces.
A Completely New Kitchen Layout
Once the structural changes were completed, the new kitchen could be constructed around the redesigned floor plan.
The cabinetry selected for the project was Fabuwood Allure Galaxy cabinetry in a Mocha finish. The design incorporates 42-inch-high wall cabinets, crown molding and a combination of everyday storage and specialized cabinetry.
Key cabinetry features include:
- 42-inch wall cabinetry
- Crown molding
- Large center island
- 30-inch microwave cabinet
- Tall 30-inch pantry with four lower roll-outs
- 16-inch-deep appliance cabinet
- Dedicated bar cabinetry
- Glass-door cabinets with glass shelving
- Decorative curved wood range hood finished to match the Mocha cabinetry
Rather than treating storage as an afterthought, the new kitchen incorporates dedicated areas for pantry storage, appliances and the bar while maintaining a consistent cabinetry design throughout the room.
A Statement Range Hood and Cooking Area
The cooking area is anchored by a 36-inch curved artisan-style wood hood finished in the same Mocha finish as the cabinetry.
Behind the decorative hood is a Broan PM600SSV ventilation system with a stainless-steel Fabuwood hood liner. The remodeling scope also included new exhaust ducting to the exterior and a make-up air system.
That combination allowed the ventilation equipment to be incorporated into an architectural cabinetry feature rather than allowing the mechanical components to dominate the kitchen design.
Quartz Countertops and a Large Kitchen Island
Quartz countertops were installed throughout the new kitchen, including the perimeter cabinetry and center island. Both the kitchen perimeter and island use a standard 3cm pencil edge, creating a clean profile that works with the cabinetry and surrounding finishes.
The island establishes a central gathering and work area while also helping connect the kitchen visually with the newly opened dining space.
New Kitchen Window and Natural Light
The renovation also included the installation of a new kitchen window.
Creating the new opening required modifications to the exterior wall, removal of the existing siding around the opening, installation and flashing of the new window, and reinstallation of reusable siding around it.
The new window became another component of the overall transformation rather than limiting the new kitchen design to the home’s existing openings.
Layered Kitchen Lighting
Lighting was completely redesigned as part of the kitchen renovation.
The new electrical plan included ten 4-inch recessed lights, two pendant fixtures over the island and LED under-cabinet lighting across the upper cabinetry. Multiple dimmers were incorporated so the homeowners can adjust the lighting for different uses throughout the day.
Dedicated electrical feeds were also installed for components such as the appliance garage and microwave drawer, while electrical service for the refrigerator, dishwasher, disposal, range and hood was relocated to accommodate the new kitchen layout.
New Hickory Hardwood Woven Into the Existing Flooring
Changing the floor plan meant addressing the areas where the original walls and flooring had been removed.
The project used Armstrong/Hartco American Scrapes 3/4″ x 5″ hickory flooring in Candy Apple in the kitchen and portions of the dining room, hallway and foyer affected by the renovation.
Rather than terminating the new flooring at the remodeled kitchen, the new hardwood was woven into the existing flooring to create a more continuous transition through the first floor.
Seapearl Walls and Decorator's White Trim
The renovation extended beyond the kitchen itself.
New and affected drywall surfaces were finished to a Level 4 paint-ready finish. The painting scope included the kitchen, dining room, family room, entry and first-floor hallway, along with the upstairs hallway walls.
The walls were finished in Seapearl with Decorator’s White used for the trim and doors, providing a lighter backdrop for the warm Mocha cabinetry and hickory flooring.
More Than a Cosmetic Kitchen Renovation
What makes this Marlton kitchen remodel different from a simple kitchen update is how much of the home had to work together to create the finished result.
The project involved:
- Complete kitchen demolition
- Load-bearing wall removal
- Architectural and structural modifications
- Flush PSL beam installation
- New wall framing
- New kitchen window
- Cabinet installation
- Quartz countertops
- Kitchen backsplash
- Hardwood flooring
- Electrical relocation and new circuits
- Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting
- Plumbing modifications
- Range hood ventilation
- Make-up air system
- HVAC relocation
- Drywall and finishing
- Interior trim
- Painting
The work behind the walls is an important part of a major kitchen remodel. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and structural systems all had to accommodate the new layout before the finishes shown in the final photographs could be installed.
Before and After: A Completely Different First Floor
The before-and-after photos show the visual transformation, but the biggest change is the way the kitchen relates to the rest of the house.
Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining area changed the architecture of the first floor. The flush structural beam maintains a clean ceiling plane, while the island, cabinetry, lighting, new window and continuous hardwood help define the new kitchen without closing it back off from the adjoining rooms.
What was once a separated kitchen is now a substantially more open space for cooking, gathering and entertaining.
Kitchen Remodeling in Marlton, NJ and South Jersey
Next Level Remodeling is a South Jersey design-build remodeling contractor specializing in kitchen remodeling, whole-home renovations, first-floor renovations, bathroom remodeling and home additions.
Our kitchen remodeling projects can include everything from cabinetry and finish upgrades to major renovations involving structural wall removal, floor-plan changes, plumbing and electrical relocation, new windows, flooring and complete interior construction.
We provide remodeling services throughout Marlton, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Moorestown, Medford, Mount Laurel and surrounding South Jersey communities.
If you’re considering a kitchen remodel in Marlton, NJ, or want to explore whether walls can be removed to create a more open floor plan in your home, contact Next Level Remodeling to discuss your project.