Kitchen of the Week: Space-Saving Tricks Open Up a New York Galley
A raised ceiling, smaller appliances and white paint help bring airiness to a once-cramped Manhattan space
Big-city dwellers are used to living in small spaces. But they also know a few tricks for making things feel a little more spacious. Faced with a stifling muddy-toned kitchen with a low ceiling and a window that had been painted over so many times, it wouldn’t open, German couple Daniel and Claudia Mahler exercised some clever moves to make their space more open. Working with designer Cecilia Dupire, they reconfigured the layout, raised the ceiling a foot, added a smaller refrigerator and used lots of white paint for a bright and airy atmosphere.
Before Photo
AFTER: Designer Cecilia Dupire of Cezign raised the ceiling a foot and stripped away molding to gain as many inches as possible. She also got rid of the large, bulky refrigerator. “We decided to rethink appliances and really figure out how much they actually use,” Dupire says.
She replaced it with a smaller concealed fridge with two freezer drawers on the opposite wall. The reconfiguration allowed room for one of the key additions to the kitchen: a custom eat-at table designed by Dupire with a red oak veneer that complements the existing red oak floor. Antique chairs from the late 19th century were found online. “I wanted to add a sculptural contrast to the otherwise sharp lines,” Dupire says. “They also introduce a sense of time to the space.”
Above the table hang colored magnetic glass panels created by a small company in Germany that act as a piece of art but also give the family a place to post photos or messages.
Soft white paint on the ceiling, walls and upper cabinets maximizes the feeling of space. A pale green paint covers the lower cabinets.
Paint by Farrow & Ball: All White (walls, ceiling and upper cabinets) and Mizzle (lower cabinets)
She replaced it with a smaller concealed fridge with two freezer drawers on the opposite wall. The reconfiguration allowed room for one of the key additions to the kitchen: a custom eat-at table designed by Dupire with a red oak veneer that complements the existing red oak floor. Antique chairs from the late 19th century were found online. “I wanted to add a sculptural contrast to the otherwise sharp lines,” Dupire says. “They also introduce a sense of time to the space.”
Above the table hang colored magnetic glass panels created by a small company in Germany that act as a piece of art but also give the family a place to post photos or messages.
Soft white paint on the ceiling, walls and upper cabinets maximizes the feeling of space. A pale green paint covers the lower cabinets.
Paint by Farrow & Ball: All White (walls, ceiling and upper cabinets) and Mizzle (lower cabinets)
The restained red oak floor with a mahogany inlay adds character and warmth.
The new Glacier White Corian counters and backsplash blend for a peaceful, continuous look and also make a great backdrop for flowers.
The polished flat-panel white oak cabinets create a sleek look. A series of 3-inch square recessed lights with trim provide general illumination, while undercabinet lights offer task lighting over the work areas.
Cabinet hardware hinges: Blum; cabinet pull on concealed dishwasher: Omnia; recessed lights: WAC Lighting
The new Glacier White Corian counters and backsplash blend for a peaceful, continuous look and also make a great backdrop for flowers.
The polished flat-panel white oak cabinets create a sleek look. A series of 3-inch square recessed lights with trim provide general illumination, while undercabinet lights offer task lighting over the work areas.
Cabinet hardware hinges: Blum; cabinet pull on concealed dishwasher: Omnia; recessed lights: WAC Lighting
A new single-pane window has replaced the inoperable one, and sits flush to the countertop. Its sill expands the counter space just a bit.
The new single-basin undermount stainless steel sink is smaller than the sink the family had before, but big enough to accommodate pots and pans and deep enough to hide a stack of dirty dishes.
A lower cabinet conceals a dishwasher to the right of the sink.
Sink: Blanco; concealed dishwasher: Bosch; window: Skyline Windows
The new single-basin undermount stainless steel sink is smaller than the sink the family had before, but big enough to accommodate pots and pans and deep enough to hide a stack of dirty dishes.
A lower cabinet conceals a dishwasher to the right of the sink.
Sink: Blanco; concealed dishwasher: Bosch; window: Skyline Windows
The new induction cooktop has a recirculating downdraft vent hood hidden in the counter that rises with the push of a button. “I really like it, and my husband and two boys love the downdraft,” Claudia says. “They feel like we have a Star Wars kitchen.”
The cooktop and downdraft vent hood allowed the designer to incorporate as much storage as possible.
Cooktop and downdraft vent: Bosch
The cooktop and downdraft vent hood allowed the designer to incorporate as much storage as possible.
Cooktop and downdraft vent: Bosch
Deep drawers provide user-friendly storage for everyday dishes and pots and pans around the cooking area.
A 24-inch combination microwave and speed oven sits in the new pantry wall that once was occupied by a small breakfast table. The small, compact appliance made sense for the busy city family. “It’s big enough to roast a chicken or cook two or three trays of appetizers for a cocktail party,” Dupire says.
Microwave-speed oven combination: Miele
Microwave-speed oven combination: Miele
This photo shows the roomy cabinet under the oven, with roll-outs for storage of bottled water, tea and other beverages.
A pullout two-sided pantry holds cereal, condiments, pasta and rice.
This photo shows the bedroom hallway off the new kitchen. “When you come in from the cramped, busy streets of the city, you have something that is light and feels light,” Claudia says.
See more Kitchens of the Week
See more Kitchens of the Week
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Daniel and Claudia Mahler, their sons, Vincent and Victor, and their chocolate Lab, Millie
Location: New York City
Size: About 110 square feet (10.2 square meters)
BEFORE: Like many city kitchens, the previous galley was long and lean, with a low ceiling and a small dining table at the end (opposite this view) that felt isolated. The mostly beige space, busy and muddy-toned stone counters and bulky refrigerator added to the cramped feel. And the window was so old and had been painted over so many times, the Mahlers couldn’t open it.