Kitchen of the Week: Casual Elegance With Ample Room for a Chef

“After” photos by Jeff Baumgart of Baumgart Creative Media

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Sterling, Massachusetts
Size: 156 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Ruth Bergstrom of Kitchen Associates

Before: The kitchen prior to the remodel was “plain Jane,” Bergstrom says — honey oak cabinetry, white appliances and laminate countertops with a short backsplash. A two-level angled peninsula with a sink and dishwasher created awkward corners and dead space. The location of the sink was also a problem. “They hated that you had to walk back and forth across the room from the sink to the stove,” Bergstrom says. “It’s also not safe because they have a 2-year-old grandchild running around.”

The appliances and available work surface weren’t sufficient for a former chef. The microwave over the range didn’t offer proper ventilation. A small wood table and chairs under a row of windows overlooking the backyard were an attempt to make up for the lack of seating at the peninsula. “They wanted to have more seating at the peninsula,” Bergstrom says. The red oak hardwood flooring was about the only thing worth keeping, but even that needed updating.

After: Bergstrom got rid of the old appliances, cabinets, countertops and backsplash. She rejiggered the appliance and sink layout, moving the latter over to the former location of the range and shifting the new range over. “Because the husband is such a good cook, this gave him better counter space and made it easier to get to the sink,” Bergstrom says. The new fridge now stands across from the range.

Bergstrom replaced the two-tiered peninsula with a longer, more streamlined L-shaped peninsula that added seating and work surface. The interior end of the peninsula, shown here, has a 27-inch-wide cabinet with dual rollouts for storing casserole dishes, plastic containers and small appliances.

The maple cabinetry has a custom soft gray paint with subtle green and blue undertones that become more pronounced at different times of the day. “She was stuck on what to do for color,” Bergstrom says. “This color really brought the kitchen to life.” The cabinet color complements a warm greige for the walls (Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore) and updated flooring refinished in a richer tone with a hint of gray. A long wood console table that replaced the small table and chairs beyond the peninsula provides display space for plants and collectibles.

Cabinetry: Thompson door style, Brighton Cabinetry; trim paint: Atrium White, Benjamin Moore

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A 30-inch slide-in smart induction range has two ovens and options for air frying and steaming. The 30-inch wall-mounted stainless steel hood above has LED lighting and a powerful fan that keeps smoke and odors under control. Polished marble-look quartz with bold veining form the countertops and backsplashes. Large slabs behind the range and sink create grout-free surfaces that are easy to wipe down.

Backsplash and counters: Matterhorn, HanStone; hood: Siena wall-mounted, Zephyr

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Before: In the former kitchen, the homeowners appreciated the wide doorway to the formal dining room but thought that a storage closet on the left took up valuable wall space that could be used for more storage and an improved appliance layout. “It wasn’t practical, and aesthetically it didn’t look like it belonged,” Bergstrom says.

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After: Bergstrom relocated the new fridge to the former storage closet area. That allowed her to expand work surface and cabinetry along the range wall and sink wall. The sink is a workstation model with accessories for draining, straining and chopping. A pro-style single-handle kitchen faucet in brushed nickel complements the stainless steel appliances. A polished brass sconce coordinates with the bronze cabinet hardware and a wall-mounted antique brass rack between the sink and range that has hooks for hanging kitchen utensils. A trash and recycling pullout sits to the right of the sink.

Hardware: Serene Eden knob and Serene center-to-center handle, both in Honey Bronze, Top Knobs

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Backless stools with wood frames and upholstered seats provide seating on two sides of the L-shaped peninsula. Metal dome pendant lights in a distressed white finish add character. The kitchen also includes undercabinet lighting over task areas and relocated LED recessed ceiling lights.

The doorway at the back of this photo opens to a remodeled mudroom that coordinates with the updated kitchen. Some of the old kitchen cabinets were painted and repurposed for use in the mudroom.

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This view shows how the updated peninsula creates an easy connection with the family room. “The renovation gives them more of an open concept,” Bergstrom says. “That other peninsula blocked the kitchen in.”

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A stainless steel smart counter-depth French door refrigerator now sits on the wall once occupied by the storage closet. The refrigerator has a sleek, uninterrupted exterior and Wi-Fi connectivity. A tall pantry cabinet to the right has heavy-duty wood rollouts for dry goods. The upper cabinet has vertical partitions for cookie sheets, pans and trays. A built-in stainless steel microwave drawer sits to the left. “This project shows that even a small, plain kitchen can become a beautiful, warm and functioning kitchen,” Bergstrom says.

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