Kitchen Opens Up to a Sunroom for Casual Entertaining
Natural and handmade materials bring harmony to a remodeled space with more light and an effortless flow
These Austin, Texas, homeowners love to entertain, but their closed-off kitchen wasn’t supporting the casual gatherings they enjoy hosting. They hired Etch Design Studio, which uses Houzz Pro, and Skelly Build to open the kitchen to the adjacent sunroom and create a layout better suited to the way they cook, eat, gather and entertain.
Interior designer Zoie Young led the project, beginning the design process by asking the owners to share inspiration photos. “They had selected photos that were mostly contemporary and transitional with a little bit of farmhouse thrown in,” she says. “That let me know they would want a touch of classic Texas traditional in there.”
Interior designer Zoie Young led the project, beginning the design process by asking the owners to share inspiration photos. “They had selected photos that were mostly contemporary and transitional with a little bit of farmhouse thrown in,” she says. “That let me know they would want a touch of classic Texas traditional in there.”
Before Photo
After: “Our clients complained that when they entertained in their old kitchen everyone would wind up cramped on one side,” Young says.
To solve that problem, she centered the room around an island that accommodates seating on three sides. The layout establishes an efficient work triangle between the range, sink and refrigerator, allowing guests to interact with the cook without drifting into the primary work zone.
Relocating the laundry room door around the corner freed up space for a range alcove that now serves as the kitchen’s focal point and anchors the island. Young kept the sink and dishwasher on the left side of the room to avoid moving plumbing lines. On the right, the refrigerator and pantry cabinets create a dedicated food storage zone.
To distinguish the kitchen from the sunroom while maintaining visual continuity, Young installed a matching oak beam at the threshold. The beam connects seamlessly to a new white oak bookshelf, strengthening the relationship between the two spaces and creating a graceful transition. A second beam at the rear of the kitchen bookends the room and helps frame the overall composition.
Cabinetry: Skelly Built
To solve that problem, she centered the room around an island that accommodates seating on three sides. The layout establishes an efficient work triangle between the range, sink and refrigerator, allowing guests to interact with the cook without drifting into the primary work zone.
Relocating the laundry room door around the corner freed up space for a range alcove that now serves as the kitchen’s focal point and anchors the island. Young kept the sink and dishwasher on the left side of the room to avoid moving plumbing lines. On the right, the refrigerator and pantry cabinets create a dedicated food storage zone.
To distinguish the kitchen from the sunroom while maintaining visual continuity, Young installed a matching oak beam at the threshold. The beam connects seamlessly to a new white oak bookshelf, strengthening the relationship between the two spaces and creating a graceful transition. A second beam at the rear of the kitchen bookends the room and helps frame the overall composition.
Cabinetry: Skelly Built
The design palette began with the handmade zellige backsplash tile, whose dusty blue and gray tones inspired the mix of finishes throughout the room. Thanks to abundant natural light streaming in from the sunroom, Young felt comfortable embracing darker tones on the cabinetry. Skinny Shaker-style cabinets with 1-inch rails in rift-sawn white oak strike a balance between contemporary and classic, while the wood’s natural grain adds warmth and texture. To keep the space feeling bright and airy, ivory accents appear on the island, range hood, walls and lighting.
Backsplash tile: Gris Perle zellige, Lungarno Ceramics
Backsplash tile: Gris Perle zellige, Lungarno Ceramics
The island measures 4 by 7½ feet and offers generous seating for up to five people. Shallow cabinets beneath the countertop provide storage for less frequently used items.
“Finding the right pendants was a bit tricky in this space because the clients wanted to make a statement but the ceilings are only about 8 feet high,” Young says. “They also didn’t want to block the range wall too much.”
The pendants they chose have a strong presence without obstructing views of the range alcove. Their textured glass shades, inspired by Venetian plaster, echo the finish on the custom range hood.
Counter stools: Palecek; pendant lights: Ralph Lauren Cara, Visual Comfort
10 Dos and Don’ts When Designing a Kitchen Island
“Finding the right pendants was a bit tricky in this space because the clients wanted to make a statement but the ceilings are only about 8 feet high,” Young says. “They also didn’t want to block the range wall too much.”
