The Sherman Oaks Kitchen

Quick facts

• Location: Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles
• Scope: Kitchen renovation
• Timeline: 6 weeks
• Investment: $75,000 – $100,000
• Materials: Walnut cabinetry, honed quartz countertops, full-height subway tile, brass pendants, wide-plank engineered oak flooring

The challenge

The original kitchen was a narrow galley closed off from the rest of the house. The homeowners — a couple with two young children — wanted a space where they could cook, help with homework, and entertain without feeling cramped. The layout also trapped the cook against the back wall with no sightlines to the family room.

Budget discipline was important. The homeowners had a clear ceiling and did not want surprises. They also wanted warmth — no more all-white cabinets and cold surfaces.

The design choices

We kept the existing footprint to avoid structural costs but reconfigured every wall cabinet and appliance location. The refrigerator moved to a more accessible spot near the entry. A new island — modest in size but deep in function — became the room's center.

• Cabinetry: Custom walnut uppers and lowers with soft-close drawers and pull-out pantry storage.
• Counters: Honed quartz in a warm white with subtle veining.
• Backsplash: Full-height 3x12 glazed subway tile in a warm white, running bond pattern.
• Lighting: Three aged-brass pendants over the island, recessed LED cans, and under-cabinet task lighting.
• Flooring: Wide-plank engineered oak that matched the adjacent living room.
• Hardware: Mixed metals — brushed nickel pulls with brass pendants.

The friction (and the fix)

During demo, we discovered the existing range hood was vented into the attic rather than to the exterior. This is common in older Sherman Oaks homes and is both a code violation and a fire hazard. Rather than patch around it, we rerouted the ductwork through the roof and installed a proper exterior-vented hood. The fix added two days but kept the project on schedule because we had built contingency into the rough-in phase.

The result

The kitchen now opens visually into the family room without removing walls. The island seats three for breakfast and provides a landing zone for groceries. The walnut cabinetry gives the space a warmth that white cabinets could not deliver. The project finished in six weeks with zero change orders.

Before and after narrative

Before: A closed galley with dated white laminate cabinets, fluorescent lighting, tile countertops, and no connection to the rest of the home.

After: A warm, efficient kitchen with custom walnut cabinetry, quartz counters, a functional island, and layered lighting that works from morning coffee to dinner parties.

Begin the conversation

Want a kitchen that works the way your family lives? CaliFirst Remodel will prepare a written feasibility and budget review for your project.