Dramatic Modern Kitchen Remodel in Smyrna GA | Before & After

From Traditional Cherry Cabinetry to a Tailored Modern Kitchen

This Smyrna kitchen renovation transformed a traditional early-2000s space into a refined, modern composition defined by custom black cabinetry, strong white quartz, and a dramatic, elevated feel. The original kitchen featured heavy cherry cabinetry, dated finishes, and visual fragmentation that limited cohesion. Our goal was to create a kitchen that feels like a retreat within the home, balanced in symmetry, rich in material contrast, and designed to elevate the entire space.

Before: The Cherry-Era Kitchen

The original kitchen offered a generous layout with a functional island, but its heavy cherry cabinetry, ornate detailing, and warm-toned finishes anchored the space firmly in the early 2000s. While the layout worked well, the cabinetry stopped short of the ceiling and varied in height, creating visual breaks and limiting storage potential.

Overall, the kitchen felt visually dated rather than structurally flawed — making it an ideal candidate for a finish-driven transformation rather than a full reconfiguration.

The Vision + Design Plan

Before any construction begins, we develop a full CAD (Computer-Aided Design) layout to preview how a space would look when complete. Through CAD development, the kitchen was refined rather than reconfigured, building upon the existing layout while elevating its presence and functionality. The design focused on extending cabinetry to the ceiling, simplifying lines, and introducing a bold black-and-white material contrast to create a more cohesive architectural composition. Integrated storage and appliance paneling allowed the space to read as a tailored, continuous envelope rather than a collection of individual elements.

Design Priorities Included:

• Extending cabinetry to full height to maximize storage and visual continuity
• Simplifying door styles and detailing for a cleaner, modern profile
• Integrating appliances within the cabinetry wall for a seamless elevation
• Introducing a waterfall island to anchor the space
• Extending countertop material into a full-height backsplash
• Adding floating shelves with integrated under-cabinet lighting
• Reinforcing symmetry and alignment across elevations
• Layering lighting for warmth and depth

After: A Tailored Transformation

The transformation is immediately defined by the dramatic contrast between full-height black cabinetry and clean gold hardware, establishing a bold vertical rhythm that anchors the space. A continuous white quartz countertop and full-height backsplash introduce brightness and contrast, allowing the darker cabinetry to read as intentional and sculptural rather than heavy. The interplay of matte black surfaces and luminous gold pulls adds depth, warmth, and visual clarity — signaling a complete shift from traditional to tailored modern. Integrating the range hood within the surrounding cabinetry further reinforces this seamless, architectural look, replacing the visual interruption of a traditional exposed hood.

The island introduces a sculptural focal point of the kitchen through the continued use of white quartz in a full waterfall application, wrapping seamlessly from surface to floor. This architectural treatment reinforces the kitchen’s bold black-and-white contrast while adding monolithic presence and visual weight at the center of the room. Integrated within the island, a beverage refrigerator adds functional convenience without interrupting the clean cabinetry lines, supporting both entertaining and everyday use. The combination of tailored storage, integrated appliances, and continuous surfacing allows the island to function as both a practical workstation and a refined design statement.

Along the window wall, floating wood shelves introduce warmth and visual lightness against the full-height black cabinetry, creating a layered focal point that softens the kitchen’s strong architectural lines. Integrated lighting beneath the shelves casts a warm glow across the backsplash and quartz surface, emphasizing the material’s subtle veining and dimensional depth. Below, a dedicated workstation sink anchors the prep zone, framed by continuous waterfall white quartz that wraps the counter and sill in a seamless plane. The interplay of textured quartz, warm brass fixtures, and dark cabinetry creates a richly layered composition — balancing functionality with refined material expression.

At the island’s seating side, vertical tambour paneling introduces texture and warmth while discreetly concealing integrated outlets beneath the counter overhang for convenient access. This thoughtful detailing softens the crisp geometry of the surrounding quartz and black cabinetry while supporting everyday function at the seating zone. The wood tone carries intentionally through the space, reappearing in the floating shelves and custom pantry doors to create a cohesive material thread across the kitchen. The pantry entry becomes a design feature in its own right, with framed wood doors and ribbed glass panels that add depth, light diffusion, and subtle vintage character. Paired with warm brass hardware, these elements bridge modern contrast with organic texture — reinforcing the kitchen’s layered, tailored aesthetic.

Details We Love:

• Full-height black cabinetry with warm gold hardware contrast
• Integrated appliance wall and hood range for a seamless built-in look
• Continuous white quartz countertops and full-height slab backsplash
• Waterfall quartz island creating a sculptural focal point
• Integrated beverage refrigerator within the island
• Floating wood shelves with integrated under-shelf lighting
• Dedicated workstation sink along the window wall
• Vertical tambour paneling at the island seating side
• Discreetly integrated outlets beneath the island overhang
• Custom pantry doors with ribbed glass and warm wood framing
• Cohesive wood tone carried across shelves, island, and pantry

The Result: A Dramatic Modern Kitchen

What was once a traditional cherry kitchen is now a tailored architectural centerpiece. The renovation not only modernized the aesthetic but elevated function, storage integration, and material cohesion — creating a space designed for both everyday living and entertaining.