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These are the before pictures of their outdated '70s style kitchen - what you don't really see are the avocado green dishwasher and cooking range!

This is the drawing for the remodeled kitchen. The soffits above the cabinets were taken out so that taller cabinets could be fitted. The entire row of upper cabinets on either side of the range hood was taken out, opening the kitchen up to the family room.  An island style range hood would replace the old one.  A raised bar would be installed on the other side of the range, with a row of cabinets underneath for storage.

Several configurations of the kitchen were considered, but in the end, the original U-shaped kitchen was the most practical, given the space.

And this is how it turned out!  Dark cabinets plus a lighter, warm brown granite countertop looks amazing.

My parents used to have dark wood paneling in the family room.  When they considered getting the dark kitchen cabinets, they decided that they wanted the paneling removed.  New dry-wall and crown moulding were added to the family room.

Paul, Allen, and I installed Brazilian Teak flooring throughout the family room and kitchen.

The vinyl flooring underneath the carpet of the kitchen/family-room area.

Allen standing in a much, much brighter family room now that the wood paneling has been removed!

Working late into the evening we got a lot accomplished in just one day, which started with the tearing up of carpet and putting down the underlayment.

The kitchen would be the last bit of flooring to do.

Set up of the power tools in the garage - chop saw and band saw were needed for the floor install.

We finished day one with flooring all the way up to the bar cabinets.

Paul being watched by everyone as he slips in the last row of flooring for the day.

My dad chose a white trim to go around the family room.  I was very proud of my excellent caulking job!

Their entire kitchen/family room remodel took about 1 month.  In the end, they got brand new, updated kitchen cabinets, all new appliances (range, range hood, dishwasher), new sink and granite countertop, new walls with dark wood paneling removed in the family room, fixed window on the south side of the room which had never been quite complete, recessed lighting in the family room, and new floors throughout family room and kitchen.

I love the new look!  Without those upper cabinets between the kitchen and family room the whole space looks so open and refreshing.  The granite is very striking and they seem to have gained a lot more counter and cabinet space.  Despite their small space, the dark floors and cabinets actually make the living space feel warm and inviting.