Kitchen of the Week: Warm, Contemporary Space With an Airy Feel
A designer reworks a cluttered layout to create an inviting family hub
Everything in this Paoli, Pennsylvania, kitchen had been shoved together so tightly that it felt cramped. Yet it was open to a dining area that felt quite the opposite — oddly empty. Designer Dana Bender worked with the homeowner to refresh both. In reworking the layout, she brought calm to the chaos. A focal range wall, a large L-shaped island, a built-in banquette, a glam home bar and beautifully arranged cabinetry with strong contrast transformed the areas into a warm, contemporary cooking and dining space.
After: Bender removed the walls around the opening in the back left corner, creating a more open feel. The area behind the kitchen serves as a bar and was incorporated into the project as it progressed. “My client already had the wine cooler but didn’t want it in the main area of the kitchen,” Bender says. The glass barn doors with bright blue trim to the right of the bar are new and lead to a home office.
The designer pushed the dining table back to the far end of the space, which gave her room to extend the island into what had been the dining room’s territory. This island provides valuable storage, work space and seating. The notched detailing on its legs is a signature that Bender repeated around the house during different phases of the renovation, including on the staircase railings. This kind of repetition ties the rooms of the home together.
Cabinets: Dura Supreme Cabinetry
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The designer pushed the dining table back to the far end of the space, which gave her room to extend the island into what had been the dining room’s territory. This island provides valuable storage, work space and seating. The notched detailing on its legs is a signature that Bender repeated around the house during different phases of the renovation, including on the staircase railings. This kind of repetition ties the rooms of the home together.
Cabinets: Dura Supreme Cabinetry
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After: Bender replaced the door with a window in that corner and extended the cabinets and countertop to the wall where the door used to be.
The range-facing side of the island, seen here, has deep drawers for pots and pans, as well as slat dividers for baking sheets and cutting boards.
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The range-facing side of the island, seen here, has deep drawers for pots and pans, as well as slat dividers for baking sheets and cutting boards.
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The designer also sized a new window over the sink. “We wanted to maximize height to maintain a good view out to the yard, but she also wanted some space on the wall for personalization. She’s very artistic and wanted a place to add some art on the wall,” Bender says.
A new picture ledge provides an opportunity for personalized display. “This is good for flexibility — my client can change the art out whenever she wants,” Bender says.
Paint colors: Origami White (walls) and High Reflective White (ceiling), Sherwin-Williams
A new picture ledge provides an opportunity for personalized display. “This is good for flexibility — my client can change the art out whenever she wants,” Bender says.
Paint colors: Origami White (walls) and High Reflective White (ceiling), Sherwin-Williams
After: Bender rearranged this wall and the long wall of cabinets and appliances to the left. Her new setup got the range out of the island and the fridge and microwave off this wall. This gave her space to create a range wall that serves as a focal point. The expansive backsplash and symmetry she created give the eye somewhere to rest.
“My client always knew she wanted to use this fan-shaped mosaic tile,” Bender says. In addition, she knew she wanted white oak cabinets, soapstone countertops, brass accents and high contrast in the scheme. An electric range was also on her must-have list. Bender helped her round out the color and material palettes and put it all together with the right balance.
“My client always knew she wanted to use this fan-shaped mosaic tile,” Bender says. In addition, she knew she wanted white oak cabinets, soapstone countertops, brass accents and high contrast in the scheme. An electric range was also on her must-have list. Bender helped her round out the color and material palettes and put it all together with the right balance.
Clutter-free countertops were another important element the homeowner desired. Accordingly, Bender provided her with two appliance garages along the range wall. They have outlets inside and make it easy to keep small appliances tucked away.
The base cabinets are a deep charcoal and the perimeter countertops are white quartz. This combination creates the strong contrast the homeowner likes. The brass hardware works beautifully with both the charcoal and natural wood finishes.
