Before & After: A Compact Green Kitchen Renovation

updated May 6, 2019

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Name: Stephanie Rearick and Jon Hain
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Years lived in: 20

Stephanie and Jon had wanted to redo the kitchen in their 680-square-foot Madison home for 18 years. They knew the space was sad; as it was, there was little storage and workspace, cabinet doors didn’t close, and the room lacked any and all personality. Then they saw that, thanks to a grant, a local green-building consulting firm was offering design plans at a discount. The result: a kitchen with improved functionality and a look as fresh as a blue sky on a sunny day. See all the after photos below!

(Image credit: Therese Maring)

Stephanie and Jon were already living the green life when they decided to renovate their kitchen. Living on a bike path, they walk or cycle to their workplaces. Both are leaders in non-profit “time bank” organizations that allow members to exchange services through mutual credit programs. They are also small business owners, so thinking about efficiency, sustainability—and tight budgets—comes naturally.

Madison Environmental Group drew up plans for making better use of the couple’s tight kitchen space. Stephanie and Jon took it from there, adapting things and executing the work with help of talented craftspeople.

While the footprint didn’t change, everything else did. A solar tube now lets in sunshine. Recycled glass tiles make a bright blue-and-white backsplash. Cabinet doors were crafted out of salvaged windows. Wood flooring came from Habitat ReStore.

A few creative touches add even more personality. Jon turned a bike wheel into a pot rack, and trompe l’oeil molding brought character to a boring back door. An Apartment Therapy post inspired the dish-drain shelf over the sink. And a savvy carpenter had the idea to set the Sun Frost fridge back into the wall to gain extra floor space.