Before & After: An Expanding Kitchen Renovation

This 80’s kitchen was in need of updated appliances, cabinetry, and an overall space adjustment. By taking extra space from adjacent rooms, the kitchen was opened up into a light and bright gourmet chef’s workplace. Check out the difference after the jump…

Although it may not look like it from the before photo, this kitchen was very dark and narrow. There was extra space in the bedrooms on both sides of the kitchen that allowed for the walls to be pushed out in order to add some extra square footage to the width of the kitchen. The additional space allowed for larger appliances, extra storage, and seating at the center island to be installed in this kitchen.

The pendant lights were one of the biggest headaches of the project. It started with 3 simple clear glass pendants, which were all broken by a very clumsy electrician. With a deadline and the replacement glass pendant covers six weeks out, new mercury glass pendants were selected from Anthropologie.

Open shelving is very trendy and often it makes up too much of the storage space in kitchens these days. While it is nice to display some of your best dishes and accessories, the average homeowner wants lots of storage to hide ugly kitchen appliances. This kitchen added in a nook of open shelving for only the best kitchenware, while still leaving plenty of covered storage for even the most prolific chef.

Sources:
Cabinetry: Kraftmaid
Countertop: Carrara Marble
Refrigerator: Sub Zero
Cooktop and Oven: La Cornue
Bar Stools: Lee Industries
Pendant Lights: Anthropologie

(Images: Claire Bock)