Before and After: 4 Clever Kitchens in 140 Square Feet or Less
Improved layouts, storage and style give these midsize cooking spaces a big boost
A few cabinets, fixtures and appliances might technically constitute a kitchen, but a beautiful heart of the home that’s a joy to cook in and move through? That’s another story — especially if you’re not blessed with the roomiest of spaces. See how designers rescued these four kitchens, all 140 square feet or less, and gave them a happily-ever-after finish. Could any of their strategies work for you?
Before Photo
After: The gut renovation included knocking down walls separating the kitchen from the dining room and a bedroom, then expanding the footprint. Satomi didn’t just pack the extra space with upper and lower cabinets, though. Her savvy storage moves included a sleek floor-to-ceiling pantry, open shelves that add storage and visual interest, and ceiling-grazing upper cabinets.
The fridge now sits just out of frame to the right of the pantry, leaving a clear expanse of flooring for easy movement.
Wall, ceiling and cabinet paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore; cabinetry: custom flat-panel maple by Adam Holm, Pseudo Studio; cabinet hardware: Trinity in flat black, Emtek
The fridge now sits just out of frame to the right of the pantry, leaving a clear expanse of flooring for easy movement.
Wall, ceiling and cabinet paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore; cabinetry: custom flat-panel maple by Adam Holm, Pseudo Studio; cabinet hardware: Trinity in flat black, Emtek
A new island delineates the kitchen while maintaining openness to both the dining area and the backyard — an ideal setup for entertaining. And with their polished high-contrast look, complete with generous swaths of marble, black details and arresting art, the made-over spaces epitomize casual sophistication.
Folding glass doors: Fleetwood Windows & Doors
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Folding glass doors: Fleetwood Windows & Doors
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Before Photo
Photos by Jaclyn Lankiewicz
2. Block Buster
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with an adult son
Location: West Islip, New York
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Jaclyn Lankiewicz of Jaclyn Marie Interiors
Before: Short on countertops and storage and long on outdated finishes — that pretty much summed up this kitchen on the south shore of Long Island, New York. Plus, a four-seat breakfast table was blocking traffic. The homeowners brought on designer Jaclyn Lankiewicz to give the space better flow and a more polished look.
2. Block Buster
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with an adult son
Location: West Islip, New York
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Jaclyn Lankiewicz of Jaclyn Marie Interiors
Before: Short on countertops and storage and long on outdated finishes — that pretty much summed up this kitchen on the south shore of Long Island, New York. Plus, a four-seat breakfast table was blocking traffic. The homeowners brought on designer Jaclyn Lankiewicz to give the space better flow and a more polished look.
After: Gutting the kitchen and taking over a closet under the stairs gave Lankiewicz a blank slate and a bigger footprint. In place of the flow-impeding breakfast table, she brought in a peninsula that adds counter space and storage. But the designer didn’t stop there. On the formerly unused wall, she added an L-shaped run of cabinets with countertops, as well as upper cabinets and open shelves.
In its new recessed home, the fridge is easily accessible and doesn’t cause traffic jams. Another clever design move is at work behind the scenes: Every cabinet has a lazy Susan, so no item gets buried.
Ceiling and trim paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
See How Peninsulas Can Get You More Storage and Countertop Space
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In its new recessed home, the fridge is easily accessible and doesn’t cause traffic jams. Another clever design move is at work behind the scenes: Every cabinet has a lazy Susan, so no item gets buried.
Ceiling and trim paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
See How Peninsulas Can Get You More Storage and Countertop Space
Read more about this project
“After” photos by Meghan Balcom Photography
3. Classic Case
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple and their dog
Location: South Philadelphia
Size: 135 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Sean Lewis of Airy Kitchens
Before: Kindly characterized as a mélange, this South Philadelphia kitchen had hodgepodge “curb treasure” cabinets, a make-do open metal shelving unit and clutter everywhere. A ribbon of odd wallpaper wrapped around the top, and a ceiling fan offered dim lighting. The homeowners asked designer Sean Lewis to create a kitchen with improved storage, in a classic style that would better suit their home.
Shop for kitchen fixtures on Houzz
3. Classic Case
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple and their dog
Location: South Philadelphia
Size: 135 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Sean Lewis of Airy Kitchens
Before: Kindly characterized as a mélange, this South Philadelphia kitchen had hodgepodge “curb treasure” cabinets, a make-do open metal shelving unit and clutter everywhere. A ribbon of odd wallpaper wrapped around the top, and a ceiling fan offered dim lighting. The homeowners asked designer Sean Lewis to create a kitchen with improved storage, in a classic style that would better suit their home.
