I like it but it seems too dark

I am a-swoon and a-flutter. that is the swankest kitchen ever.

I don't really see how this kitchen has been opened up. In fact, the dark cabinets tend to make it feel more claustrophobic.

Why is there no such thing as a counter depth refrigerator, except from high high end manufacturers???!!!

I love the combination of the green tiles as a backsplash with the cabinets and the gray floor tiles. It looks awesome.

The after is very dark. I'm also not wowed by the tile versus the wood floor. The after is objectively great, and well done, but just not my style.

@dirkish, i totally agree about the counter depth refrigerator comment! it makes me so mad...

Some similar choices to my recent remodel. I have the same cabinets (IKEA, I assume?) and color glass backsplash tile (mine are 1x6" tiles).
Heck, my before cabinets were the same too :)

Nice improvement, although the photo makes it appear a little dark.

Beautiful.

yes this is a new style for sure. I love the green color in a kitchen.
We will add it http://superhyperlink.blogspot.de/

Overall I like it (very similar to mine, actually) but I question the decision to extend the backsplash on to the walls. It adds nice color, but somehow it feels disconnected to me. Perhaps it could be framed somehow with some schluter, bullnose or accent trim?

I have a counter-depth refrigerator which is a Samsung. It's one of those fridge-on-top, freezer-drawers-on-the-bottom models, and, combining coupons+sales, came out to (I believe) under 1K. While that's kinda pricy, it's definitely nowhere near what I would consider high-high-end!

The green is nice, but not really feeling it against the dark grey/black floor.

Also, why not go with a counter-depth fridge or move it to the opposite wall so the window isn't blocked partially? It doesn't make any sense.

It's overall, an improvement, but could have been thought out better.

I think it's fantastic! I love the darker cabinets and flooring. The green really pops out among the darker colours and the lighting is well done. Nice job!

If you look at one of the other photos on the linked project page you can see the cupboards are that medium brown ikea has so I don't think they're as dark as the images suggest. I think it was just the time of day and photographing into the light that makes it look really dark... that being said it the photos do look cave-ish

Getting rid of the knee walls does make it feel not so confined in the small space.

I like the green tiles but the portion that extends tot he window makes me really uncomfortable. It should have either stopped at the end of the counter or if you extend it to the window then the painted portion of the wall below should be tiles as well.

So many things to like. The recessed lighting, task lighting, floor-to-ceiling cabinets (my god, storage is always so tight!) and those lovely, lovely glass tiles! My dream kitchen is more Hampton's White (I know, cliché, right?) but I know a good other thing when I see it. Purdy.

I too think the "after" looks much darker and more closed in than the "before." I'd also be concerned that the acidic green, while au courant at the moment, will make the kitchen look dated faster than it otherwise would with a less idiosyncratic color tile.

The products are beautiful, but the kitchen looks dark and closed in to me. I have a very tiny U-shaped kitchen. I own my duplex half, garages separate our units. The kitchens are on the garage sides, so there are no windows. I remodeled my kitchen several years ago. I purposely chose light cabinets, counter tops, and white appliances to "open" the space and make it look larger and brigther. My choices may not be the most updated in materials, but it works for my little space. I also had a hole knocked in the garage wall so the refrigerator could be recessed in the "box" and therefore the same depth as the cabinets. It cost $1000 to do that, but to me it was worth every penny to make my little space look more streamlined. I also chose a fridge and dishwasher with integrated handles to create the illusion of streamlined built-ins. I opted for no knobs or handles on the cabinets. Each person has his/her own ideas for kitchen designs. I just happen to think mine is great for a small space!

Funny, my house has the same "before" countertops - am eager to change them. I'm really into white kitchens right now though. I like the after but cherry is on my no no no list. I do LOVE the new countertops though, and that green tile.

dark, and that outlet right above the sink, is a total NYC code violation.

Agree with the darkness concerns, but that green has been a favorite color of mine for a while now and I'm happy that it's more readily available currently in decor options.

Well, it certainly didn't get lightened up at all. The tiles are fun. It probably suits the folks that live there, but it certainly does look pretty dark.

Oh, and the floor is beautiful...

Not my taste, but definitely an improvement.

I don't understand the placement of the fridge, though. It seems to do more to cut off the kitchen than those half-walls did. I'd put the fridge where the stove is so it wouldn't be blocking out the window.

That is a sexy kitchen, wow!

Looks nice, albeit a little dark for my taste. With a tiny kitchen like that I would have probably went lighter (white) to help make it open up even more.

I LOVE it! I think the dark color makes it sexy, and the green adds sophistication. I don't think it's a trendy color that will bore you soon, but something that will make you smile every time you see it.

I think it looks fantastic. If you pop over to The Sweeten site, the two additional photos help show that it isn't that dark (the first photo is definitely deceiving when it comes to showing the true color of the cabinets). I would like to see even more photos as I do think it's been opened more than we can tell. The green tiles should never go out of style. Those would look stunning in just about any kitchen, IMO. The floor is a personal style/taste choice but looks well done just like the rest of the room. And I'm not bothered by the fridge since not everyone can afford the higher end models.

