Kitchen Makeover: Same Layout With a Whole New Look
Budget-friendly cabinetry and new finishes brighten a 1930s kitchen in Washington, D.C.
Before. Prior to the remodel, the kitchen had a soffit above the upper cabinetry and a gap beneath it, both of which took up valuable potential storage space. Some of the wall tile was missing and the sheet-vinyl floor had seen better days.
After. The new kitchen feels fresh and bright, and the designers managed to pack in more storage space.
To keep the room feeling warm and bright, the homeowner chose a yellow hue for the wall paint. “She wanted to keep it neutral,” says Carolyn Elleman, the designer for the project with Case Design/Remodeling, but “if we did gray or off-white, it would look too stark.”
The cabinetry is Shaker style from Waypoint Living Spaces. “With this cabinetry line we had the opportunity to meet the budget and provide something simple like [the homeowner] wanted,” Elleman says.
Wall paint: Convivial Yellow, Sherwin-Williams
To keep the room feeling warm and bright, the homeowner chose a yellow hue for the wall paint. “She wanted to keep it neutral,” says Carolyn Elleman, the designer for the project with Case Design/Remodeling, but “if we did gray or off-white, it would look too stark.”
The cabinetry is Shaker style from Waypoint Living Spaces. “With this cabinetry line we had the opportunity to meet the budget and provide something simple like [the homeowner] wanted,” Elleman says.
Wall paint: Convivial Yellow, Sherwin-Williams
Before. The homeowner was so excited about her remodel that she bought all new appliances before she even hired professionals. This photo shows the new oven and range in the old kitchen. As you can see by the gaps on either side of the stove, the new range is narrower than the previous one.
After. Elleman took advantage of that extra space to add two drawer cabinets on either side of the stove that the homeowner uses to house towels, oven mitts, ladles and other utensils. Removing the wall soffit allowed more space for taller wall cabinets.
The tall cabinetry to the right of the refrigerator is the pantry, with shelves on the upper half and rollout trays on the lower half. The homeowner stores her slow cooker and some larger pots and pans here.
Find a pro to help you design your kitchen
The tall cabinetry to the right of the refrigerator is the pantry, with shelves on the upper half and rollout trays on the lower half. The homeowner stores her slow cooker and some larger pots and pans here.
Find a pro to help you design your kitchen
The base cabinetry includes an under-the-sink cabinet and a double garbage pullout to the left of the dishwasher. Everyday dishes go in the upper cabinets directly over and on either side of the sink. The homeowner stores extra pottery and less frequently used items in the cabinet above the microwave. Spices go in the tall cabinet to the right of the microwave.
Straight bar hardware in a stainless steel finish gives the Shaker style a transitional look, which is a blend of traditional style and contemporary elements. The pebbled quartz countertop contributes another modern touch to the room. The backsplash is simple white subway tile with a light gray grout.
The homeowner chose luxury vinyl floor tile in a pattern made to mimic the look of concrete. “The best part about it is it’s waterproof, pet-proof, everything-proof,” Elleman says. “It’s super durable. And budget-friendly.”
Floor tile: Concrete Structures Luxe Plank flooring in Gotham City, Luxe Plank line, Armstrong; countertop: Peppercorn White, MSI; subway tile: 3-by-6-inch subway tile with TEC grout in Silverado; find more white tile
Straight bar hardware in a stainless steel finish gives the Shaker style a transitional look, which is a blend of traditional style and contemporary elements. The pebbled quartz countertop contributes another modern touch to the room. The backsplash is simple white subway tile with a light gray grout.
The homeowner chose luxury vinyl floor tile in a pattern made to mimic the look of concrete. “The best part about it is it’s waterproof, pet-proof, everything-proof,” Elleman says. “It’s super durable. And budget-friendly.”
Floor tile: Concrete Structures Luxe Plank flooring in Gotham City, Luxe Plank line, Armstrong; countertop: Peppercorn White, MSI; subway tile: 3-by-6-inch subway tile with TEC grout in Silverado; find more white tile
Before. The homeowner had used a freestanding furniture piece in this corner of the kitchen for extra storage and her many cookbooks. She wanted more cabinetry and the ability to use this area as a drop zone or coffee bar, but she didn’t want it to feel cluttered.
After. Case Design/Remodeling added lower cabinetry across the full width of this space but skipped uppers to maintain an open feel. For the countertop corner, the homeowner didn’t want a standard straight edge. “We did a curve to give it that more transitional feel,” Elleman says.
The portrait hanging above the cabinetry was above the homeowner’s fireplace in the living room. “She has really awesome African-American art throughout her house,” Elleman says.
The portrait hanging above the cabinetry was above the homeowner’s fireplace in the living room. “She has really awesome African-American art throughout her house,” Elleman says.
The homeowner purchased a new dining table and chairs from Room and Board to go with her dining bench. The warm wood tones complement the white cabinetry and help warm the space.
The piece of art on the wall was done by a relative. Both the window and door are new; the door leads to the backyard.
Browse warm wood dining tables
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Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
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The piece of art on the wall was done by a relative. Both the window and door are new; the door leads to the backyard.
Browse warm wood dining tables
More
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
How to Work With a Kitchen Designer
Who uses it: A professional couple
Location: Northwest Washington, D.C.
Size: 121 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Carolyn Elleman of Case Design/Remodeling
The owners of this row house in Washington, D.C., had been saving for a few years to remodel their 1930s kitchen, so by the time they called professionals they knew exactly what they wanted: the same layout updated with clean, new finishes. “It’s a modest kitchen not only in its size, but also in its scope of work and the materials,” says David Waguespack, project developer with Case Design/Remodeling.