Kitchen Design
Before and Afters
Kitchen of the Week: Multigenerational Layout in 125 Square Feet
A design-build team helps a Virginia couple add style and storage to their dated kitchen and create a better flow
Taggart and Stefanie Hansen needed their home to be flexible in the coming years. They’ve got two college-age kids who live at home part time, and the Hansens plan to have Stefanie’s parents live with them in the future. So they bought their 1950s ranch house in Springfield, Virginia, knowing they would make updates to accommodate their multigenerational family.
At the top of their list was a major makeover to the dark G-shaped kitchen and its worn oak cabinets, awkward corner sink and looming decorative soffits. For help, the couple hired kitchen designer Shelley Vilov and project manager David Jordan. Vilov and Jordan reconfigured the layout and added an island, creating a more sensible circulation path that multiple people can navigate at the same time. Viloy and Jordan also gathered ideas on Houzz to help the Hansens define their style. They arrived at a white-and-gray effect for the perimeter cabinets, with a rustic knotty alder island base for a crisp and clean look with a bit of warmth.
At the top of their list was a major makeover to the dark G-shaped kitchen and its worn oak cabinets, awkward corner sink and looming decorative soffits. For help, the couple hired kitchen designer Shelley Vilov and project manager David Jordan. Vilov and Jordan reconfigured the layout and added an island, creating a more sensible circulation path that multiple people can navigate at the same time. Viloy and Jordan also gathered ideas on Houzz to help the Hansens define their style. They arrived at a white-and-gray effect for the perimeter cabinets, with a rustic knotty alder island base for a crisp and clean look with a bit of warmth.
After: Vilov stripped the former kitchen, eliminated the soffits and removed the peninsula. This opened things up and allowed her to fit in a narrow but storage-packed island. She also stole some space from an adjoining sunroom to create a walk-in pantry to the left of the new wall oven.
With the soffits removed, Vilov took the new white Shaker-style upper cabinets to the ceiling to increase storage and visually make the kitchen look taller than it is. “Some of the Houzz inspiration images we saw had the white and gray cabinets with a wood island,” Vilov says. “We also use a 3D rendering to give the homeowners a great visual of the space. We went with white on top to keep things bright and gray on the bottom for a two-tone look.”
Soft white walls with gray undertones (Drift of Mist by Sherwin-Williams) pull the two-tone look together, while matte black pendants, knobs and pulls provide a contrasting detail. New red oak hardwood flooring blends in with the flooring in the dining area. “It’s really seamless, you can’t tell,” Stefanie says.
Cabinet hardware: Lombard knobs and pulls in matte black, Franklin Brass; cabinets: Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry
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With the soffits removed, Vilov took the new white Shaker-style upper cabinets to the ceiling to increase storage and visually make the kitchen look taller than it is. “Some of the Houzz inspiration images we saw had the white and gray cabinets with a wood island,” Vilov says. “We also use a 3D rendering to give the homeowners a great visual of the space. We went with white on top to keep things bright and gray on the bottom for a two-tone look.”
Soft white walls with gray undertones (Drift of Mist by Sherwin-Williams) pull the two-tone look together, while matte black pendants, knobs and pulls provide a contrasting detail. New red oak hardwood flooring blends in with the flooring in the dining area. “It’s really seamless, you can’t tell,” Stefanie says.
Cabinet hardware: Lombard knobs and pulls in matte black, Franklin Brass; cabinets: Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry
Find a kitchen designer near you
Before: In the former kitchen, a corner sink seemed oddly placed. Low-hung upper cabinets created a scrunched feeling. “With the U shape, with the cabinets on both sides, there was no way to fit an island in there,” Vilov says.
After: The improved L-shaped layout allows space for the narrow island, which provides additional workspace and good flow through the kitchen. “We had a really large island in our previous home, so to go from that to an island without seating was hard,” Stefanie says. “But having that seat at the island was one of the most beneficial additions. We went with something low-profile, that you can push in out of the way.”
The team relocated the sink to the left of the fridge to free up room for the entrance to the walk-in pantry.
The countertops are ivory white quartz with powdery gray veining. The design-build team relocated recessed LED lights for more targeted lighting and added undercabinet lighting and 10-inch clear glass-and-iron pendants over the island.
A 30-inch stainless steel combination microwave and convection oven sits above the new wall oven to the left of the new gas cooktop.
Countertops: Frosty Carrina, Caesarstone
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The team relocated the sink to the left of the fridge to free up room for the entrance to the walk-in pantry.
The countertops are ivory white quartz with powdery gray veining. The design-build team relocated recessed LED lights for more targeted lighting and added undercabinet lighting and 10-inch clear glass-and-iron pendants over the island.
