expanded kitchen in olympia
REMODEL EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER 2025
Before
Before the remodel, the Stadler kitchen was closed off from the adjoining dining room, a common layout in older Olympia-area homes that leaves the kitchen feeling cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main floor. The original galley-style kitchen had limited counter space, no dedicated island, and a layout that made it difficult for more than one person to cook at a time. Storage was scattered across mismatched cabinetry, and there was no place for the family to gather while a meal was being prepared.
After
First Finishers removed the wall separating the kitchen and dining room, opening up the floor plan and creating enough space for a 9-foot-long butcher block island, the centerpiece of the new design. The island includes an integrated cooktop cutout with a hidden downdraft ventilation system, so the cooking surface stays functional without a bulky hood interrupting the sightline. An extended overhang on one side of the island adds informal seating, turning the kitchen into the gathering space the family didn't have before.
The rest of the kitchen was rebuilt around the same combination of function and finish. Quartz countertops and a full-height quartz backsplash give the space a clean, contemporary look. Double convection wall ovens replaced a single standard oven, and the galley-style layout was reworked for better workflow between the sink, range, and prep areas. New cabinetry throughout includes a dedicated pantry cabinet with roll-out shelving, and new flooring ties the whole space together. The project ran from late August to early October 2024, a renovation timeline of about six weeks.
Recognition
This kitchen remodel earned First Finishers a 2025 Remodeling Excellence (REX) Award from Olympia Master Builders in the Kitchen $70,000–$135,000 category, one of several REX and state-level Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) awards the company has received for kitchen remodeling work in the Olympia area.
Project specs
Location: Olympia, WA
Project type: Kitchen remodel
Scope: Wall removal, island addition, full kitchen renovation
Island: 9-foot butcher block with integrated cooktop and hidden downdraft ventilation
Countertops: Quartz with full-height backsplash
Appliances: Double convection wall ovens
Layout: Galley kitchen, reconfigured for workflow
Storage: Custom cabinetry including roll-out pantry shelving
Timeline: August 20, 2024 – October 4, 2024 (approximately 6 weeks)
Recognition: 2025 REX Award, Kitchen $70,000–$135,000 category (Olympia Master Builders)
Contractor: First Finishers, LLC, Olympia / South Sound, WA
before & after gallery
after
before
