What began as a request to brighten a dark kitchen and living area turned into a complete transformation—one that brought warmth, intention, and personal comfort into every corner of this Cary home.

The space felt dark and dim due to the color choices made to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The problem they were experiencing was that it began feeling too stuffy, due to the large sofas and mismatched pieces, and things didn’t quite work as intended. The family room had only four windows at the back, flanking the stone fireplace, which gave the space a rustic look, but it was not quite their style.

The family room flows into the dark kitchen, which in turn flows into the sunroom, featuring numerous windows; however, the light is blocked by a half-wall that houses the sink.

The client requested an airy beachy vibe without it looking too beachy. So I got to work on creating a color scheme that made it open and airy with few design choices that embodied the beachy vibe she wanted.

The beautiful wood beams creating the coffered ceiling in the family room weren’t shining because of the darker color between the beams. The wall color and that dark rustic stone surround fireplace dominated the room. I chose a neutral color with a blue undertone for the walls in all the common areas to tie everything together, and a green undertone for the fireplace. The ceiling color between the beams was lightened to make the beautiful wood shine as the highlight of the room. I chose furnishings with blues, gold, and greens to maintain the airy vibe. Added an attractive light fixture to match the decor. Added gold curtains to soften the corners. I brought in two glass coffee tables to let the beautiful rug shine through and give the space a more open feel.

dark kitchen with stained cabinets and dark countertops

In the kitchen, the wall color continued from the entryway, family room, and kitchen. What was not working in the kitchen was that everything had a dark finish, and there was a lack of a window to let in natural light. At the time that the house was being built, she opted to forfeit the window to have her large gas stove on the back wall; otherwise, she would have had a stove on the island.

To solve this issue, I chose another blue-undertoned neutral color that had a slight color difference from the one used on the walls and replaced the light fixture to maintain an open space. Replaced the cabinet pulls to achieve a sleek, modern look. The perimeter of the kitchen featured black granite with gold specks, which complemented the gold in the new pulls, so we kept the black and replaced the backsplash with glass tiles installed vertically. We created a mosaic tile for the back of the stove to make it stand out.

The countertop for the island was very busy and gave the space a dated feel; we changed it to a beautiful, lighter color granite, which brightened the whole space.

To complement the airy and open feel of the kitchen, we introduced a weathered gray dining table for the breakfast nook. To add a bit of texture and that beachy vibe, I paired the clean, sleek side chairs with two rattan chairs. We also changed the light fixture over the dining table.

The client wanted this sunroom to be a place where she starts her day with a cup of tea, looking out at the beautiful trees and yard. She also requested this space to feel cozy and inviting for conversations with friends. This last s, which meant it needed to accommodate up to 8 people.

This space, which I designed, is my favorite room. I loved the wood-paneled ceiling because it gave a feeling of a tree house. In keeping with the idea of a tree house surrounded by nature, I brought that feeling with a botanical wallpaper featuring birds. I loved a piece they had that fit this space perfectly, a curved settee. We gave it a new look by reupholstering it in a beautiful powder blue performance fabric with a bit of texture. Added a light blue sofa and two pairs of wicker chairs that gave the feeling of being back home, in India.

If your living spaces feel dim or disconnected, a thoughtful redesign can completely shift how you use and enjoy your home—no major construction required. It’s about flow, tone, and how a space makes you feel.

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How We Transformed a Dark Kitchen, Living Room & Sunroom into a Bright, Welcoming Home in Cary, NC

Make Your Home Unforgettable: A Space That Reflects You, Beautifully