From Cramped to Spacious: How We Transformed a 1980s Kitchen in Westerville

The Challenge: A Kitchen Stuck in Time

Sarah called us after spending three years planning their dream kitchen renovation. "We've been living with these builder-grade oak cabinets since 1987," she told us during our initial consultation. "The layout made sense when it was just the two of us, but now with grandkids visiting every weekend, we desperately need more space and storage."

The original kitchen had that classic 80s layout – everything crammed into a galley-style design with a peninsula that blocked the flow to their family room. The upper cabinets stopped about two feet short of the ceiling, creating dust-collecting dead space. And don't get us started on the fluorescent lighting.

But here's what really got us excited about this project: Tom mentioned they wanted to keep some walls, remove others, and completely reimagine how their kitchen connected to the rest of their home. This is exactly the kind of full-service remodel where our team shines.

Our Approach: More Than Just Cabinets

One thing that sets us apart in the Ohio market is that we don't just deliver beautiful Amish-crafted cabinets and disappear. When Sarah and Tom hired us, they got our entire crew – cabinet makers, painters, drywall specialists, and project coordinators who've been working together for years.

The first step was removing the wall between their kitchen and formal dining room. Tom was nervous about this ("Are you sure the house won't fall down?" – we get that question a lot!), but our team has done this type of structural work countless times. Within two days, they had the open concept space they'd been dreaming about.

The Details That Made the Difference

The Cabinets: We went with painted maple in a warm white finish – it's become incredibly popular with our clients lately. The grain of the maple shows through just enough to give texture without overwhelming the space. Our local Amish craftsmen built everything to ceiling height, maximizing storage and creating those clean, custom lines that make a kitchen feel expensive.

The Layout: By removing that wall, we could extend the island and create a proper work triangle. Sarah now has prep space, cooking space, and cleanup areas that actually make sense when she's hosting family dinners.

The Countertops: Tom fell in love with Cambria quartz the moment he saw it in our showroom. We used their Brittanicca design – it has these subtle veining that plays beautifully against the white cabinets without competing for attention.

Project Management Reality Check

Let me be honest – coordinating a full kitchen remodel while managing 19 other active projects across Ohio isn't always smooth sailing. There was a week in July when our Cambria delivery got delayed, and we had three different crews trying to coordinate schedules around a family vacation Sarah forgot to mention.

But this is where our communication really matters. Instead of leaving Sarah and Tom in the dark, our project manager called them every other day with updates. When the countertop delay happened, we pivoted immediately – used that extra week to add the subway tile backsplash they'd been considering but weren't sure about budget-wise.

The Result: A Kitchen That Works

The transformation took about six weeks from demolition to final walkthrough. When Sarah sent us photos of their first big family dinner in the new space, you could see how the kitchen finally matched their lifestyle.

"The kids can do homework at the island while I'm cooking, Tom has his coffee station that doesn't block anyone's way, and we can actually have conversations with people in the family room," Sarah wrote in her thank-you note. "But honestly, what impressed us most was how your team handled all the little issues that came up. We never felt forgotten or rushed."

Why This Project Represents What We Do Best

Look, anyone can install cabinets. But when you're talking about removing walls, managing electrical, coordinating multiple trades, and delivering custom craftsmanship that'll last decades – that's where our approach really shines.

Sarah and Tom's project is one of 20 we're currently managing across central Ohio. Each one has its own challenges, timeline, and family story. Some are in Columbus suburbs, others in Cleveland neighborhoods, and we've even got a project going in a farmhouse outside Portsmouth.

What they all have in common is our commitment to communication, quality Amish craftsmanship, and treating every home like it's our own family's kitchen.

Thinking About Your Own Kitchen?

If you're in Ohio and tired of working around a kitchen that doesn't fit your life anymore, we'd love to chat. Every project starts with understanding how you really use your space – and then figuring out how our team can make it better.

Whether you're dreaming of painted maple cabinets, thinking about removing a wall, or just want someone to explain your options without any pressure, give us a call. We're pretty good at turning "this could be so much better" into "I can't believe this is our kitchen."

Ready to start your own transformation? Contact Ohio Amish Kitchen Cabinets to schedule your consultation. We're currently booking projects for early 2026.