Before & After: An NYC Kitchen Opens Up

The kitchen in Megha’s Midtown West condo had a problem common to lots of older kitchens: it was tiny, and awkwardly walled off from the rest of the living spaces in her apartment. After living with a less than ideal floorplan (and a falling-apartment bathroom) for nine years, Megha decided it was time for a change — and embarked on a renovation that would dramatically change the look and feel of her apartment.

You might have to do a double take to convince yourself it’s the same apartment. Megha chose to tear down the wall between the kitchen and the living room and between the living room and the entryway, creating one big, uninterrupted space. This also allowed the kitchen to expand dramatically, and incorporate a huge island that has become the entertaining center of the home.

After a little research, Megha decided on custom cabinet bases with IKEA Sektion doors and pulls, paired with grey Ceasarstone cabinets with waterfall edges. The countertop wraps almost seamlessly around the gas pipe, a (inevitable) design feature that gives the kitchen a bit of an industrial touch.

The marble backsplash tile (which was laid in a herringbone pattern) was a bit of a splurge, but it adds a touch of subtle luxury to a modern space. One of Megha’s favorite features is the cabinets that extend into the dining room to become a seat with extra storage underneath. (You can see this on the left in the photo above, and also up top.) A white-stained wood floor completes the transformation — Megha’s cramped kitchen is now a spacious, open, thoroughly modern space.

Megha found her contractor, Alastor, through Sweeten, an online resource that connects New York-area homeowners with architects, designers, and contractors. You can read more about the renovation and see more products and sources on the Sweeten blog.