Sky Blue
Dream
Cramped galley kitchen becomes bright and functional family cooking center.
A Case Study
Before
This family adored their neighborhood and cute, older home, but they hated the dark, cramped, crowded kitchen. No matter how clean it was, it always felt dirty, and it was almost impossible to keep it uncluttered and organized. The layout was awkward and inefficient, with no space to accommodate daily needs such as recycling and dog food. They had no counter space to cook onmuch less places for appliances. The mess was driving them crazy. And, since there was no space in the kitchen - the dining room table became their “storage” space.
While our clients absolutely loved the vintage charm of the house itself, they did not love the 1970’s era stove, rolling dishwasher, and 1980’s refaced cabinets. Between the kitchen always being “a disaster”, not being able to have the family cooking life they wanted, and the daily struggle to get in and out of their chairs in the small adjacent dining room (without spilling food!) - they had hit their breaking point.
After dreaming about it for years, it was time to give themselves a kitchen that didn’t drive them crazy and could improve both their home life and social life.
The Space Challenge
Fixing the flow and function problems within the existing space was the primary challenge in this project. A costly addition was not feasible. The existing kitchen room was odd; it was not wide enough for an island, which they would have loved, but too wide for a typical galley kitchen.
There was also the old breakfast nook – filled with a huge hodge-podge of storage – and the rolling dishwasher. Expanding into other parts of the home was not possible. Even a bump-out addition was not possible. We had no choice but to work within the small space we had.
Story
The
The Solutions
- By arranging the kitchen into work zones, and tweaking typical kitchen layout rules, we were able to maximize both function and flow of the space. First, the inefficient “L” layout was abandoned. Then, the “heavy storage” of the refrigerator and pantry were consolidated into the old breakfast niche. This allowed a long enough run of continuous cabinetry and countertop to arrange the critical functions of sink, dishwasher and range together.
- The extra width of the kitchen allowed the area on the wall opposite the sink to be designed as a secondary prep/cooking/serving zone – almost like a servery or butler’s pantry. With the addition of this secondary space, preparing complicated ingredients and baking is now possible for “many cooks in the kitchen”. The wide room means the work area is just far enough out of the main work zone so multiple cooks don’t collide.
- The glass upper cabinets give the look of a traditional buffet, and this area is used for exactly that during larger gatherings. Although very simple in form, the secondary work area provides multiple functions in addition to giving additional counter space, while maintaining a classical look befitting of the home.
- The connection between the dining room and kitchen was opened, creating continuity and integrating the rooms so that both spaces could work better. The dining area can now easily accommodate guests – and the homeowners themselves – comfortably at the table.
- The light blue color of the cabinets, simple white of the counters, and the bold pattern of the backsplash create a pallete that delicately balances traditional and whimsy. The farm sink, door style, arch shape, and wood floors keep the new kitchen solidly cohesive with the feel of the rest of the home. The beverage fridge and microwave placements allow for younger family members to have easy access to the kitchen functions most important to their daily needs. After
This family absolutely adores their new kitchen. They can now cook together as a family, and friends can hang out while food prep is happening, without anyone being excluded from conversation. New storage options keep everything organized and easy to find. The years-long dream of a kitchen space they could be proud of, that would bring them joy - and that would support daily life and festivities - is finally real.
The Story
After Plans
DN U P U P K I T C H E N D I N I N G P O R C H ( no work ) M ic ro B e v F r dge F ridge D W R a nge
Homeowner Pain Points
§ No counter space
§ No storage
§ 80’s-era look
§ Worn-out cabinetry – drab, dark, dingy
§ No room to comfortably fit more than three people in the dining area
§ Breakfast nook used for garbage, recycling and storage
BEFORE
After: Aesthetic
§ Light and bright
§ Colors and style to fit the home, but with a more modern feel
§ Integration of older features and newer elements
§ Open and inviting
§ Warm wood tones, cute charm
§ Unique touches for personal aesthetic
§ New arch mirrors existing arches keeping the look of the old house
§ Modern look with integrated charm
§ N ew, modern appliances help give the kitchen a fresh, updated look
Aesthetic Structural Enhancements
§ Connecting the dining room to the kitchen with the new, larger opening makes two smallish spaces each feel much larger.
§ Asymmetrical balance was achieved through careful arrangement of cabinetry and appliances. Removing the inside corner arrangement opens the plan, increases usable counter space and allows for a dishwasher.
