When our clients moved into this South Philly rowhome, their immediate goal was to create an efficient kitchen with a high wow! factor. Formerly a rental property, the home was saddled with a small galley kitchen with little prep space, a lack of storage and no seating area for hanging out. A partially structural wall separated the kitchen from the rest of their living area.

Firstly, we knocked down as much of the wall as possible in order to create a u-shaped "working" area; then we redesigned the storage area to include 3 pantries and a refrigerator. Finally, we incorporated a raised bar with seating which also improves the visual flow from the living and dining room to kitchen.

Excited about the functional layout, our clients wanted to have some fun with the palette of the kitchen; the rest of the living area is decorated with a tasteful mid-century aesthetic and they wanted the kitchen to be a playful surprise. From the living and dining room, the view is of the classic grey pantries, simple white tile, raised cherry countertop with the vibrant concrete tile floor giving a hint of what lies ahead. Upon entering the kitchen, one is greeted with bright blue-green base cabinets, light maple veneer wall cabinets, a bright Seneca quarry tile backsplash, and the pièce de résistance: a banana yellow Ilve range.

Using a two drawer dishwasher allowed us to position it perpendicular to the sink for easy loading. Custom panels blend it with the rest of the cabinetry. The white quartz countertops offer a clean visual break, while the quarry tile in mosaic form for the backsplash reinterprets a classic material and provides richness. Finally, the black faucet and hardware ground the entire palette.