Before & After: A Dark Galley Kitchen Sees The Light

Lindsay and Tim’s New York apartment had a lot going for it: 9 foot ceilings, windows on three sides, a plum location on Central Park West, and a very spacious (for New York) footprint of 1,500 square feet. The layout, however, left a little bit to be desired. The main area was split between a living room and a rather unnecessarily large dining room, while the kitchen was completely separated from the living space. In planning their renovation, Lindsay and Tim envisioned a new look for their kitchen — but they also wanted a space that would work better for their needs, too.

The reconfigured floor plan of the apartment brings together the living room and the dining room, and sections off part of what was once the living room as a third bedroom. There were also a few floor plan changes to the kitchen: the new one is open to the foyer, which makes it feel more spacious, and there’s a pass-through to the dining room. What was once a closet is now a powder room, so that guests don’t need to walk through a bedroom to use the bathroom.

Besides the layout changes, the kitchen also got a complete overhaul, with custom white cabinets and a stainless tile backsplash that help to open up the narrow space. (I’m particularly partial to the angled open shelving on either side of the window above the sink.) The slate grey floor tiles add a touch of contrast, and the new washer/dryer is a particularly welcome addition.

Elsewhere in the kitchen, a wine fridge underneath the bar helps to supplement the smaller counter-depth fridge. The pass-through connects the kitchen to the dining/living room, and brings light into the space.

New additions to the living room include the bar, and a new built-in wine storage rack. The sliding glass doors lead to the new bedroom. Tim and Lindsay’s new home is beautiful and bright — but most importantly, it’s also a much improved space for entertaining, or just for every day.

Lindsay and Tim found their contractor on Sweeten, a free service matching homeowners with local general contractors. You can read more about the project, see more photos, and find sources on the Sweeten blog.