Before & After: A Chelsea Kitchen Fit for a Pro

When Cara and Jared moved into their Chelsea apartment, they weren’t too excited about the kitchen’s inefficient layout and dated finishes. But the last straw was when the mosaic tiles (the result of a former homeowner’s DIY project) started falling off the wall.

Cara and Jared are both passionate about cooking (he’s a professional chef), and, aesthetic considerations aside, they found that their kitchen just wasn’t sized — or laid out — for two people to work efficiently. For their remodel, they wanted updated fixtures and finishes, but also a kitchen that would work for their lifestyle.

Cara and Jared’s new kitchen has nearly triple the storage space — and a lot more counter space, too. The two counters facing each other mean there’s plenty of room for two people to work at the same time.

The new two-tone custom cabinets by Henrybuilt have grey laminate doors on the bottom and white oak on the top, which, together with the new white quartz countertops give the kitchen a bright, modern feel.

The countertop was chosen for durability and stain resistance — Jared, Cara explained, is notoriously hard on countertops, so hardworking quartz was a good fit for them. On top of the new island is a ‘bar block’ that keeps spices and small items easily within reach.

The new kitchen presents a much more pleasant aspect to the dining room — and it’s a joy to work in, too.

Cara and Jared found their contractor, Evros, through Sweeten, an online resource that connects New York-area homeowners with architects, designers, and contractors. You can read more about the project, see more photos, and find sources on the Sweeten blog.