Open shelf upper cabinets flank the ends of the main work area. This adds subtle texture and helps prevent a towering feeling on the cabinet-heavy wall.
Aesthetic Value:
Glass upper cabinets lighten what could be a very heavy wall of cabinets and set off this area as slightly distinct. The hutch-like quality of the cabinetry reflects the feel and era of the home.
Bold but delicate blue was inspired by the homeowners’ desire to create something special and was instigated from them trusting the design process.
The patterned backsplash tile was a risk that both homeowners embraced – they love it every day!
Aesthetic Value: Appliance choices are sensible with a little flair. The choice of white challenged the trends of today and created a little stir with friends and family. However, the end result is simple elegance that feels fresh while simultaneously referencing a historical pallet befitting the original era of the home.
After: Features & Function
Features
§ Semi-custom cabinetry allowed flexibility for great fit at efficient cost
§ Pull-out recycling & garbage
§ Beverage fridge
§ Under-cabinet lighting
§ Touchless faucet
§ Door added to dining area for better outside access
§ Simple, direct choices to have a big effect in a controlled budget
Functionality
§ Integrated dining & kitchen function
§ Better connection from dining and living spaces
§ More natural light
§ Modern appliances
§ Kitchen layout designed for clearance of appliances -- safety improvements
§ Borrowed circulation means that getting around the dining room is easier.
§ Room for ”many cooks in the kitchen”meets homeowner value of increased family time
Cramped and cut off –the kitchen was isolated from the rest of the home.
AFTER
Connecting the dining room to the kitchen with the new, larger opening makes two smallish spaces each feel much larger. Borrowed circulation means that getting around the dining room is easier.
A plaster arch was formed to match the others in the home. Although simple, this detail anchors and integrates the new kitchen into the original home.
BEFORE
Even though the kitchen was not super small, the layout made everything cramped cluttered. The tight arrangement of the fridge next to the corner made access unwieldy.
The classic window-over-thesink arrangement is not used to advantage and there was no room for a built-in dishwasher. (Owner had suffered with a feisty rolling one for years.)
Craftsmanship:
Asymmetrical balance was achieved through careful arrangement of cabinetry and appliances. Removing the inside corner arrangement opens the plan, increases usable counter space and allows for a dishwasher.
Most window locations were preserved and worked into the new design to control costs.
BEFORE
AFTER
Removing a window that looked out to the piles of coats and boots on the back porch, then grouping the heavy functions of the fridge and pantry, made great use of the previous breakfast nook space. This also kept counter areas open, contiguous and airy.
The small, awkward breakfast nook area had been surrendered to the rolling dishwasher and mismatched corner hutch. Dealing with the clutter and chaos brought this homeowner almost to despair on a daily basis.
AFTER
Added length of kitchen allowed for stove to fit better in the layout.
BEFORE
Microwave and beverage
fridge area allows for multiple kitchen operations to happen at the same time. This area makes good use of the “little too wide for a galley” size of the room.
Keeping it simple with a microwave shelf, rather than a fancy built-in unit, makes it easily accessible to younger family members, gets it off the counter and allows it to be easily (and economically) replaced when needed.
AFTER
Craftsmanship & Materials
Craftsmanship
§ A plaster arch was formed to flawlessly match the other arches in the home. Although simple, this detail anchors and integrates the new kitchen into the original home
§ The semi-custom cabinetry was superbly designed and installed to fit seamlessly
§ Reworking of existing floors for finished look
§ Pristine tile installation that shines
§ Detailed and unique backsplash
§ Walls: squared and trued up to accommodate new features in old house
§ Crown conjunction with ceiling - no angles, sleek and trim
§ Modern features & function fit seamlessly into an old house
§ The added back door in the dining room was placed exactly where the existing window was - so it could still resonate with the rest of the house.
Materials
§ Solid-surface counters – beautiful and durable
§ Glazed tile for easy cleanup
§ High-quality, durable cabinets promise longevity besides beauty
§ All surfaces easy to keep clean and sanitize
§ Wood floors – easy care, classic look
Client Needs
Key Client Needs
§ Better layout
§ More storage
§ Better connection to dining room
§ Improved flow
§ Dining room – bigger
§ Back entry – better
§ Kitchen set up for socializing
§ Easier access to backyard
§ Keep the integrity of the house in new elements
§ Fun, fresh look
§ Modern features
