Kitchen Gets Easy Beach Style for Casual Entertaining
A couple with two daughters set out to create an open and inviting space with indoor-outdoor flow
Finding a house that would allow them to spend time with their extended family and friends was the goal for Michael and Lindsay Garea, who call Brooklyn, New York, home when they’re working in the city. The couple, who have two young daughters, fell in love with a cottage on Shelter Island with dock and deeded water access to the island’s West Neck Bay.
But the charming home built in 1981 needed major updating. At the top of their do-to list: a more user-friendly kitchen that would be part of a modern and open floor plan for casual entertaining. To do that, they hired designers Elyse Parkhurst and Caitlin Flynn, who created a bright, beach-inspired kitchen with great indoor-outdoor flow.
But the charming home built in 1981 needed major updating. At the top of their do-to list: a more user-friendly kitchen that would be part of a modern and open floor plan for casual entertaining. To do that, they hired designers Elyse Parkhurst and Caitlin Flynn, who created a bright, beach-inspired kitchen with great indoor-outdoor flow.
After: The designers removed the wall between the kitchen and living room and replaced it with a peninsula, creating more connection between the two spaces.
They removed the old peninsula to fit in a new island and extended the wall cabinets to expand the size of the kitchen by 45 square feet. Parkhurst took a sliding door down to a single door to gain the extra wall space for more cabinetry.
“We also stole some space from the garage to create a vestibule in from the garage with a wine fridge and additional pantry space [seen at the back corner of this photo],” Parkhurst says.
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They removed the old peninsula to fit in a new island and extended the wall cabinets to expand the size of the kitchen by 45 square feet. Parkhurst took a sliding door down to a single door to gain the extra wall space for more cabinetry.
“We also stole some space from the garage to create a vestibule in from the garage with a wine fridge and additional pantry space [seen at the back corner of this photo],” Parkhurst says.
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White painted semicustom maple cabinets join creamy off-white walls with a touch of yellow (Vanilla Milkshake by Benjamin Moore), white subway tile and marble-like quartz countertops for a light and bright atmosphere.
The base of the center island gives the kitchen a pop of blue (Inky Blue by Sherwin-Williams) and nods to the home’s vicinity to the beach.
“We thought about doing open shelving, but I said no to that because we’re in that part of life where we have toddler cups and lids I didn’t want to display,” Lindsay says.
A pullout spice rack sits to the right of the 36-inch range and the large paneled refrigerator stands to the left, with a cabinet above it for large platters.
Cabinetry designer: Kerry Janis, Riverhead Building Supply; cabinets: Rushmore, Frosty White finish, Landmark Fine Cabinetry, Tedd Wood; pulls on paneled refrigerator: Artisan Suite 12-inch center appliance pulls, Cliffside Industries
The base of the center island gives the kitchen a pop of blue (Inky Blue by Sherwin-Williams) and nods to the home’s vicinity to the beach.
“We thought about doing open shelving, but I said no to that because we’re in that part of life where we have toddler cups and lids I didn’t want to display,” Lindsay says.
A pullout spice rack sits to the right of the 36-inch range and the large paneled refrigerator stands to the left, with a cabinet above it for large platters.
Cabinetry designer: Kerry Janis, Riverhead Building Supply; cabinets: Rushmore, Frosty White finish, Landmark Fine Cabinetry, Tedd Wood; pulls on paneled refrigerator: Artisan Suite 12-inch center appliance pulls, Cliffside Industries
The designers removed two windows in the living room and added this large glass door, which opens to the deck. “We actually expanded the opening from what was there before with the windows, and this makes the whole space feel larger,” Parkhurst says.
Woven leather counter stools offer easy, comfortable seating at the peninsula. “We fell in love with them because they have those wood and leather elements that bring warmth to the kitchen,” Parkhurst says.
The cozy breakfast area off the main work zone in the kitchen includes a built-in padded banquette with family-friendly indoor-outdoor fabric and storage below. General contractor Chris Chobor built the custom white oak X-base table, which is surrounded by white spindle chairs. Assorted patterned pillows pick up the blue used for the padding on the bench, the base of the island and accessories.
Both the bubble chandelier above the breakfast area and the white globe pendants above the peninsula have a rope detail that fits with the subtle beachy theme the homeowners were going for.
Wren spindle chairs: Safavieh
Both the bubble chandelier above the breakfast area and the white globe pendants above the peninsula have a rope detail that fits with the subtle beachy theme the homeowners were going for.
Wren spindle chairs: Safavieh
This view from the living room shows the great flow into the kitchen and onto the deck. The door at the left is the home’s front door. “Adding the new engineered hardwood flooring with wide planks throughout made the space feel cohesive by eliminating any thresholds or transitions,” Parkhurst says.
The “after” floor plan on the left shows the reconfigured layout for the open kitchen, breakfast area and living room. The “before” plan on the right shows the wall that separated the kitchen and living room. These floor plans also highlight how space from the garage was incorporated into the updated design.
“This home gives us that fresh air and retreat from city living,” Lindsay says. “It’s not a huge home, so the kitchen is where everyone spends the majority of our time. It sort of sets the tone for the rest of the house.”
General contractor: Chris Chobor Home Improvements
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“This home gives us that fresh air and retreat from city living,” Lindsay says. “It’s not a huge home, so the kitchen is where everyone spends the majority of our time. It sort of sets the tone for the rest of the house.”
General contractor: Chris Chobor Home Improvements
More on Houzz
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Get more kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Michael and Lindsay Garea and their two young daughters
Location: Shelter Island, New York
Size: 330 square feet (31 square meters)
Designers: Caitlin Flynn and Elyse Parkhurst of North Fork Design
Before: Prior to the renovation, the kitchen featured a worn tile floor, dark wood cabinets, a mishmash of appliances and a large fluorescent ceiling light. The wall on the right closed the kitchen off completely to the living room. Not exactly the entertaining kitchen the Gareas were looking for. “The dark wood didn’t provide that light feeling you want in a beach house,” Parkhurst says.
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