Kitchen Design
Kitchen of the Week
Kitchen of the Week: Streamlined Style in 125 Square Feet
A designer maximizes every inch with smart storage and prep space for a retired caterer and his wife in California
Before: As Hillstrom diplomatically puts it, the existing kitchen was “seasoned.” The cabinets were not specially outfitted to maximize storage, and the aesthetic was tired.
The wall on the right was full of pantry storage that was blocky and made the view from the open dining-living area unattractive. And the way the cabinets were set up wasted space in the room’s three corners.
The wall on the right was full of pantry storage that was blocky and made the view from the open dining-living area unattractive. And the way the cabinets were set up wasted space in the room’s three corners.
Light and Airy Transitional Style
To modernize the space and make it brighter, Hillstrom suggested a light color palette of white and gray. She used Sherwin-Williams’ Pussywillow paint on the cabinetry and added glass cabinet doors on both sides of the existing window, making the kitchen feel lighter and more open.
“It was important to my client that we minimize grout lines because it was all about a seamless look in here,” she says. So she extended the polished quartz from the countertops up the backsplash and across the window ledge — “the one place where we added drama with its strong veining pattern,” she says. She also brought in a bit of flair with the pair of pendant lights, which are faceted seeded glass and antiqued brushed nickel.
One of the splurges in the room was a faucet the former caterer really liked. The pull-down satin nickel piece is from Rohl’s Michael Berman Gotham series. The sink is granite composite.
Harambee pendant lights: Sea Gull Lighting; Precis sink in Truffle, Blanco; Brittanica quartz: Cambria; square bar pulls in brushed satin: Top Knobs
Shop for contemporary pendant lights on Houzz
To modernize the space and make it brighter, Hillstrom suggested a light color palette of white and gray. She used Sherwin-Williams’ Pussywillow paint on the cabinetry and added glass cabinet doors on both sides of the existing window, making the kitchen feel lighter and more open.
“It was important to my client that we minimize grout lines because it was all about a seamless look in here,” she says. So she extended the polished quartz from the countertops up the backsplash and across the window ledge — “the one place where we added drama with its strong veining pattern,” she says. She also brought in a bit of flair with the pair of pendant lights, which are faceted seeded glass and antiqued brushed nickel.
One of the splurges in the room was a faucet the former caterer really liked. The pull-down satin nickel piece is from Rohl’s Michael Berman Gotham series. The sink is granite composite.
Harambee pendant lights: Sea Gull Lighting; Precis sink in Truffle, Blanco; Brittanica quartz: Cambria; square bar pulls in brushed satin: Top Knobs
Shop for contemporary pendant lights on Houzz
Here is a closer look at the beautiful veining pattern of the quartz.
Cooking Space Fit for a Professional Chef
Choosing the right range was an important priority for the professional chef, who loves to entertain with his wife. He chose a 30-inch gas range from Wolf. HIllstrom worked with him to figure out the best storage strategies for cooking needs near the range and made sure there was ample prep space around it.
Choosing the right range was an important priority for the professional chef, who loves to entertain with his wife. He chose a 30-inch gas range from Wolf. HIllstrom worked with him to figure out the best storage strategies for cooking needs near the range and made sure there was ample prep space around it.
Smart Storage Solutions
She outfitted a pullout next to the range for cooking utensils, including a knife block. On the opposite side of the range is another pullout for oil, vinegar and spice storage. Two base cabinets with deep drawers accommodate the pots and pans.
Cabinet inserts: Rev-A-Shelf
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She outfitted a pullout next to the range for cooking utensils, including a knife block. On the opposite side of the range is another pullout for oil, vinegar and spice storage. Two base cabinets with deep drawers accommodate the pots and pans.
Cabinet inserts: Rev-A-Shelf
Find a local cabinet pro
The designer reconfigured the pantry wall to make it sleeker and more functional. This appliance garage door beneath the microwave conceals small appliances, minimizing countertop clutter. Another major increase in storage is in the room’s three corners, where Hillstrom installed two half-moons and one Lazy Susan.
In addition to the appliance garage, this former pantry wall contains a built-in microwave and a French door fridge.
