This 1930s Kitchen Undoes a ’90s Makeover — Beautifully

Designer Sarah Storms of Styled by Storms likes a challenge, and the gut reno of this New Jersey 1933 Colonial Revival cook space certainly fit that bill. “This kitchen was dark and dated,” says Storms of the space, which, at just 100 square feet, qualifies as quite tiny (at least by suburban standards). Size wasn’t the only issue, either. “The layout had very poor flow — with four doorways [to other parts of the home] breaking up every corner.”

A very ’90s reno also didn’t do the room any favors. Honey brown wood cabinets and dark red clay tiles made the space look dated, while some of the other design choices didn’t prioritize function. “Even with high ceilings, the cabinets were short,” says Storms. “There was little to no storage.”

When she first met her clients, the design brief was clear. They wanted “a beautiful space to cook in, but also a beautiful space for people to gather at an island,” Storms says. 

By lightening, brightening, and upping the functionality of the room, she’d create the family’s dream kitchen — in the exact same small footprint. The project would just take careful planning and a little creativity.

Once the demo was complete, Storms kicked her design plan into high gear. She had her contractor rebuild the room from the ground up with a new configuration that prioritized both cabinet and prep space as well as a more logical flow. 

In terms of cabinetry, a large counter-to-ceiling cabinet was worked into the scheme for countertop appliance storage, while a pull-out spice rack and oil storage area was incorporated inside one of the cupboards. “Taking the cabinets all the way to the 9-foot ceiling also was a great addition,” says Storms.

She worked to subtract the wonky stairs and doorways clogging up the space. “The biggest layout change came from removing the stairs into the kitchen,” she says. “Closing that door added so much more usable space and a corner for an ‘L’ shape layout. It also allowed us to move the stove to the other side of the room and lay out the cabinetry differently to fit in more cabinets.” This tweak also made it possible to add a mudroom and closet — features that weren’t possible before.

That wasn’t all in terms of flow, though. “The other major change was we moved the dining room entry door down the wall closer to the basement door to create a place to tuck in the pantry and refrigerator,” says Storms. “These two changes, together, completely changed the flow of the entire first floor for the better.” 

With the layout problems solved, it was time for appliances, finishes, and fixtures. The walls and cabinets got a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore’s White (​​OC-151), set off by a WOW Tile backsplash. “While the color is white, it has a light coolness to the color, which makes it even more interesting and not a stark white kitchen,” says Storms of the backsplash. Quartz countertops round out the classic monochromatic look.

The family went with all-new stainless steel appliances. Playing off of that silvery finish, Storms suggested chrome Top Knobs hardware and a Kohler faucet. The pendants are by Hudson Valley Lighting, and the undermount sink is Z Line. To tie the walnut herringbone wood floors in with the rest of the space, Storms worked a little open shelving moment into the mix. 

“While we didn’t keep anything from the old kitchen, we did make a special space for my client’s grandmother’s blue and white vintage canisters,” says Storms. “They are incredibly sentimental to her so we added walnut floating shelves to the left of the sink for them to have a prominent display space.” 

Perhaps the most brilliant solve, though, is the “console” island, which comes in at just 14 inches deep. “The family really wanted an island within this teeny-tiny kitchen not only to have an extra surface to cook on, but also to have a space where people could sit and hang out. We created a custom island using the same quartz countertop and a custom powder-coated metal frame (to support the stone’s weight). 

Twenty-year-old countertop stools were repurposed — they were from her clients’ old Upper West Side apartment. “They got a makeover with a fresh coat of paint and upholstered with Kristy Stafford fabric,” says Storms. 

The design work and decision-making took about two months, and construction was four months. Everything went off without a hitch, so the total timeline for the kitchen was about six months from start to finish (although other areas of the home, like the nearby powder room, were also worked on). It was well worth it, of course, as the designer couldn’t be happier with the space.

“I love how the kitchen feels — light, bright, and layered,” says Storms. “The rich walnut herringbone floor sets an elevated tone for the white cabinets. The beautiful shine from the chrome hardware and lighting fixtures feels timeless.”

And her clients love the space, too. “She actually sent me texts every day for the first week from different angles, sharing how much she loved the kitchen and all the small details,” says Storms. What stronger proof is there of a design challenge overcome?