Kitchen of the Week: Sleek Galley With Warm Finishes
A two-tone cabinet scheme, custom built-in bar and refreshed breakfast room star in this Boston kitchen makeover
Designer Vani Sayeed’s challenge was to transform a bland galley kitchen into a sleek contemporary space that also felt warm and inviting. The result is a kitchen that feels more open thanks to a streamlined layout and hidden appliances and more comforting due to a mix of wood and taupe cabinets. “A modern kitchen doesn’t have to feel cold and sterile,” Sayeed says. “By keeping the sightlines clean and the material palette warm, this kitchen is both contemporary and cozy.”
After: Sayeed removed the half wall to make the kitchen feel more open. “It was already a pretty small space, so removing the half wall was an easy decision,” the designer says. “And by bringing the cabinets all the way up to the ceiling, we didn’t lose any storage space.”
At the beginning of the kitchen remodel, Sayeed encouraged the homeowners to create an ideabook on Houzz to share photos of the different materials and finishes they liked and disliked. “I sometimes learn more from photos of things clients dislike than what they love,” she says. “If I know what they don’t like from the start, I can save time and avoid going down the wrong design path.”
Sayeed gleaned from the photos that the homeowners were drawn to crisp, contemporary lines and warm, earthy materials. As a result, new white oak wood floors replaced the previous white floor tiles. English sycamore cabinets with a horizontal grain and MDF cabinets in a high-gloss taupe replaced the white cabinets.
At the beginning of the kitchen remodel, Sayeed encouraged the homeowners to create an ideabook on Houzz to share photos of the different materials and finishes they liked and disliked. “I sometimes learn more from photos of things clients dislike than what they love,” she says. “If I know what they don’t like from the start, I can save time and avoid going down the wrong design path.”
Sayeed gleaned from the photos that the homeowners were drawn to crisp, contemporary lines and warm, earthy materials. As a result, new white oak wood floors replaced the previous white floor tiles. English sycamore cabinets with a horizontal grain and MDF cabinets in a high-gloss taupe replaced the white cabinets.
Need a pro for your kitchen remodeling project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
The wood cabinets and paneled refrigerator have satin nickel pulls and the upper high-gloss cabinets have low-profile pulls. LED lights below the upper cabinets keep the white quartz countertops well lit at night.
Some of the drawers have custom dividers to keep silverware, spices and cooking utensils organized. “Custom drawers make finding items easier and help to maximize storage, which is essential with a smaller kitchen,” Sayeed says.
Shop for cabinet pulls on Houzz
Some of the drawers have custom dividers to keep silverware, spices and cooking utensils organized. “Custom drawers make finding items easier and help to maximize storage, which is essential with a smaller kitchen,” Sayeed says.
Shop for cabinet pulls on Houzz
The built-in bar along the back wall is made of wood painted in a silver finish to look like metal. Reeded glass cabinet doors let in light but add enough privacy so the glasses inside don’t have to be perfectly lined up. “The bar is a focal point in the kitchen,” Sayeed says. “It’s like a little piece of jewelry that adds a bit of refinement, sparkle and fun to the entire space.”
To the right of the bar, there’s a built-in microwave and an appliance garage that conceals the coffee maker and other small appliances.
To the right of the bar, there’s a built-in microwave and an appliance garage that conceals the coffee maker and other small appliances.
Before: This photo is taken from the family room looking through the opening into the kitchen. The previous kitchen’s range wall included a stainless steel range, hood and refrigerator.
After: The refrigerator is now hidden behind a wood panel and the range hood is wrapped in high-gloss MDF to match the upper cabinets. “Limiting the amount of visible appliances makes the kitchen feel larger by keeping the sightlines crisp and clear,” Sayeed says.
The designer intentionally left some room at the top of the upper cabinets flanking the range hood in order to display a collection of green glass bowls. The backsplash is covered in custom white glass tile.
The designer intentionally left some room at the top of the upper cabinets flanking the range hood in order to display a collection of green glass bowls. The backsplash is covered in custom white glass tile.
The countertop next to the sink features an integrated drainboard that allows the homeowners to let dishes dry directly on the counter without a drying rack. It’s a vintage feature that the designer hopes comes back into fashion. “You see these drainboards in old homes all the time,” Sayeed says. “I’m not sure why they ever went out of style. They’re great for small kitchens because they keep countertops clear.”
Before: The former breakfast room had orange walls, window shutters and a small table that sat four people. “It was a really dark space and not very inviting,” Sayeed says.
After: The designer lightened up the breakfast room by painting the walls a light greige (Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball). She also removed the shutters in favor of woven shades. An airy Nelson pendant light above the table adds a warm glow and a modern touch.
A new built-in banquette provides enough seating for the entire family of five. The banquette cushions are covered in a light blue pinstriped indoor-outdoor fabric. There’s storage underneath the benches that the homeowners use to store table linens and placemats.
The dining table is a custom piece made by a friend of the homeowners.
91 Kitchen Banquettes to Start Your Morning Right
The dining table is a custom piece made by a friend of the homeowners.
91 Kitchen Banquettes to Start Your Morning Right
A hand-drawn floor plan shows the location of the galley kitchen, the opening above the sink that looks onto the family room, and the breakfast room with its new built-in banquette.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three young kids
Location: Boston
Size: 180 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Vani Sayeed Studios
Before: The previous kitchen had tiled floors, white cabinets, black granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. A half wall at the back of the kitchen concealed an open pantry on the other side.
Find an interior designer near you