The Collected Kitchen
East Memphis, Tennessee
This East Memphis kitchen remodel proves that updating a home doesn’t have to mean erasing the details that give it character. For this project, the goal was to create a brighter, more functional kitchen with plenty of storage, generous workspace, and updated finishes.
A Bright, Timeless Kitchen Designed for Everyday Living
Creamy white Shaker-style cabinetry creates a clean backdrop and helps make this East Memphis kitchen feel open and inviting. Rather than carrying one finish throughout the entire room, a large dark-stained island introduces contrast and warmth.
The oversized island becomes the hardworking center of the kitchen, offering plenty of prep space, an undermount sink, a dishwasher, additional storage, and casual seating. A dark stone countertop ties the island cabinetry together and creates striking contrast against the room's lighter perimeter cabinetry.
Warm brass hardware and plumbing fixtures add another layer of color and help bridge the kitchen's traditional architecture with its more contemporary finishes.
Preserving the Character of an East Memphis Home
One of our favorite details is the exposed brick wall. Instead of competing with the updated cabinetry and appliances, the brick adds texture, warmth, and a sense of history to the new kitchen.
Built-in wall ovens are incorporated directly into the brick, making this architectural feature part of the kitchen's functional design as well as its aesthetic.
That's an important consideration when remodeling an older home in East Memphis. A successful renovation doesn't necessarily mean making every existing feature disappear. Sometimes the best design comes from identifying what makes a house special and finding a way to incorporate that character into a space that functions better for today's homeowners.
A Kitchen Designed for Cooking & Gathering
Good kitchen design is about much more than selecting beautiful finishes. The way the space functions matters just as much.
A large professional-style range anchors the main cooking wall, surrounded by expansive countertops and easily accessible storage. The custom range hood provides a strong focal point while blending seamlessly with the surrounding white cabinetry.
The kitchen also includes a combination of recessed lighting, under-cabinet lighting, wall sconces, and statement pendants. Together, these layers provide practical task lighting while adding warmth and dimension.
And when family or friends gather, the large center island gives them a natural place to pull up a chair without getting in the way of the primary cooking area.
A Dedicated Home Bar With a Little Drama
Just beyond the kitchen is a custom home bar that takes the design in a decidedly moodier direction.
Dark cabinetry, ribbed-glass cabinet doors, brass hardware, dramatic stone countertops, and a reflective bronze-toned backsplash give this compact space plenty of personality. A beverage refrigerator, wine storage, sink, and generous counter space make it ready for entertaining without requiring trips back and forth to the main kitchen.
It's also a great example of how an East Memphis home remodel can create dedicated spaces for the way homeowners actually live. Even a relatively small area can become incredibly useful when you intentionally design every inch.
A Laundry Room That Doesn't Play It Safe
The laundry room brings an entirely different personality to the project—and that's exactly what makes it fun.
A bold blue-and-green botanical wallpaper wraps the room, complemented by blue-painted trim and a coordinating exterior door. White cabinetry keeps the space bright, while brass hardware carries a finish used elsewhere in the renovation into this room.
Upper cabinetry, open shelving, lower cabinets, and a long countertop provide practical storage and workspace, proving that utility rooms can be highly functional and beautifully designed.
Remodeling an East Memphis Home for the Way You Live Today
At Robbins Construction, our design-build approach allows our designers and construction team to work together from the earliest stages of a project through the finishing touches. Whether you're considering an East Memphis kitchen remodel, a home addition, a bathroom renovation, or a larger whole-home remodeling project, the goal isn't simply to make your home look different. It's to make it work better for you—while preserving the qualities that made you love your home in the first place.