Shop for kitchen fixtures on Houzz
After: No walls could be moved, but Lewis knocked the space down to the studs and swapped appliance locations to clean up the layout. The smart new design mixes classic elements — historically influenced wallpaper, a checkerboard floor, antique glass for two of the cabinet fronts, unlacquered brass hardware — with modern touches, including stainless steel appliances and a flat-panel radiator with handy hooks.
Wallpaper: Snakeshead in Forest/Thyme, Morris & Co.; countertops: Montblanc, Caesarstone; flooring: honed checkerboard marble in Snow White and Tundra Grey, 12 by 12 inches, Altura Stone & Tile; cabinet hardware: Alno Charlie’s Collection pulls in unlacquered brass, 4 and 6 inches, and Massey knobs in unlacquered brass, Rejuvenation
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Wallpaper: Snakeshead in Forest/Thyme, Morris & Co.; countertops: Montblanc, Caesarstone; flooring: honed checkerboard marble in Snow White and Tundra Grey, 12 by 12 inches, Altura Stone & Tile; cabinet hardware: Alno Charlie’s Collection pulls in unlacquered brass, 4 and 6 inches, and Massey knobs in unlacquered brass, Rejuvenation
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“After” photos by Jenn Verrier Photography
4. Modern Family
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two college-age children who lived there part time and parents who planned to join the household in the future.
Location: Springfield, Virginia
Size: 125 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer-builder: Shelley Vilov (kitchen design) and David Jordan (project manager) of Jordan Design-Build Group
Before: With college-age kids at home part time and two parents planning to move in, this Virginia couple needed a kitchen that multiple people could use at the same time without bumping into one another. They also wanted a cleaner, more modern look sans heavy oak cabinets, awkward corner sink and looming soffits. Designer Shelley Vilov and project manager David Jordan knew just what to do, gathering ideas on Houzz to help the homeowners pinpoint their style.
4. Modern Family
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two college-age children who lived there part time and parents who planned to join the household in the future.
Location: Springfield, Virginia
Size: 125 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer-builder: Shelley Vilov (kitchen design) and David Jordan (project manager) of Jordan Design-Build Group
Before: With college-age kids at home part time and two parents planning to move in, this Virginia couple needed a kitchen that multiple people could use at the same time without bumping into one another. They also wanted a cleaner, more modern look sans heavy oak cabinets, awkward corner sink and looming soffits. Designer Shelley Vilov and project manager David Jordan knew just what to do, gathering ideas on Houzz to help the homeowners pinpoint their style.
Before: Here’s a better view of the corner sink and soffits, as well as the mismatched appliances.
After: Vilov stripped the kitchen, changed its G shape to an L by eliminating the peninsula and added space by expanding into a sunroom. A narrow island adds workspace and provides good flow, while the relocated sink and new stainless steel appliances, including a wall oven with a combo microwave and convection oven above, boost functionality and add gleam.
The space lost a window but gained a walk-in pantry (through the door at back left), fulfilling a dream of one of the homeowners. A new full-height glass door, along with pendants and relocated recessed lights, more than make up for the lost rays.
Knotty alder open shelves above the sink break up the cabinet run and, along with red oak hardwood flooring and a wood island base, warm up the abundance of light-maximizing white.
Wall paint: Drift of Mist, Sherwin-Williams; cabinets: Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry; cabinet hardware: Lombard knobs and pulls in matte black, Franklin Brass; countertops: Frosty Carrina, Caesarstone
Read more about this project
More on Houzz
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Hire a kitchen remodeler
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The space lost a window but gained a walk-in pantry (through the door at back left), fulfilling a dream of one of the homeowners. A new full-height glass door, along with pendants and relocated recessed lights, more than make up for the lost rays.
Knotty alder open shelves above the sink break up the cabinet run and, along with red oak hardwood flooring and a wood island base, warm up the abundance of light-maximizing white.
Wall paint: Drift of Mist, Sherwin-Williams; cabinets: Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry; cabinet hardware: Lombard knobs and pulls in matte black, Franklin Brass; countertops: Frosty Carrina, Caesarstone
Read more about this project
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
1. Cultivating Contrast
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with three kids
Location: San Anselmo, California
Size: 140 square feet (13 square meters)
Designer: Marissa Satomi Design
General contractor: John Paul Coffey of AMG Construction
Before: While this kitchen in a Northern California bungalow functioned fairly well, the entertaining-loving family of five wanted to make more of its potential. More storage, room for congregating and connection to surrounding spaces topped the wish list. The homeowners also asked designer Marissa Satomi to improve the layout so the fridge wouldn’t protrude and to wrap everything up in a cloak of compelling style.
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