Patterned Tile Showcases an Open Kitchen’s New Minibar
A couple’s kitchen update puts the focus on entertaining by inviting guests in for a drink
Allison McLeay
February 6, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Fitness & style enthusiast, interior design guru, writer, wannabe photographer. Read more posts from me at https://thealnatural.com/
Houzz Contributor. Fitness & style enthusiast, interior design guru, writer, wannabe... More
“After” photos by John Shum
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple who recently had their first baby
Location: San Leandro, California
Size: 300 square feet (27.8 square meters)
Designer: Karen Nepacena of Destination Eichler
After the recent arrival of their first child, this fun-loving couple bought a 1940s ranch-style house. They wasted no time making it their own by starting a renovation of the whole house.
Kitchen goals. The couple loves to host cooking contests and game nights with friends, so it made sense to tear down a few walls to create an open space. They also wanted to build in hosting features such as a minibar and island seating.
The home had been updated within the last 10 years but was dark and closed off, with individual small spaces for laundry, living and cooking. They opened up the wall that was between the kitchen, seen here, and the dining room. It took five months for them to complete the remodel.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple who recently had their first baby
Location: San Leandro, California
Size: 300 square feet (27.8 square meters)
Designer: Karen Nepacena of Destination Eichler
After the recent arrival of their first child, this fun-loving couple bought a 1940s ranch-style house. They wasted no time making it their own by starting a renovation of the whole house.
Kitchen goals. The couple loves to host cooking contests and game nights with friends, so it made sense to tear down a few walls to create an open space. They also wanted to build in hosting features such as a minibar and island seating.
The home had been updated within the last 10 years but was dark and closed off, with individual small spaces for laundry, living and cooking. They opened up the wall that was between the kitchen, seen here, and the dining room. It took five months for them to complete the remodel.
Minibar. The minibar takes the couple’s entertaining abilities to the next level, designer Karen Nepacena says. And because it’s such an important part of the remodeled kitchen, she wanted to make it pop. “Tile is one of my favorite materials to make a space unique,” she says.
She knew the clients didn’t fear the bold, so she chose this handmade pattern that meshed well with the old-feel tone of the rest of the house. They had considered using more of the tile, but in the end, limiting the tile usage saved money and made the minibar stand out.
Pro tip: This tile is not for someone in a rush, because each piece is made by hand, Nepacena says. The tile took six weeks to be made and a couple of days to be installed. “It takes a lot of trial and error to make these tiles fit seamlessly,” she says, because each piece is unique. But if it works with your timeline and you like it, it may be worth the effort.
Tile: Kasbah Trellis, Fireclay Tile; cabinet hardware: Bowman, Rejuvenation
See how to make a freestanding beverage bar
She knew the clients didn’t fear the bold, so she chose this handmade pattern that meshed well with the old-feel tone of the rest of the house. They had considered using more of the tile, but in the end, limiting the tile usage saved money and made the minibar stand out.
Pro tip: This tile is not for someone in a rush, because each piece is made by hand, Nepacena says. The tile took six weeks to be made and a couple of days to be installed. “It takes a lot of trial and error to make these tiles fit seamlessly,” she says, because each piece is unique. But if it works with your timeline and you like it, it may be worth the effort.
Tile: Kasbah Trellis, Fireclay Tile; cabinet hardware: Bowman, Rejuvenation
See how to make a freestanding beverage bar
Before. This corner of the room, before it became the minibar, stored pots, pans, dog supplies and other kitchen supplies.
After. A sleek minibar, complete with a 24-inch-high wine fridge and a sink, allows the couple to easily make drinks for guests — or let them mix their own.
Its placement over to the far side of the room also ensures that no one is in the way of the cook when preparing a cocktail before dinner.
Pro tip: Before ordering cabinets, Nepacena measured the couple’s liquor bottles to make sure they would fit inside the new cabinetry.
Browse wine fridges
Its placement over to the far side of the room also ensures that no one is in the way of the cook when preparing a cocktail before dinner.
Pro tip: Before ordering cabinets, Nepacena measured the couple’s liquor bottles to make sure they would fit inside the new cabinetry.
Browse wine fridges
Backsplash. To keep the focus on the fun tile over in the minibar area, Nepacena chose a plain white tile to use for the rest of the kitchen’s backsplash.
Island. Zooming out from the minibar, you can see the large island with barstool seating on one side. By knocking down the walls and making the space open, the couple could install this large island and move the range over to it. To accomplish that, the design team had to run new gas lines and venting. But all the changes were worth it because they allow the couple to be in the center of the kitchen during events, and others can help with meal prep if they want.
Pro tip: If you think a hood coming out of the middle of the ceiling obstructs the view or is visually unappealing, Nepacena wouldn’t suggest a stove on the island.
Cabinets. To add airiness to the kitchen, Nepacena put translucent glass fronts on a few upper cabinets. The material allows you to somewhat hide what’s behind the doors while still visually breaking up all the cabinetry. The rest of the cabinets are made of walnut.
Pro tip: The cabinets don’t reach all the way to the ceiling to give a little breathing room and add a sense of height.
Cabinets: Semihandmade
Island. Zooming out from the minibar, you can see the large island with barstool seating on one side. By knocking down the walls and making the space open, the couple could install this large island and move the range over to it. To accomplish that, the design team had to run new gas lines and venting. But all the changes were worth it because they allow the couple to be in the center of the kitchen during events, and others can help with meal prep if they want.
Pro tip: If you think a hood coming out of the middle of the ceiling obstructs the view or is visually unappealing, Nepacena wouldn’t suggest a stove on the island.
