A Cheery Kitchen Makeover Made the Most of 10.5 Feet (It’s Not “Bland” Anymore!)
ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER
HOME TYPE: Apartment, Historic Home
PROJECT TYPE: Kitchen
STYLE: Colorful
SKILL LEVEL: Professional
RENTAL FRIENDLY: No
Sunny hues, playful patterns, and ingenious space-planning have made a 636-square-foot guesthouse in Austin, Texas, both lively and efficient. Previously filled with redundant hallways and a tight, dysfunctional kitchen, this stacked duplex needed a major update — especially on its second-story rental unit.
Architect Harmony Grogan of Pluck Architecture, who focuses on historic preservation work, embarked on a full interior and exterior remodel, taking the “dark and bland” home and maximizing square footage for the quaint two-bedroom upstairs, recapturing square footage, and “cleaning up” the layout, she says.
When it came to the kitchen, the main challenge was making an already-compact space larger with a place to dine, a pantry, and a concealed washer and dryer setup. “This is the smallest kitchen I’ve done before,” Harmony remarks. “We leaned into: How do we make this work, but at the same time do it well both aesthetically and architecturally?”
Harmony went for a “mix of modern functionality with vintage charm,” brightening up the space through color (Benjamin Moore’s Blue Nose for cabinetry, and Early Morning for trim — shades that mesh well with the home’s mint-green and blue exterior). “There’s a lot of color in this neighborhood with the older bungalows, and we wanted to make sure it felt like it fit the vernacular,” she adds.
To optimize the kitchen, Harmony placed everything on one wall; it all fits snugly within just a 10.5-foot-wide space. There’s custom cabinetry and scaled-down Miele appliances, including a 24-inch cooktop, an 18-inch paneled dishwasher, and a 24-inch refrigerator, plus glossy white backsplash tiles and Schoolhouse light fixtures in a marigold hue. The corner, which was once occupied by a dresser, now accommodates a 5-by-4-foot custom banquette.
In lieu of upper cabinetry, which Harmony worried would close off the space, she embraced open shelving with connecting elements.
While the owner was happy with the whole process, the magic lives in the details. “We specified everything down to the plates, forks, knives, and even the art on all the walls,” Harmony says. If you love this renovation, take a look at other gorgeous, colorful kitchens here.
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: A “Dark, Bland” Beige Kitchen Gets an Airy Blue Makeover (It’s So Much Brighter!)
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
