Kitchen of the Week
Kitchen Design
Kitchen of the Week: Storage Galore With a Light and Bright Style
A designer leans on hardworking custom cabinets to help a young couple add fresh style and get organized
With two young daughters, this busy couple craved a kitchen that looked and felt organized all the time. For help they hired designer Yolanda Badia, who created tons of new cabinets with all kinds of storage features — a pullout for trash and recycling, pullouts for oils and spices, a lift-up mechanism for an air fryer, rollout pantry shelves, two appliance garages and even a dedicated paper towel holder in the cabinetry. Meanwhile, a fresh color palette featuring white cabinets, white countertops, white backsplash and a bank of light gray cabinets and warm wood details gives the updated space a clean, orderly look.
After: Badia kept and refinished the flooring but eliminated the old appliances, cabinets, tile, countertops and other elements. She then updated the plumbing and electrical and added a new ventilation line.
A mix of cabinet looks defines the new space. White cabinets (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore) form a U-shaped layout. A few solid white upper cabinets join a unit with glass-panel fronts and side. Floating wood shelves interspersed between the upper units offer display space and a touch of warmth, as does a custom wooden hood, also lending an airy look. A wall of cabinetry on the left has a light gray paint (Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore) and an upper run of glass-front cabinets.
Badia took the cabinets to the ceiling to maximize storage. She even placed cabinets on the back side of the new extended peninsula. “I didn’t use pulls there; instead they have a touch latch,” she says. “The family can store seasonal items and extra cooking items there.”
While the cabinet exteriors beautifully enhance the look of the kitchen, the clever interior storage components greatly elevate the function, as you’ll see below.
Cabinetry: AB Furniture Refinishing; stools: Sede in Toscana Tan, Article; wall paint: Reflection, Sherwin-Williams
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A mix of cabinet looks defines the new space. White cabinets (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore) form a U-shaped layout. A few solid white upper cabinets join a unit with glass-panel fronts and side. Floating wood shelves interspersed between the upper units offer display space and a touch of warmth, as does a custom wooden hood, also lending an airy look. A wall of cabinetry on the left has a light gray paint (Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore) and an upper run of glass-front cabinets.
Badia took the cabinets to the ceiling to maximize storage. She even placed cabinets on the back side of the new extended peninsula. “I didn’t use pulls there; instead they have a touch latch,” she says. “The family can store seasonal items and extra cooking items there.”
While the cabinet exteriors beautifully enhance the look of the kitchen, the clever interior storage components greatly elevate the function, as you’ll see below.
Cabinetry: AB Furniture Refinishing; stools: Sede in Toscana Tan, Article; wall paint: Reflection, Sherwin-Williams
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The backsplash tiles are porcelain in a matte white finish with a gray undertone. They’re set in a herringbone pattern. “They have some texture and variation, and they’re not flat,” Badia says. “They look almost white in the photos, but they’re white with a gray undertone. It’s also very important for me when I design my kitchens to eliminate all the outlets on the backsplash. We placed the electrical outlets on the bottom of the upper cabinets.”
The countertops are polished marble-look quartz. “They wanted something very clean, fresh and white with veins, but nothing with a dramatic look,” Badia says. “I spent a lot of time to make sure the backsplash, countertop and wall cabinet above matched up exactly.”
Backsplash tile: Totalook, Giovanni’s Tile Design
The countertops are polished marble-look quartz. “They wanted something very clean, fresh and white with veins, but nothing with a dramatic look,” Badia says. “I spent a lot of time to make sure the backsplash, countertop and wall cabinet above matched up exactly.”
Backsplash tile: Totalook, Giovanni’s Tile Design
A 32-inch undermount near-black single-bowl sink in a granite composite has a smooth, nonporous surface that resists chips and scratches. “The black is because we wanted contrast for the white counters and cabinets,” Badia says.
A smart matte black pull-down kitchen faucet has a magnetic wand docking system and tap on-off technology.
Brushed brass cabinet pulls add warmth to the cool palette.
Sink: Granite single undermount in Anthracite, Blanco; faucet: Odin SmartTouch in matte black, Brizo
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A smart matte black pull-down kitchen faucet has a magnetic wand docking system and tap on-off technology.
Brushed brass cabinet pulls add warmth to the cool palette.
