Before & After: Barrin’s (18 Years in the Making) Updated Kitchen

Some people like to live in their homes a little while before renovating them, to get a feel for the space and figure out what they want. Before embarking on his kitchen renovation, Barrin took plenty of time; he’s lived in his Carroll Gardens condo for 18 years.

The appliances had been slowly replaced over the years, but the almost 30-year-old cabinets had definitely seen better days. Barrin was also looking for a kitchen that would provide him with a little more storage and make better use of the (quite ample, for New York!) space in his kitchen. It was time for a change.

Barrin considered IKEA cabinets as a money-saving solution, but the u-shaped kitchen’s ducts and counters made working with standard sizes difficult. So instead he opted for a semi-custom solution, with cabinet bases ordered from a dealer and custom shaker-style doors. The floor tiles have all the sturdiness of porcelain with the look of wood, and the warm tones in the granite complement the space’s gorgeous exposed beams and ceiling.

By removing a partition wall at the left side of the kitchen (which you can see in before photo #2 above), Barrin’s contractor, Evros, was able to add quite a bit of storage space to the kitchen. The double-height countertop was extended to allow for more prep space on the kitchen side and more bar space on the living room side. Evros built a custom endcap with storage for Barrin’s cookbooks.

The backsplash is made from glass tile over a painted background; alternating clear and frosted glass tiles adds a subtle bit of extra texture. It’s the perfect finishing touch to a beautiful new space.

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