Browse modern cabinet hardware in the Houzz Shop
Browse modern cabinet hardware in the Houzz Shop
This area off the entrance to the kitchen has additional prep space that’s handy for setting up serveware and food for the adjacent dining area. Hillstrom added a waterfall countertop to create a nicer view into the kitchen.
Before, the existing linoleum in the kitchen was different from the rest of the flooring. The new floors throughout the first floor of the townhouse are luxury vinyl tile that looks like hardwood. This surface is durable — it can handle scratches from the couple’s two cats and water and cooking spills. With a cork underlayment beneath it, it is softer underfoot than real hardwood.
Smoked Rustic Pine flooring from the Plus HD collection: Coretec
Before, the existing linoleum in the kitchen was different from the rest of the flooring. The new floors throughout the first floor of the townhouse are luxury vinyl tile that looks like hardwood. This surface is durable — it can handle scratches from the couple’s two cats and water and cooking spills. With a cork underlayment beneath it, it is softer underfoot than real hardwood.
Smoked Rustic Pine flooring from the Plus HD collection: Coretec
An Improved Entrance
Hillstrom widened the opening into the kitchen and designed an eye-catching highlight where the dark, looming pantry cabinet had been. The beautiful new bar’s location next to the dining area and out of the chef’s way is convenient. And aesthetically it provides a nice transition between spaces. Over the bar, a clear glass cabinet door puts glassware on display while protecting it from dust. Under the bar is a wine rack.
Cloud White wall paint: Kelly-Moore Paints
Hillstrom widened the opening into the kitchen and designed an eye-catching highlight where the dark, looming pantry cabinet had been. The beautiful new bar’s location next to the dining area and out of the chef’s way is convenient. And aesthetically it provides a nice transition between spaces. Over the bar, a clear glass cabinet door puts glassware on display while protecting it from dust. Under the bar is a wine rack.
Cloud White wall paint: Kelly-Moore Paints
Glass mosaic tile highlighted by undercabinet lighting adds something special to the bar’s backsplash. “My clients loved this tile because its shapes resemble the wine bottles stored below,” Hillstrom says.
Waves backsplash tile in Milk: Raffi Glass
Waves backsplash tile in Milk: Raffi Glass
Before: The side of the pantry cabinet, top right, was unsightly. And the angled upper cabinet in front of the angled wall, bottom left, was not a homeowner favorite.
After: The layout functioned well and didn’t change dramatically, but tweaks like the expanded entry, the bar and the squared-off cabinets in front of the angled wall made a big difference aesthetically. Smart storage like the appliance garage, corner cabinet inserts, deep drawers for pots and pans, and cabinet pullouts greatly improved the way the kitchen functions.
Takeaways
Takeaways
- Lighten up a dark kitchen with glass cabinet doors.
- For a seamless look, extend a countertop material up the walls as a backsplash.
- Think about what you need handy while cooking and plan storage around the range accordingly.
- Make the most of corner cabinet space with Lazy Susans, half-moons or other cabinet pullouts.
- Talk to your designer about how to make a kitchen floor softer for your feet and legs.
- Consider including a well-placed beverage area when planning your kitchen renovation.
More on Houzz
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who uses it: A retired caterer, his wife and their two cats
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 125 square feet (12 square meters)
Designer: Samantha Hillstrom of Next Stage Design + Build
This San Jose, California, couple decided to make a major lifestyle change — move from a house to a smaller townhouse that they had owned as a rental property for years. Before the move, designer Samantha Hillstrom helped them remodel most of the unit. “He was a retired caterer, and she was still working,” she says of the homeowners. “She took on the bathroom remodeling decisions, while the kitchen was the most important space for him to work on with me.”
This was a down-to-the-studs kitchen renovation that stayed within the original footprint. “The kitchen was 125 square feet, and because of the limited size of this floor of the townhouse and structural issues, we had no room to expand,” the designer says. “So we had to be really smart about maximizing storage and prep areas. This included minimizing countertop clutter and having a place for everything.”
The room has a clean transitional look that combines modern minimalist moves — such as extending the quartz from the countertops onto the backsplash — with traditional features like Shaker-style cabinetry.
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