Kitchen Makeovers
Before and Afters
Before and After: 3 Newly Open White Kitchens
See how designers freed these cooking spaces, created connections and even made room for islands
Using white in an open-plan kitchen doubles the dose of spaciousness, as these three kitchens show. But both elements come with their challenges. How do you create a pleasing view from a living space with kitchen appliances in sight? How do you keep a white cooking space from looking sterile or bland? See how these designers rose to these challenges and more, creating open spaces that are beautiful from every angle and feel warm and inviting while having a white-based palette.
After: Using Houzz Pro for spatial planning, Foster Hurd gutted the space, moved a doorway over and eliminated a wall between the kitchen and the living room (behind the fridge in the previous photo). That allowed her to create a more open and efficient kitchen with a four-seater island. (The shorter stool at the island end can be tucked under the countertop for a clear path.)
Creamy maple cabinets and upholstered stools join a light beige ceiling and walls as well as white Taj Mahal quartzite countertops in setting a bright and elegant tone. The gray backsplash, pendant lights and island-end stool provide balance, while wood-look porcelain tile flooring grounds the space in warmth.
Wall and ceiling paint: Canvas Tan, Sherwin-Williams; pendant lights: Goodman in antique nickel, Visual Comfort; counter stools: Dutton swivel, Century Furniture
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Creamy maple cabinets and upholstered stools join a light beige ceiling and walls as well as white Taj Mahal quartzite countertops in setting a bright and elegant tone. The gray backsplash, pendant lights and island-end stool provide balance, while wood-look porcelain tile flooring grounds the space in warmth.
Wall and ceiling paint: Canvas Tan, Sherwin-Williams; pendant lights: Goodman in antique nickel, Visual Comfort; counter stools: Dutton swivel, Century Furniture
Shop for bar and counter stools
This pulled-back shot shows how the kitchen is open to a new eating nook as well as the living room, with a new archway defining the beginning of the latter. And did you notice the symmetrical range wall with its center arch that matches the archway? That’s so there’s an attractive view from the living room.
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“After” photos by Above the Horizon Media
2. Island Dreams
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grandchildren
Location: Grandville, Michigan
Size: 430 square feet (40 square meters)
Remodeling team: Project manager Jessica Crosby and designer Leah Velzen of Delight in Designs
Before: This Michigan couple really wanted an island. They also disliked their kitchen’s inefficient and closed-in G-shaped layout, black countertops and appliances and cramped feel created by bulkheads. Designer Leah Velzen came on board to change everything but the engineered wood flooring, which the couple did like.
2. Island Dreams
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grandchildren
Location: Grandville, Michigan
Size: 430 square feet (40 square meters)
Remodeling team: Project manager Jessica Crosby and designer Leah Velzen of Delight in Designs
Before: This Michigan couple really wanted an island. They also disliked their kitchen’s inefficient and closed-in G-shaped layout, black countertops and appliances and cramped feel created by bulkheads. Designer Leah Velzen came on board to change everything but the engineered wood flooring, which the couple did like.
After: The team took the kitchen down to the studs and extended the footprint 5 feet into the backyard. Generous amounts of white via the perimeter cabinets, ceiling, marble-look countertops and stools establish a bright look while setting off a graphite gray island base and range hood plus light gray backsplash tiles. Black window frames add definition and drama.
The island cabinets in front of the stools are home to coloring books for the couple’s grandchildren, among other items.
Cabinets: Pendleton Shaker door style in Heron Plume and Duet Slim door style in Graphite, Showplace Cabinetry; stools: Aubrey in Trento Eggshell and walnut, Rove Concepts; paint: Revere Pewter (walls) and White Dove (ceiling), Benjamin Moore
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
The island cabinets in front of the stools are home to coloring books for the couple’s grandchildren, among other items.
Cabinets: Pendleton Shaker door style in Heron Plume and Duet Slim door style in Graphite, Showplace Cabinetry; stools: Aubrey in Trento Eggshell and walnut, Rove Concepts; paint: Revere Pewter (walls) and White Dove (ceiling), Benjamin Moore
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
With the peninsula gone, the kitchen is now open to the dining area. A new corner window in the dining area plus corner windows by the range and a larger window over the sink allow the two spaces to share a generous amount of light.
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“After” photos by Kim Lindsey Photography
3. White-and-Wood Scheme
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two kids and two dogs
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Size: 315 square feet (29 square meters)
Designer: Kamila Malewska of Level Up Design
Before: Chopped up, cut off and outdated, this 1995 Florida kitchen was down for a total makeover. The family of four wanted to improve its layout, style, storage and entertaining potential, and designer Kamila Malewska answered the call.
3. White-and-Wood Scheme
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two kids and two dogs
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Size: 315 square feet (29 square meters)
Designer: Kamila Malewska of Level Up Design
Before: Chopped up, cut off and outdated, this 1995 Florida kitchen was down for a total makeover. The family of four wanted to improve its layout, style, storage and entertaining potential, and designer Kamila Malewska answered the call.
After: By removing the peninsula and laundry closet (behind the folding double doors in the previous photo) and taking space from a closed-off dining room, Malewska increased the footprint by 123 square feet. That left room for scads of storage, an island with seating for six and a breakfast banquette to the right of it.
The white island countertop, backsplash tile, and wall, ceiling and trim paint create a radiant base for gray upper cabinets, a maple island base and wooden lower cabinets. To keep the look clean, Malewska used Shaker-style cabinet doors and a paneled refrigerator that’s flush with the surrounding cabinetry. Honey bronze cabinet hardware adds a dash of gleam.
Counter stools: Vail in boucle and walnut, Denver Modern; cabinet hardware: Davenport pulls and Marion knobs in honey bronze, Top Knobs; paint: Anew Gray (cabinets) and Pure White (ceiling and trim), Sherwin-Williams
The white island countertop, backsplash tile, and wall, ceiling and trim paint create a radiant base for gray upper cabinets, a maple island base and wooden lower cabinets. To keep the look clean, Malewska used Shaker-style cabinet doors and a paneled refrigerator that’s flush with the surrounding cabinetry. Honey bronze cabinet hardware adds a dash of gleam.
Counter stools: Vail in boucle and walnut, Denver Modern; cabinet hardware: Davenport pulls and Marion knobs in honey bronze, Top Knobs; paint: Anew Gray (cabinets) and Pure White (ceiling and trim), Sherwin-Williams
The kitchen, dining area and family room now comprise one large open-plan space. And while you can’t see it, a TV and a fireplace are opposite the island, giving the cook a view.
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1. Sweet Creams
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Shawnee, Oklahoma
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Kirby Foster Hurd of Kirby Home Designs
Builder: Bryan Lee Builds
Before: After more than 30 years with the same kitchen, this Oklahoma couple were ready to bid farewell to everything in it: the shallow and basic cabinets, the white tile flooring with dark grout, the black appliances and countertops, and the red wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. Oh, and don’t forget those two odd corner sinks seen in the far left here. The couple brought on designer Kirby Foster Hurd to create an open space with a fresh feel and better storage.
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