Cabinets. To add airiness to the kitchen, Nepacena put translucent glass fronts on a few upper cabinets. The material allows you to somewhat hide what’s behind the doors while still visually breaking up all the cabinetry. The rest of the cabinets are made of walnut.
Pro tip: The cabinets don’t reach all the way to the ceiling to give a little breathing room and add a sense of height.
Cabinets: Semihandmade
Before. The previous kitchen had the sink in the corner by the windows. From here, you can also see where the stove used to be.
After. During the remodel, Nepacena moved the sink out of the corner and reduced the amount of upper cabinetry by the sink.
Lighting. The couple loved all the natural light in their new open kitchen. Because of that, Nepacena decided against installing window treatments, allowing the light to flood in. They added recessed lighting overhead to brighten the room at night.
Windows. They replaced the windows for energy efficency and added new trim with more detail. Outside the window, the couple is working on a landscaping project. When complete, they will be able to watch their child play outside from the kitchen.
Sink. To tackle big party messes, the couple requested a large farmhouse sink with a tall faucet.
Countertops: black soapstone
Browse farmhouse sinks
Windows. They replaced the windows for energy efficency and added new trim with more detail. Outside the window, the couple is working on a landscaping project. When complete, they will be able to watch their child play outside from the kitchen.
Sink. To tackle big party messes, the couple requested a large farmhouse sink with a tall faucet.
Countertops: black soapstone
Browse farmhouse sinks
Rug. Under the sink, Nepacena added a small rug, which increases the comfort level for those standing at the sink doing dishes. It’s durable and washable, she says, for the inevitable spills in this area of the house.
Laundry. Behind the two doors painted with gray chalkboard paint, you’ll find the family’s laundry machines. The client thought of the idea to paint the doors with chalkboard paint, Nepacena says. That detail makes use of the space and will give their child a place to play in the future when the parents are in the kitchen.
Rug: West Elm
Laundry. Behind the two doors painted with gray chalkboard paint, you’ll find the family’s laundry machines. The client thought of the idea to paint the doors with chalkboard paint, Nepacena says. That detail makes use of the space and will give their child a place to play in the future when the parents are in the kitchen.
Rug: West Elm
Flooring. The two different flooring materials help visually divide the kitchen from the living room.
The small hexagon tiles are found in lots of San Francisco hotel lobbies, and Nepacena felt it was the perfect addition to the space.
The small hexagon tiles are found in lots of San Francisco hotel lobbies, and Nepacena felt it was the perfect addition to the space.
The small white tiles run into the living room’s cork flooring, which they picked because it’s durable and soft underfoot.
The design team spent a lot of time making small cuts in the cork with a saw to create this organic-looking edge. “I love how it’s the same height and includes no trim or seam,” Nepacena says.
Tile: Metro hex in matte white, Merola Tile
The design team spent a lot of time making small cuts in the cork with a saw to create this organic-looking edge. “I love how it’s the same height and includes no trim or seam,” Nepacena says.
Tile: Metro hex in matte white, Merola Tile
After. The open room makes the dining area a bright, inviting space. To let in more light, the couple opted for no window treatments on this large window.
Kitchen table. The client, who is also an engineer, designed and crafted this table himself.
Chairs: Eames molded plastic dowel-leg side chair, Design Within Reach; light fixture: Alto Compass, Cedar & Moss
More
Read more kitchen stories
Hire a kitchen professional
Find kitchen and dining products
Kitchen table. The client, who is also an engineer, designed and crafted this table himself.
Chairs: Eames molded plastic dowel-leg side chair, Design Within Reach; light fixture: Alto Compass, Cedar & Moss
More
Read more kitchen stories
Hire a kitchen professional
Find kitchen and dining products
Related Stories
New This Week
4 New Kitchens With Wonderful Wood Cabinets
Pros share how they used various wood species, styles, stains and details to create warm and welcoming kitchens
Full Story
Kitchen Backsplashes
30 Bold and Beautiful Range Backsplashes
Get ideas for eye-catching tile and stone backsplashes inside stove alcoves and behind cooktops
Full Story
Kitchen Design
7 Essential Features of a Well-Designed Kitchen
Make sure your new kitchen not only looks good but also functions beautifully
Full Story
Kitchen Workbook
How to Map Out Your Kitchen Remodel’s Scope of Work
Help prevent budget overruns by determining the extent of your project, and find pros to help you get the job done
Full Story
Kitchen Storage
Foolproof Storage Solutions for Corner Kitchen Cabinets
By tidgboutique
Consider Lazy Susans, pullouts and more to maximize storage
Full Story
Trending Now
The 10 Most Popular Kitchens So Far in 2024
Get inspired by the warm neutral palettes, ample storage and inviting islands in these most-saved new photos on Houzz
Full Story
Houzz TV
5 Trends for Kitchen and Bath Products in 2024
See fascinating new features for showers, tubs, faucets and more launched at the 2024 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show
Full Story
Kitchen Backsplashes
Where to Start and Stop Your Backsplash
By tidgboutique
Consider these designer tricks to work around cabinets, windows and other features for a finished look in your kitchen
Full Story
Kitchen Workbook
How to Find Your Kitchen Style
If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, here’s how to find inspiration and start narrowing down your choices
Full Story
Kitchen Design
15 Stylish Kitchen Range Hood Ideas
Get ideas for hood shapes, sizes and looks that can elevate a kitchen’s design while ridding it of bad air and odors
Full Story
I love everything about this kitchen, and it was so well-planned for the way the homeowners function in here. Those cabinets are so pretty, the bar is cool, and there is such a pleasing balance of the materials/colors. I definitely would like an invite to game night!