Kitchen of the Week: Improved Storage With Timeless Style
Efficient cabinetry, blue-gray tones and an enlarged footprint lighten the look and feel of a formerly cramped space
After working with designer Seashal Belldina on their primary bedroom a few years ago, this couple reached out to her for help in updating their generic white-and-beige kitchen, with the goals of improved function and a timeless, old-world style. Belldina extended the kitchen footprint, adding 44 square feet, to increase storage and work surface and fit in a built-in coffee bar. Custom cabinets in a soft blue-gray finish coordinate with blue-gray quartzite countertops and a blue-gray range. Creamy white zellige-style backsplash tile and refinished wood flooring and other wood details add warmth.
Belldina saw an opportunity to extend the kitchen into a nearby seating area with a fireplace. But this window posed a challenge.
After: Belldina replaced the window with a smaller one set higher up to allow her to enlarge the kitchen by 44 square feet, which helped increase storage and countertop surface.
A roomy new peninsula has seating for four and plenty of prep space on the stylish new Stellar quartzite countertops. “It ties in the colors of the kitchen, and it’s very warm and neutral and doesn’t compete with the range,” Belldina says.
Blue-gray tones in the stone complement custom slim Shaker-style cabinets painted a custom soft blue-gray. Belldina reworked the wall on the left, placing a paneled fridge where a reach-in pantry had been. Cabinets to the right of the fridge now store pantry items and a built-in coffee bar.
Improving the cabinet space allowed Belldina to remove all the upper cabinets on the sink and range walls and run 5-by-5-inch creamy white zellige-style tiles countertop to ceiling. “We wanted to make the space feel more open and airy, so your eye moves around the room,” she says. “We also brought it up to the ceiling because it made the whole space feel larger.”
Stained white oak shelves and range hood detail, mango wood stools with woven banana leaf seats and refinished red oak flooring add warmth. The kitchen has new recessed LED ceiling lights, which were digitally removed from these photos by the photographer to help highlight other design details.
Stools: Largo counter stool, Russet Mango, Four Hands; backsplash tiles: WOW design EU; wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
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A roomy new peninsula has seating for four and plenty of prep space on the stylish new Stellar quartzite countertops. “It ties in the colors of the kitchen, and it’s very warm and neutral and doesn’t compete with the range,” Belldina says.
Blue-gray tones in the stone complement custom slim Shaker-style cabinets painted a custom soft blue-gray. Belldina reworked the wall on the left, placing a paneled fridge where a reach-in pantry had been. Cabinets to the right of the fridge now store pantry items and a built-in coffee bar.
Improving the cabinet space allowed Belldina to remove all the upper cabinets on the sink and range walls and run 5-by-5-inch creamy white zellige-style tiles countertop to ceiling. “We wanted to make the space feel more open and airy, so your eye moves around the room,” she says. “We also brought it up to the ceiling because it made the whole space feel larger.”
Stained white oak shelves and range hood detail, mango wood stools with woven banana leaf seats and refinished red oak flooring add warmth. The kitchen has new recessed LED ceiling lights, which were digitally removed from these photos by the photographer to help highlight other design details.
Stools: Largo counter stool, Russet Mango, Four Hands; backsplash tiles: WOW design EU; wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
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Before: In the former kitchen, a basic stainless steel microwave crowded the space above the standard slide-in range. The stainless steel drop-in sink and dishwasher had seen better days. “They needed more updated appliances that were streamlined and built-in,” Belldina says.
After: A 36-inch blue-gray dual-fuel freestanding range inspired the cabinets and countertops. “We wanted the range to be the star of the show and the rest of the appliances to blend with the cabinetry,” Belldina says. “When the homeowner fell in love with this range, we went back to the drawing board and designed the whole kitchen around it. We were happy to do it because we ended up with a more beautiful design than the first draft.”
