Project: Hickory & Pines Great Room · Reno, Nevada

The Client

Our clients are an active family with a teen daughter. They love to cook, entertain, and listen to music.

The Brief

Our clients wanted a clean, open, fun, and welcoming home that took inspiration from nature without feeling “country.”

They asked for a design with:

  • A functional kitchen.
  • A breakfast nook, ideally with a window seat.
  • A family room in what had been the underused living room.
  • Space to store their expansive record collection and to play records.
  • Space to casually entertain 12–14 people—no formal dining room.
  • Stronger organization in two existing pantries.
  • Integration of existing hickory floors and some favorite furnishings, plus new pieces where needed.

They wanted the warm, welcoming home of their dreams, aligned with their modern tastes.

Before: chopped‑up and underused

The kitchen was cramped and didn’t function well for the way this family cooks, the TV area forced awkward furniture placement, and the dining nook table felt dwarfed by the space. The large living room sat mostly unused and disconnected from the kitchen, and the traditional finishes throughout felt dated next to the clients’ modern preferences.

  • Before: the kitchen was dated and small.

  • Before: the island was too small for this family and their guests.

  • Before: the small table is dwarfed by the generous dining nook.

  • Before: the living space took up the greatest portion of the great room, and the layout wasn't functional.

  • Before: the clients record collection was housed in several small off-the-shelf storage units.

  • Before: the clients never used the living room which was
    not previously connected to the kitchen.

What We Did

We treated the living room and kitchen as one integrated great room:

  • Enlarged the opening between living room and kitchen so the spaces read as one.
  • Moved the kitchen into the former TV area, which had more square footage and better proportions.
  • Designed a new dining nook with built‑in bench seating and storage plus a larger oval table that fits the space.
  • Relocated the TV and lounge area into the former living room, now properly connected to the kitchen and designed for optimal viewing and conversation.
  • Created a dedicated record and music zone with custom cabinetry to showcase a vintage vinyl collection.
  • Introduced all‑new modern furnishings and fixtures that speak to the surrounding landscape without sliding into rustic cliché.

The key to this transformation? Treating the living room and kitchen as one integrated great room.

Materials

  • Flooring – Natural hickory
  • Walls – Painted drywall
  • Cabinets – Custom painted vanilla white and sage green
  • Countertops – Quartz
  • Backsplash – Hand‑painted geometric tile
  • Light fixtures – Matte black
  • Plumbing fixtures – Matte black

What makes this great room special

  • Custom cabinetry in vanilla white and sage green that echoes the hickory floors and nearby pines.
  • Custom‑designed features like the bench seat, waterfall wood island end, and vinyl record storage cabinets.
  • A spacious, airy layout with clean lines of sight and generous circulation.
  • A large island that serves as both prep zone and gathering spot.

What our client had to say

"

Jackie presented unique concepts that we never would have thought of independently on our own while still aligning with our personal style, our budget, and our necessity for functionality… She created very detailed plans, leaving any guesswork out of the equation for the team… Her acumen, professionalism, and attention to detail at all points left us 100% confident and we were well taken care of throughout the process. We are absolutely thrilled with the final result!”

Gallery

  • Nature‑inspired great room with custom vanilla and sage cabinetry, hickory floors, and a hand‑painted tile backsplash

  • Hand‑painted geometric tile backsplash referencing nearby mountain peaks.

  • New, widened opening creates an easy flow between kitchen and living areas.

  • Breakfast nook with built‑in bench seating, dark wood table, and rattan and wood chairs.

  • The working side of the island offers deep storage and generous prep space.

  • Drawer microwave on the back of the island eases congestion on the other side of the island where the range, sink, and dishwasher are located.

  • Dark hickory waterfall island end with seating for four.

  • Custom record cabinets flank the opening, showcasing a cherished vinyl collection.

  • Reimagined living area arranged for comfortable TV viewing and conversation.

  • Bespoke green sofa and modern block coffee table anchor the lounge.

Award-winning project!

Our Hickory & Pines Great Room was awarded the 2025 BANNer award for Best Remodel Residential by the Builders Association of Northern Nevada.

Ready to start your own room transformation?

If you’re planning a major remodel and want a home that feels tailored, calm, and quietly luxurious, we’d love to talk about what’s possible in your space.

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