After purchasing this house in Henderson, Nevada, a couple with four young kids enlisted designer Christy Mancera of Cera Construction to make it better suit their lifestyle. Mancera, who used Houzz Pro software, reworked the entire floor plan to make the home more family-friendly.
In the kitchen, the designer focused on how the homeowners like to work and live. She created an efficient layout with a large island, a dedicated baking station and ample display space for personal collections. “My clients wanted to make the kitchen more functional for their family, create an open feel and bring in lots of natural light,” Mancera says.
Before: The original kitchen had a basic work triangle and a large island, but it lacked personality and smart storage. A desk area went unused, and the cabinets didn’t maximize space. A partial wall on the right made the kitchen feel closed off from the rest of the home.
After: Mancera removed a wall, almost doubling the size of the kitchen. This opened up the working side to an eat-in breakfast area and windows (shown in a photo at the end of the story).
Mancera also moved a doorway so it’s now close to the refrigerator. This allowed her to extend cabinetry, countertop space and display shelves in a long run along that wall.