Copper accents on the range coordinate with a polished copper apron-front sink. A pull-down bridge faucet in an oil-rubbed bronze finish and knobs and cabinet pulls in a rich chocolate bronze finish add old-world details the homeowners wanted. “I wanted to find a hardware shape and color that would give that blend between modern and an old-world vintage feel,” Belldina says. “There’s also a nice blend between large, sturdy handles and delicate knobs here. When I’m designing a kitchen, I really like to use a mix of those so the kitchen feels thought-out and personalized.”
A 24-inch paneled dishwasher sits to the right of the sink. “Doing paneled appliances in a kitchen this size makes such a huge difference and allows your eye to flow around the room,” Belldina says.
Range: 36-inch Majestic II series in blue-gray, ILVE USA; range hood: Hoodsly; sink: Farmhouse 30 in polished copper, Native Trails; sconce: Katie in bronze, Circa Lighting
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Copper accents on the range coordinate with a polished copper apron-front sink. A pull-down bridge faucet in an oil-rubbed bronze finish and knobs and cabinet pulls in a rich chocolate bronze finish add old-world details the homeowners wanted. “I wanted to find a hardware shape and color that would give that blend between modern and an old-world vintage feel,” Belldina says. “There’s also a nice blend between large, sturdy handles and delicate knobs here. When I’m designing a kitchen, I really like to use a mix of those so the kitchen feels thought-out and personalized.”
A 24-inch paneled dishwasher sits to the right of the sink. “Doing paneled appliances in a kitchen this size makes such a huge difference and allows your eye to flow around the room,” Belldina says.
Range: 36-inch Majestic II series in blue-gray, ILVE USA; range hood: Hoodsly; sink: Farmhouse 30 in polished copper, Native Trails; sconce: Katie in bronze, Circa Lighting
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A hanging brass pot rail with “S” hooks from the cabinetry hardware company also reflects an old-world feel. “I thought it added functionality,” Belldina says. “I didn’t want to break up the wall tile to do an accent tile above the range. It’s also a beautiful accessory.”
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The floating wood shelves on the sink wall display a mix of vintage finds and vintage-inspired dishware and glassware. “We included LED strip lighting recessed into the shelves to illuminate the countertop workspace below,” Belldina says.
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10 Tips for Designing a Kitchen That’s Easy to Keep Organized
Before: Here’s a look at the former refrigerator wall. To the left of the fridge was the reach-in pantry. To the right was a cluttered coffee bar area. “It was all broken up,” Belldina says. “The framing around that wall and pantry also used up a lot of space. Nothing flowed or was as functional as it could be.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: With the new paneled fridge (just out of view to the left) now taking the space of the former reach-in pantry, Belldina added a new pantry cabinet on the left that stores a small microwave. On the right is the built-in coffee bar behind bifold doors. The station includes three shelves and three drawers for coffee and entertaining supplies. “This design gives them more efficient storage and a cleaner walkway to the dining room on the right,” Belldina says.
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12 Creative Coffee and Beverage Stations
Here’s a view of the kitchen from the adjoining refreshed seating area, where the family dog, Lulu, sits. “The kitchen is truly the heart of the home, and we were very excited to create a space for the clients that reflected their style and personality while also adding functionality, space and light,” Belldina says.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young kids and a dog
Location: Peters Township, Pennsylvania
Size: 154 square feet (14 square meters)
Designer: Seashal Belldina of Interiors by Seashal
Before: The former kitchen felt crammed into its 110 square feet. A short peninsula offered little space for prep or eating. Upper cabinets gave the space a heavy appearance without providing efficient storage. “The kitchen itself was really cramped,” Belldina says. “No more than two people could be in there comfortably at the same time.”
Style-wise, the basic white cabinetry, beige tile backsplash and beige countertops created a generic look. “It didn’t match their personal style that they had in the rest of the house,” Belldina says. “They like a mix of modern and vintage. This kitchen stood out as dated and didn’t have any wow factor. They’re a fun, stylish couple with two young kids who like to host and entertain.” A bulky stainless steel refrigerator loomed on one wall.