Crowded and dysfunctional, this kitchen had an old-fashioned appeal and a difficult layout that contrasted with the homeowner’s love of cooking. “She just didn’t feel comfortable in that space at all,” explained designer Melanie Verbaarschott of J. Francis Company.
The pantry, set between the dining room and living space, was too far from the kitchen to be usable and cut off the rest of the house from the kitchen.
The most obvious solution was more space. “We bumped into the garage by 18 inches,” said Verbaarschott. “Just a foot and a half and it totally changed that space.”
Removing the pantry opened up the room to the living space and left room for more cabinetry and a bar area.
Gray-painted cabinets fulfill the client’s transitional taste, while two cherry islands mock the look of furniture.
“As soon as you go in there, you want to just sit at these bar stools and converse with whoever is in the kitchen,” she said. “She loves that she can talk to her guests, but they’re not underfoot.”
Five crystal pendants and a drum-style chandelier add a touch of whimsy.