This “Tired” 1940s Kitchen Gets a Gut Reno That’s Inspired by Greece

Kitchen renovation ideas can come from all over — Pinterest boards or nostalgic memories, or touring other inspiring homes. In architect and fragrance developer Carlos Huber and plastic surgeon Andrew Timberlake’s colorful New York City apartment, they looked abroad for design ideas. And when they found the location to inspire their kitchen, they knew it was the right choice.

“Greece! I wanted it to be navy blue and white,” Carlos says of the kitchen’s design inspiration. “I picked the backsplash, the Roman shade fabric with the striped blue and white, and Andrew and I found the artwork and the terracotta acroterion that’s on the top shelf in Hydra and Athens, [Greece].” 

When the couple moved in, the kitchen appeared to have not been updated since the 1940s. Black-and-white tiles lined the floor, while a floral and tea kettle-themed wallpaper was peeling off of the walls. There were somewhat updated appliances, but overall, the room reflected a bygone era. 

As an architect, Carlos was up for a project, and the rest of the apartment was being renovated, too. The couple had almost everything in the kitchen professionally gutted and redone, noting how in love they were with the home. “It was a diamond in the rough, the type of apartment you need to dedicate yourself to renovate,” Carlos says. “A real West Village gem ready to be polished.”

Carlos spent six months redesigning the kitchen, then it took a year to construct it. Almost every aspect of the room changed, and the most daring new aspect is the deep blue Benjamin Moore paint on the cabinets. It perfectly complements the blue and white tiles that line the backsplash. 

The color palette is what Carlos loves most about the room, but there are some other special details, too. “It’s got plenty of light, an easy layout, and where there used to be a dumb waiter now we have a mirror,” Carlos explains. To see more of their stunning home, visit the full house tour on Apartment Therapy.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: Bold Blue Cabinets Add Drama to This “Tired” 1940s Kitchen