Sink: Granite single undermount in Anthracite, Blanco; faucet: Odin SmartTouch in matte black, Brizo
Shop for kitchen sinks and faucets
Pullouts on either side of the new 30-inch gas convection range hold spices, bottles of oil and rolls of foil. “All of the insides of those pullouts are custom-made for the family,” Badia says.
Range: 30-inch five-burner gas convection range, KitchenAid
10 Tips for Designing a Kitchen That’s Easy to Keep Organized
Range: 30-inch five-burner gas convection range, KitchenAid
10 Tips for Designing a Kitchen That’s Easy to Keep Organized
To the right of the range is a trash and recycling pullout and an integrated paper towel dispenser drawer. “All my customers are asking for this,” Badia says. “This way they don’t have to have the paper towels out on the counter. The kids can get to it, and everything looks clean. They have a way to store extra rolls of paper towels behind the front one.”
A cabinet with a lift system sits to the right of the sink, offering easy access to the air fryer. “We have extra space under the shelf for all the accessories,” Badia says.
A lower corner next to it holds dividers for cookie sheets and baking pans.
The glass-paneled upper cabinet stores wine glasses that guests can access without entering the kitchen. “We did something special there because we didn’t want to block views,” Badia says. “It’s an accent piece that’s glass from top to bottom. It’s part of the kitchen but it functions for when they’re socializing with friends. You’re opening it where the stools are, not when you’re in the kitchen.”
A lower corner next to it holds dividers for cookie sheets and baking pans.
The glass-paneled upper cabinet stores wine glasses that guests can access without entering the kitchen. “We did something special there because we didn’t want to block views,” Badia says. “It’s an accent piece that’s glass from top to bottom. It’s part of the kitchen but it functions for when they’re socializing with friends. You’re opening it where the stools are, not when you’re in the kitchen.”
Before: The former kitchen’s refrigerator wall lacked adequate storage and organization. “They had short cabinets above the refrigerator they couldn’t even reach,” Badia says.
The slim reach-in pantry on the left had metal shelves that didn’t hold items very well. “They didn’t like it at all,” Badia says.
The slim reach-in pantry on the left had metal shelves that didn’t hold items very well. “They didn’t like it at all,” Badia says.
After: Badia upgraded the wall with streamlined new cabinetry surrounding a counter-depth fridge. “Having the refrigerator in the center now means it’s not blocking people going through,” Badia says. “They now also have access to the overhead cabinets.”
A cubby holds a microwave. Glass cabinets help break up the wall, and the light gray paint adds a subtle yet stylish bit of contrast to the white finishes used elsewhere in the kitchen. “This gray has a greige hint to it,” Badia says. “It makes everything feel connected and it all flows together.”
A cubby holds a microwave. Glass cabinets help break up the wall, and the light gray paint adds a subtle yet stylish bit of contrast to the white finishes used elsewhere in the kitchen. “This gray has a greige hint to it,” Badia says. “It makes everything feel connected and it all flows together.”
This new pantry cabinet, and the one above it, include rollout shelves that bring assorted dry goods within easy reach.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A white-and-brass pendant light hangs over a breakfast area (a table and chairs were added after this photo was taken) and coordinates with a pair of 20-inch pendants over the peninsula. “We wanted to work with a dramatic look and a wow factor,” Badia says. “Having two for that space of the peninsula gave us that drama and character we wanted.”
A new coffee station sits on the left.
Pendant lights: Gavin one-light (peninsula) and Lamar three-light (breakfast area), Savoy House
A new coffee station sits on the left.
Pendant lights: Gavin one-light (peninsula) and Lamar three-light (breakfast area), Savoy House
The coffee station features cabinets that coordinate with those on the refrigerator wall. A dual-zone beverage fridge stores sodas, milk, juice and wine.
A pair of appliance garages keeps small appliances hidden when not in use. “This kitchen adds functionality,” Badia says. “They have more counters for the kids, and everything is more organized than before.”
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A pair of appliance garages keeps small appliances hidden when not in use. “This kitchen adds functionality,” Badia says. “They have more counters for the kids, and everything is more organized than before.”
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 young couple with two daughters, ages 6 and 8
Location: Alpharetta, Georgia
Size: 260 square feet (24 square meters)
Designer: Yolanda Badia of YB Interiors
Before: The former kitchen layout worked for the couple, but the space lacked adequate cabinet storage and countertop surface.
Plus, the couple felt the dark granite counters, beige tile backsplash and basic white cabinetry didn’t make for an inviting style. The red oak flooring was the only thing worth keeping.