Kitchen Refresh in St. Johns County
- Project Type: Kitchen Refresh
- Location: St. Johns County, FL (32259)
- Build Timeline: 8 weeks
Not every kitchen remodel starts from scratch, and sometimes the best projects are the ones where the bones are already good. This St. Johns County homeowner had a spacious, open-concept kitchen with cabinets in excellent condition. What they needed wasn’t a full overhaul. They needed the right team to execute a focused, high-quality refresh with intention and precision.
After finding Corbella Kitchen and Bath through neighborhood referrals, they didn’t meet with anyone else.
The Goals
The scope was clear from the start: replace the countertops and backsplash, add under-cabinet lighting, modify the bartop to reclaim workspace, and give the kitchen a brighter, more refined feel, all while keeping the existing layout and cabinetry intact.
Design Direction
The homeowners wanted a transitional aesthetic, blending modern and traditional elements in a way that felt updated without feeling cold. One detail shaped nearly every decision: the sightline from the living room couch into the kitchen. Anything visually heavy or out of place would be noticed, so every selection was made with that connection in mind.
Countertops: Golden Polaris by UMI
Golden Polaris by UMI was the perfect fit, warm, bright, and beautiful in a transitional space. It was installed throughout the kitchen, including the modified bartop.
One standout detail: the homeowners requested the underside of the countertop overhang be polished, since it’s visible from the living room. It’s not a standard request, but it’s exactly the kind of thoughtful finish that elevates a remodel from functional to truly refined. For support, steel plates were used in place of corbels and painted to match the countertop, keeping the look clean and intentional.
Bartop Modification
The bartop received a targeted modification rather than a full cutdown. The end of the bartop was trimmed to reduce seating in that area and reclaim usable countertop workspace, while the remainder of the bartop stayed fully intact. It was a precise, minimal change that improved both function and flow without altering the overall footprint of the kitchen.
Faucet & Fixtures
Working closely with our in-house designer, the homeowners selected a low-profile Moen faucet that wouldn’t interrupt the living room sightline. Before installation, our team reviewed the faucet finish in person to ensure it coordinated with the sink, a small step that eliminated any guesswork and delivered exactly the result they were hoping for. The homeowners also chose a drop-in sink, and we respected that preference completely.
Appliances & Lighting
New appliances were installed throughout, including a dishwasher, stovetop, and hood, along with under-cabinet lighting that brightened the workspace and gave the kitchen a warmer, more polished feel from morning to night.
The Result
This project is proof that a well-executed partial remodel can be just as impactful as a full renovation. The homeowners had been planning this refresh for a long time, and when it was done, the homeowner was already excited to share photos on the same neighborhood site where she first found us. That’s the kind of result we work for on every project.