A 30-inch stainless steel combination microwave and convection oven sits above the new wall oven to the left of the new gas cooktop.
Countertops: Frosty Carrina, Caesarstone
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The team removed a former window and used space from the sunroom for the new walk-in pantry. “We knew we had that space we could potentially use,” Stefanie says. “Budget-wise, it was really efficient. I’ve never had a walk-in pantry before, so it was one of my dreams.”
The interior side of the island has efficient storage and a paneled pullout for trash and recycling.
A new full-height glass door helps bring in natural light that was lost by removing the window. The door swings into the sunroom to keep traffic flow in the kitchen unobstructed.
Door: Therma-Tru Doors
The interior side of the island has efficient storage and a paneled pullout for trash and recycling.
A new full-height glass door helps bring in natural light that was lost by removing the window. The door swings into the sunroom to keep traffic flow in the kitchen unobstructed.
Door: Therma-Tru Doors
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The backsplash is 6-by-6-inch porcelain tile in a matte white finish with subtle textural pattern. “We wanted to add something with visual interest,” Vilov says. “They fell in love with the idea of the random textured tile.”
The gas cooktop has five burners, with an optional griddle. The stainless 30-inch, three-speed, wall-mount vent hood has a powerful fan that keeps odors and smoke from drifting to surrounding spaces.
Backsplash tile: Oakland Decor in white, 6 by 6 inches, Ivy Hill Tile
Where to Start and Stop Your Backsplash
The gas cooktop has five burners, with an optional griddle. The stainless 30-inch, three-speed, wall-mount vent hood has a powerful fan that keeps odors and smoke from drifting to surrounding spaces.
Backsplash tile: Oakland Decor in white, 6 by 6 inches, Ivy Hill Tile
Where to Start and Stop Your Backsplash
A stainless dishwasher sits to the right of the relocated sink. The lower corner cabinet to the left of the sink has a lazy Susan inside that offers easy access to glass storage containers and serveware. “We also opted to install open shelving above the sink, which provides display space and needed storage without the bulkiness of an overhead cabinet,” Vilov says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The open shelves are made of the same knotty alder as the island, creating a cohesive look.
The upgraded undermount, single-basin stainless steel sink can accommodate large pots and pans. “We knew we didn’t want a double-bowl sink,” Stefanie says. “We wanted one large sink. I think when I talked to Shelley and David, I said I want one where I can soak a lasagna pan.” The pull-down faucet’s matte black finish coordinates with the cabinet hardware and island pendants.
Faucet: Genta in matte black, Moen
Shop for stainless steel single-basin, undermount kitchen sinks
The upgraded undermount, single-basin stainless steel sink can accommodate large pots and pans. “We knew we didn’t want a double-bowl sink,” Stefanie says. “We wanted one large sink. I think when I talked to Shelley and David, I said I want one where I can soak a lasagna pan.” The pull-down faucet’s matte black finish coordinates with the cabinet hardware and island pendants.
Faucet: Genta in matte black, Moen
Shop for stainless steel single-basin, undermount kitchen sinks
Before: Looking toward the dining area from the former kitchen shows how the peninsula and a drop-down lighting feature visually and physically separated the two spaces.
After: The updated layout offers better flow between the kitchen and dining room. A black aluminum pendant with a leather strap hangs over a midcentury-style table.
Pendant: Nordic one-light, Maxim Lighting International
Pendant: Nordic one-light, Maxim Lighting International
Before-and-after floor plans: These floor plans show how changing the modified G-shaped layout (top) to an L-shaped layout with an island (bottom) opened up the kitchen and redirected circulation.
“It makes me happy every time I walk in there,” Stefanie says. “My favorite memory is when the project was done, all six of us were in there cooking for Christmas. It’s a small space, but we were able to maximize it and get high functionality.”
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“It makes me happy every time I walk in there,” Stefanie says. “My favorite memory is when the project was done, all six of us were in there cooking for Christmas. It’s a small space, but we were able to maximize it and get high functionality.”
More on Houzz
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Taggart and Stefanie Hansen. Their two college-age kids live here part time, and Stefanie’s parents will join the household in the future
Location: Springfield, Virginia
Size: 125 square feet (12 square meters)
Design and build: Shelley Vilov (kitchen design) and David Jordan (project manager) of Jordan Design-Build Group
Before: The former kitchen was heavy on basic stained-wood cabinets, decorative soffits and beige tones. Poor lighting made things worse. And the laminate countertops and taupe tile floor that clashed with the nearby wood flooring didn’t exactly exude an upbeat vibe. But the couple knew when they bought the home that they’d be making changes to suit their needs.
“In our home search, we knew we would be remodeling any home we found to accommodate our potential multigenerational living situation,” Stefanie says. “We were looking for a home we could put our fingerprints on.”