Before and After: A New Open Layout Helps This Kitchen Maximize Its Gorgeous Views
Whether it’s a mountain home, a lake house, or a beachfront property, a home next to beautiful scenery should match its surroundings. You’d probably never guess from the kitchen’s “before” that homeowner Maggie Greenwood-Robinson’s (Ohcean Style) condo had a view of the water.
“As soon as I walked in the condo for the first time, the view to the water was breathtaking,” Maggie says.
However, the kitchen didn’t quite match that breathtaking view. It was U-shaped and cramped, which made its dark finishes feel extra dark and dated. “The cabinets were from the ’80s and very scratched up,” Maggie says. “The fridge was in an odd space. The floors were an ugly old tile.”
In order to create a space that matches its breezy, beautiful surroundings, Maggie decided to get rid of one side of the U and make a white one-wall kitchen, part of an 11-month, $85,000 renovation of the entire condo.
“I installed a new white kitchen to lighten things up, and this also accented the amazing water view,” Maggie says. “My go-to white paint is Sherwin-Williams’ White Flour 7102. It is amazing and does not have a strong yellow or blue overtone. In my estimation, it is the most versatile white paint.”
Now, the whole condo is white with black accents, and the kitchen is open to the living area. “This necessitated reworking a lot of plumbing and electrical, but it all had to be done,” Maggie says. She hired a remodeling company, a handyman, a window company, plumber, electrician, and a flooring company to do the work. Her best advice, after all that experience in finding and hiring pros, is to budget ahead of time, get three quotes for everything, check out multiple contractors, and most importantly: Don’t rush.
“Above all, remember that a remodel does not go as smoothly as on TV!” Maggie says.
At first, Maggie wanted to install a conventional backsplash in the kitchen, but because everything was shifted to one wall, she wanted to make it look cohesive. “I realized that a backsplash would stick out horribly!” she says. “So I decided to install a white brick accent wall. I’m thrilled with how it turned out. I love, love, love, the openness and lightness of the space.”
The brick extends all the way to the edge of the room — a seamless backdrop for the kitchen and dining areas that helps add to the open flow of the space.
One of Maggie’s favorite parts of the kitchen is the beautiful vintage-look fridge in the corner. “My big splurge was a retro Big Chill fridge,” Maggie says. “I debated as to [whether to] spend the money but decided to go for it! I’m so glad I did! I love retro appliances.”
Maggie’s new kitchen blends retro charm with black, white, rattan, and beachwood — perfect for a boho, beachy condo. Now the view inside is just as good as the one outside.
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