Before and After: A Sparkly Purple Kitchen Goes All “Blue Steel”
A family of four—including a former professional chef—made the most of this kitchen for four years, but they were eventually able to totally transform the room. Farewell to the “sparkly purple laminate countertops and faded store-bought cabinets” and hello to a gorgeous new gathering space that’s perfect for cooking.
Impressed, but confused? The stove is where the radiator used to be, and the unnecessary yet obtrusive door has been replaced by a window; the other windows have been replaced as well. The infamous countertops are now stainless steel (something I highly recommend after working in a pastry kitchen with stainless counters for three years), and the ordinary metal sink is now a fireclay showpiece. Just as the stainless counters are a refreshing element, the counter-to-ceiling subway tiles use a familiar material in a graphic way, all photographed beautifully by Erin Little.
Thanks to the extra wall of cabinetry on the left, this renovation actually added storage space—something that’s not usually the case when cupboards are replaced by open shelves.
Those purple counters were really purple, weren’t they? Here’s how Block Brothers Cabinets, who handled the renovation, described their work:
Where the new Bertazzoni range is was a massive radiator and a stairway to nowhere. The old back door was tucked in the corner, making half the room unusable as far as kitchen space is concerned.
After gutting the entire room, we used the existing framing as best we could, while adding three new windows and all new insulation.
The end result features our shaker cabinetry with each door and drawer individually fit to its opening, all painted in a matte Dunn Edwards “Blue Steel.”
That paint color is wonderful! The grey-blue works so well with all the stainless steel elements while contrasting wonderfully with the white ones. Speaking of stainless, that’s possibly the prettiest dishwasher I’ve ever seen. It’s so elegant and streamlined.
The refrigerator used to be down the hall; this new spot seems a bit more convenient. The pipes are lovely, and they coordinate perfectly with the black light fixtures and drawer pulls. It’s so nice when a necessary, functional element adds beauty!
Thank you, Erin Little Photography and Block Brothers Cabinets!