Kitchen of the Week: European Flair in 96 Square Feet

“After” photos by Roberto Garcia of R / G Photography

Kitchen of the Week
Who lives here: A couple who moved to Los Angeles from Europe
Location: Burbank, California
Size: 96 square feet (8.9 square meters)
Designer and builder: Jonathan Litinsky of Metropolis Drafting and Construction

Before: The kitchen remodel was part of a whole-house renovation. “This little bungalow had undergone a renovation in the 1990s that made it feel more like a starter apartment than a house,” Litinsky says. “I wanted to modernize it and add personality.”

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One the homeowners’ must-haves was a seating area, which Litinsky provided along half of the peninsula. The long peninsula was the key to making this design work; it separates the spaces while maintaining an open feeling. The Caesarstone quartz waterfall counter gives it a sleek look, while walnut wood and a stylish wine rack provide a pretty view from the entry and living room.

A row of four pendant lights over the peninsula also contributes to the nice view. The perforated metal shades filter the light and throw interesting shadows around the room.

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Before: “We knew we would be losing a wall of cabinets when we opened [the kitchen] up, so we needed to make up for that space,” Litinsky says. He created as much countertop and storage space as possible while keeping an open and airy feel. “In this kitchen, it wasn’t just about using every square inch, it was about using every cubic inch,” he says.

After: Appliance placement and smart storage were key to creating a meticulously clean-lined design. Litinsky packed the peninsula and the back wall with cabinets. Deep drawers in the lower cabinets offer more efficient storage than the previous lower cabinets with doors did. Litinsky also made the dead space in the back-left corner accessible through a cabinet door. There are shelves inside.

The designer tucked the range and dishwasher along the back wall, blocking the view of them from the living room.

The uninterrupted countertop around the stove maintains the pleasingly sleek look. “By separating the stove and oven units, we were able to keep the countertop continuous,” Litinsky says.

The upper cabinets combine walnut wood and frosted glass. The black frames around the glass cabinet doors play off the windows. They also incorporate the vent hood in a streamlined way. “This is a very neat unit. When [the homeowners] are cooking, they can extend the hood out 10 inches, then push it back in when they are done,” the designer says. When pushed in, the hood is flush with the surrounding cabinets.

Vent hood: Pisa 30-inch undercabinet, Zephyr; cooktop: Profile series 30-inch built-in electric, GE

The counters extend into two appliance garages that flank the fridge. These keep the countertops clutter-free and maximize countertop workspace.

The slab-front cabinetry and sage green paint color are elements Litinsky has seen more of in Europe than in the States. “I’m starting to see this type of cabinetry more often in Los Angeles lately, but traditional white Shaker style has dominated for the past 10 years,” he says. Like him, the homeowners also had moved to Los Angeles from Europe and appreciated the aesthetic. The clean lines and nature-inspired color add a relaxing vibe.

Cabinet paint: Secret Path, Benjamin Moore

The new flooring throughout the house is a waterproof laminate that looks like thick-plank European oak hardwood.

Flooring: laminate in Natural Valley Oak, Egger

Here’s a peek at the living room from the kitchen.

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