The pendants they chose have a strong presence without obstructing views of the range alcove. Their textured glass shades, inspired by Venetian plaster, echo the finish on the custom range hood.
Counter stools: Palecek; pendant lights: Ralph Lauren Cara, Visual Comfort
10 Dos and Don’ts When Designing a Kitchen Island
Ribbed wood detailing on the island base and an elegant ogee countertop edge help distinguish the island from the perimeter cabinetry, which has smoother oak surfaces and eased-edge counters.
Throughout the project, the design firm used Houzz Pro software for proposals, selections tracking, purchase orders and invoicing.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Throughout the project, the design firm used Houzz Pro software for proposals, selections tracking, purchase orders and invoicing.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The left side of the room functions as a dedicated cleanup and prep zone, with a large window providing views outdoors. Just beyond the frame is the exterior door the family uses every day. Because the homeowners prefer a shoe-free household, Young incorporated two drawers with rattan inserts at the end of the cabinet run for footwear storage. The caned drawer fronts allow shoes to breathe while echoing a detail found on the home’s exterior door.
The faucet is a contemporary interpretation of a classic bridge design, scaled to suit both the sink and the window. To complement the homeowners’ appreciation for materials that develop character over time, Young specified an unlacquered brass finish. The living finish will naturally patina with use.
Find a kitchen remodeler on Houzz
Find a kitchen remodeler on Houzz
A ledge crafted from the same Mykonos quartzite used for the countertops provides display space. The break in the upper cabinetry introduces a lighter visual element that keeps the extensive wood tones from feeling too heavy.
Two appliance garages feature flip-up doors that slide back and out of the way when open. Equipped with interior outlets, they conceal the microwave, coffee maker and blender, helping keep the countertops free of clutter.
6 Expert Tips for Banishing Kitchen Clutter
6 Expert Tips for Banishing Kitchen Clutter
Located next to a bank of island drawers, the range is surrounded by generous stretches of countertop space that keep cooking essentials close at hand.
To balance the abundance of wood cabinetry, Young incorporated seeded glass upper cabinet doors. The textured glass catches the light and reflects it in a way that recalls the shimmer of the zellige backsplash.
Cabinet glass: OGT Waterglass Fusible, Hollander Specialty Glass
Cabinet glass: OGT Waterglass Fusible, Hollander Specialty Glass
Consolidating food storage along one wall resulted in a striking block of white oak cabinetry. The snack zone allows family members and guests to grab drinks or food without disrupting activity in the main cooking area.
Part of the remodel involved relocating the laundry room door from just beyond this storage wall to a more convenient location off a hallway. Because the move eliminated an organizational area in the adjacent space, Young designed a custom cabinet to the left of the refrigerator. Since the home lacks a formal mudroom, she also added storage cabinets beside it to create a drop zone for tennis racquets, keys and mail, along with a dedicated charging station for electronic devices.
Rather than a traditional seated desk, the wife requested a place where she could stand and manage household tasks. Drawers store letters, invitations and the family calendar, while a cork-lined interior creates display space for her daughter’s latest artwork.
Young says the family now enjoys most of its meals together at the island. The improved layout allows the owners to entertain comfortably without guests feeling crowded, and the thoughtfully planned storage helps keep the kitchen organized and clutter-free.
Young says the family now enjoys most of its meals together at the island. The improved layout allows the owners to entertain comfortably without guests feeling crowded, and the thoughtfully planned storage helps keep the kitchen organized and clutter-free.
Before: The primary work area was confined to the right corner of the kitchen, squeezed between the island and a peninsula. The laundry room, shown at the bottom of the plan, had an entry door that took up valuable kitchen space.
After: The dashed lines indicate the new beams separating the kitchen from the sunroom (center) and the kitchen from the hall (bottom left). With the laundry room door relocated, Young was able to center the range and create generous stretches of cabinetry and countertop space around it.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their young daughter
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 243 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Zoie Young of Etch Design Group
Contractor: Skelly Build
Before: This was the view from the sunroom into the kitchen through a pass-through opening in the wall separating the two spaces. A door to the laundry room sat beside the refrigerator. The remodel removed the entire wall and relocated the laundry room entry to a spot outside the kitchen.
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