Love the backsplash.

Counter-depth fridges are not limited to the higher-end manufacturers! We have one in our kitchen and, while it was more expensive than standard depth (don't even get me started...) it is just a plain ol' Frigidaire. Refrigerators that stick out into the kitchen are such a pet peeve of mine.

That said... I actually love the color choices here. I don't know that the kitchen actually feels any bigger, but it definitely is sophisticated, and the taller cabinets will definitely increase the available storage space. I really dig the green tiles, too.

I actually liked the before. And I like the after. They are both very nice - totally different - but I could live with either.

After feels fresh and new, but makes the space feel darker and more crowded. If they had put the fridge where the stove is like @sherriatric suggested or had gotten the cabinet flush fridge the transformation would be more of a "whoa".

I think only once have I been impressed with any of "the Sweeten" work posted. Most of their stuff never feels or looks well thought out.

when, oh when will ikea sell their counter depth, fully integrated fridges in the US?

I love the color palate, especially the green backsplash. If a kitchen can be sexy, this one is. However, I agree that some of the dimensions are weird. The fridge is huge and distracting.

Awesome! I think bringing the backsplash around to the window was such a nice touch.

It's not just Ikea, the 60 cm deep fridge, stove, dishwasher, washing machine thing is standard. I like that. I was wondering, if the massive fridge were in the corner by the stove -- where it so obviously should be -- could you get by with tiling the side of it to blend it with the backsplash? It might offer a bit of green subway camouflage for that puppy. It sure would be nice to look out the window.

I dont know if it opens it up, but I definitely say it more modern. awesome job!

The materials are very elegant, but I agree that the giant fridge crowds the room. In this situation, it would have been worth it to splurge on a freestanding Liebherr or even a less expensive Summit, to preserve the openness. I would also have installed the floor tiles horizontally to visually widen the room.

I love it all except the fridge bulge (now that everyone hase mentioned it). I particularly applaud the extension of the green tiles to embrace the whole room. It was a risk, and I find it intriguing in a good way. Helps that the green is so gorgeous.

rock and roll! looks awesome!

I might be the only one, but I much prefer the 'before'.

i think it's beautiful. i would have tiled the entire wall that the window is on.

I like it - the little drop-down countertop between the sink and the window is a clever solution to that particular layout problem. It comes up a lot in NYC kitchens. But I have to say that the outlet over the sink did give me pause. Water and electricity don't mix.

I really like the way the green tile wraps around to the window. Again, I think it's a clever solution to a funny layout problem. True, you could've tiled the whole wall, but that's a lot of tile and a wall of green tile would be kind of boring. Plus, with the sheetrock wall above the tile you can more easily hang artwork or some kind of shallow rack.

Don't care for the green tile, but in every other way, this kitchen is vastly improved. Very well done!

It looks precisely the same as before with different colors and better appliances. The green backsplash is a complete miss to me. I think the band of green going around the room makes it feel any bigger at all.

I think it looks great, but now the window looks bare and unloved in comparison.

Well Done! I think it's gorgeous! I especially love the floors although I am a hardwood floor girl. I love the charcoal gray/slate gray floor tile look in the brick pattern. Would you let us know the manufacturer/source?

Enjoy your kitchen!

Vastly improved! But Im with the "fridge has gotta go" crowd.I hate the way it sticks out.

I agree with the sexy comment. Fantastic reno from drab (or student-ok) to gorgeous.

It doesn't look more open, but hey its a really nice NYC kitchen. And I really love the green tile.

Someone complains above about the difficulty of finding counter-depth refrigerators that don't break the bank. If you're willing to go smaller on a fridge, you can get one that is, in effect, counter depth, though that's not how they're advertised, and the price can be quite reasonable. I did it. LG makes one that's 10 cubic feet with the freezer on the bottom. If you can't live without an automatic ice-maker or water in the door, it's not for you. But you can get a counter depth, titanium fridge for $550-850, depending on the vendor and delivery options. I compromised on the ice maker but stayed well under budget, and the fridge looks great in its setting.

Counter-depth fridges are great if you don't care about how many cubic feet you get for the extra cost. Spending more and getting less for 6" or so? Meh.

I like the remodel!

I like this very much, it's a huge improvement!

It's clean and their taste, so I think it's great (for them). I do think these kitchens with dark wood, glass tile and stainless appliances, etc., are going to look dated in a few years. I see a lot of them.

Am I missing how this kitchen was actually "opened up?" Was a wall torn down?

I respect the style of it, but personally not a fan of that backsplash tile wrapping around.

I love the colors you used. The green for backsplash is gorgeous; I love it. Also, the color chosen for countertops attract more light giving the impression of more space. Congrats!
We’re looking forward for your next home projects. In the future, I suggest you try Bondera Tile MatSet to install backsplashes or countertops.

Every project on here has at least one "I like the before" perosn it's ok.

the "after" look its nice, IMHO it best to add exhaust fan near the stove wall side, to avoid smell, but its good enough since it apartment design kitchen set, take a look at here