Case Study

A Kitchen Transformation in Wilmington From Dark and Dated to Bright and Contemporary

How DreamMaker replaced dark wood cabinets, laminate countertops, and a raised bar with a clean, bright, cook-friendly kitchen - and earned one of the most enthusiastic client testimonials in the process.

Wilmington, North Carolina

2 Weeks

Contemporary & White

Kitchen Remodeling

Project Overview

Dark and Dated No More.

This Wilmington kitchen had dark stained wood cabinets, laminate countertops, and a raised bar that made the space feel heavy, closed-off, and dated. The homeowner – who had remodeled nine homes – said she had never had a contractor experience like this one. DreamMaker moved appliances, cut down the raised bar, and added modern storage to deliver a kitchen that is open, bright, and genuinely cook-friendly.

Location: North Carolina

Neighborhood: Wilmington

Modern

About The Neighborhood

Wilmington is one of North Carolina’s most sought-after coastal communities — a vibrant, family-friendly city with historic homes, tree-lined neighborhoods, and an easy pace that belies its proximity to the region’s booming business corridor.

The Challenge

What Wasn’t Working

Before the remodel, the space faced several challenges:

Dark stained wood cabinets making the space feel heavy and dated
Laminate countertops in need of replacement
A raised bar closing off the kitchen and limiting usable counter space
Appliance placement that wasn't working for the layout
A kitchen that felt closed-off despite having the space to be more open

Like many homes in Cave Springs, the master bath retained its original footprint — creating real functional limitations for a busy household and making what should be a personal retreat feel like an afterthought.

BEFORE:

“I have remodeled nine houses and have never had such a positive experience as I had with Brad of DreamMaker. He carried me around on a pillow and handled EVERY detail and issue. The contractors that he hired were amazing in all aspects – the quality of work, timeliness, engaging personalities, quiet, considerate, the anticipation of my needs, and willingness to go the extra mile. They even thought my cats were precious!”

– Wilmington, NC

5.0 | Google Review

The Solution

Built Around How She Actually Lives.

DreamMaker opened the load-bearing wall, cut down the raised bar, and rebuilt the kitchen around a frameless Showplace EVO cabinet system designed for maximum accessibility and cook-friendly storage.

Key Improvements included:

Dark wood cabinets replaced with clean, contemporary white cabinetry throughout
Laminate countertops replaced with quartz
Raised bar cut down to open the space and add usable counter area
Appliances repositioned for improved layout and workflow
Modern storage options added throughout for a more efficient kitchen
New flooring, lighting, and tile completing the bright, contemporary transformation

AFTER: THE TRANSFORMATION

More Inspiration

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Inspired By This Transformation?

Whether you’re updating an outdated kitchen , expanding a bathroom, or planning a complete remodel, DreamMaker is here to bring your vision to life.