Backsplash tile: Fan Club mosaic glass, Artistic Tile; countertops: Ironsbridge, Cambria
The base cabinets are a deep charcoal and the perimeter countertops are white quartz. This combination creates the strong contrast the homeowner likes. The brass hardware works beautifully with both the charcoal and natural wood finishes.
Backsplash tile: Fan Club mosaic glass, Artistic Tile; countertops: Ironsbridge, Cambria
The fridge, a microwave drawer and three large pantry cabinets form a hardworking bank of cabinets on the left side of the kitchen. The dark cabinet color makes them fade into the background visually. To the eye, they appear more connected to the hallway than the kitchen. They also form a connection to the bar area.
The new expanded island was a crucial part of the design. “We went through about five or six different versions of the island before landing on this L-shaped design,” Bender says.
With the new white oak cabinetry, the floors needed a change. “She had American cherry floors that had a lot of red tones. We refinished them to give them a beautiful neutral blonde color,” the designer says.
With the new white oak cabinetry, the floors needed a change. “She had American cherry floors that had a lot of red tones. We refinished them to give them a beautiful neutral blonde color,” the designer says.
The cabinet style provided the streamlined look the homeowner liked. All the cabinets are full-overlay with a slim edge detail. The soapstone counters create strong contrast to the warm wood. The hammered brass on the pendant lights provides a warm glow overhead.
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A new bar connects to the kitchen without being in the middle of it. “The bar was something that came up in the middle of the process,” Bender says. “This spot was a good place to put the wine cooler, and we added another cabinet with a countertop next to it.”
Because it’s outside the main kitchen area, the bar offered a good opportunity to add a few glam finishes. The grilles are brass, and the countertop is wood, coated in a finish of real brass particles that will patina over time. The ceiling light and cabinet pulls add marble to the mix.
Countertop in Anvil finish: Grothouse
Because it’s outside the main kitchen area, the bar offered a good opportunity to add a few glam finishes. The grilles are brass, and the countertop is wood, coated in a finish of real brass particles that will patina over time. The ceiling light and cabinet pulls add marble to the mix.
Countertop in Anvil finish: Grothouse
Bender knew the large island would be just the place to use the soapstone her client loved. It did present a challenge, though. “Because of the shape and size of the island, we needed to use two slabs of soapstone. I was careful to pick slabs that would seam together well,” Bender says.
Photo by Dana Bender
To fit in the large new island, Bender pushed the dining table to the far end of the room. She designed a built-in banquette to save space and lend a cozier feel. Now the table sits between the views out to the backyard and an existing gas fireplace.
“Those were the homeowner’s paintings above the table, and we plucked the bright blue color we used on the office barn doors from them,” Bender says.
To fit in the large new island, Bender pushed the dining table to the far end of the room. She designed a built-in banquette to save space and lend a cozier feel. Now the table sits between the views out to the backyard and an existing gas fireplace.
“Those were the homeowner’s paintings above the table, and we plucked the bright blue color we used on the office barn doors from them,” Bender says.
After: This floor plan shows how the island stretches into what had been the designated dining area. The darker lines represent the island base, while the lighter lines are the countertop.
While working on the renovations, the goal was to be done in time for the homeowner’s 50th birthday party. “We made it in time, and we came over to help stage the house before the big party, which was so much fun,” Bender says.
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While working on the renovations, the goal was to be done in time for the homeowner’s 50th birthday party. “We made it in time, and we came over to help stage the house before the big party, which was so much fun,” Bender says.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A woman, her partner and her teenage daughter
Location: Paoli, Pennsylvania
Size: 460 square feet (43 square meters)
Designer: Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio
Before: Though the kitchen was open to the dining area, it had a compressed feel. And there was a lot of space going to waste in the dining area.
The style wasn’t working for the homeowner, either. “Her style has clean, modern lines with an organic influence,” Bender says. “She also wanted high contrast and was not afraid of mixing in deep colors.” The homeowner had a list of materials she wanted to use, so the design process was very collaborative.
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