Nicholas Potts wants to get something straight: History, at least as far as design is concerned, is far from boring. “There’s a popular misconception that anything having to do with history is somehow ‘safe’ and ‘proper,’ and that color was either muted or nonexistent,” he says. 

When the architect and designer met a young couple who had recently bought a 1930s home in Washington, D.C., he was pleased to find they thought the same way. “The house is very much of the 20th century, with everything from Tudor to Colonial Revival to Arts and Crafts elements throughout,” Potts says. The owners, who work in the tech industry and now have two children, sought to lean into the space’s history with crisp detailing and colors that would have been considered modern when the house was originally built. 

That sentiment is particularly clear in the kitchen. And while Potts revamped the layout to be fit for everyday life in 2024, he pulled material references from the past to ensure that the home gladly felt its age. After all, if everything old is new again, then how can any of it be boring? 

Make Pasta Night Part of the Plan

Although this house was first built sometime during the Great Depression, the kitchen got an overhaul around the year 2000—and everyone agreed that the builder-grade renovation was far from ideal. “It was as if it were done only to expand the square footage, without putting any thought into how that [space] was actually going to be used,” says Potts.

There were no sight lines into the kitchen from the rest of the house, and for some reason it was a step down from the back door. The floor plan was too narrow for an island but too overloaded with cabinetry. Potts simplified the layout by working from the outside in, moving a nearby powder room and adding a central hallway so that the newly elongated kitchen had a generous spot for an island. “It was crucial that whatever my team and I did prioritized function, but the main reason behind the island was that the owners requested an unbroken surface for their tradition of rolling out pasta,” Potts says.

Calacatta Macchia Vecchia, a marble with strong gold-pink markings, would best underscore their pasta-making station as well as the rest of the countertops and backsplash. Going with a herringbone pattern for the wood floor brings some much-needed structure to the fluid-looking stone.

Use a Color That’s as Fresh Today as It Was Yesterday

Back in the 1930s, cleanliness in the kitchen was top of mind for people, but that doesn’t mean they proved it to guests with an all-white palette. They still embraced color. “Bright, fresh pigments were popular at the time, so we embraced this period-appropriate coloring,” Potts says. 

They chose Farrow & Ball’s Cromarty, a “nearly pure” seafoam shade, which is simple at its core but can be applied in a dramatic way. How exactly? Potts drenched the room in the hue, using it from the ceiling down to the lower cabinets. Even the range hood got a splash. The designer paired it with similarly crisp cabinets that have a hairline-thin edge frame. “This detail would be at home in the 1930s but seems just as cool today,” he says. 

Be Hyper-Strategic About Storage

It’s not that Potts thought the owners didn’t have enough cabinetry in the original kitchen, it’s just that the layout was all wrong. It’s easier to stay organized when things aren’t so spread out. “If there’s any opportunity to add a full wall of shelving, I’ll take it,” Potts says. “Over the years, my team and I have discovered that full-height storage is an incredible bargain in a small footprint.” 

The extra-tall cupboards were the perfect addition to the dining area by the bay window. “That corner was too wide when it was empty, so full-length cabinetry activates that wasted space,” Potts says. Finally, the family’s stand mixer and grilling tools have a cabinet to call home.

The post Don’t Call It Sage—This D.C. Kitchen’s Seafoam Cabinets Bring the Drama appeared first on domino.

When it came to overhauling the poorly optimized kitchen in her East London home, architect Mel Bax knew she wanted a luminous, garden room–style extension with arched windows. She spent two years between paid jobs fine-tuning its proportions. But the interior? Mel conceded that she needed help. “Architects think they can design everything, and yes, if I’d wanted a plywood kitchen I could have done that,” she explains. “But I wanted it to be cozy and warm and fun; I was scared about it just being a box at the back of the house.”

Enter neighbor and newly established interior designer Laura Parkinson of Palmer & Stone. Parkinson had used Mel on her own structural renovation, and the pair’s skills naturally jelled, with Parkinson’s awareness of flow and furniture planning enhancing Mel’s designs. Looking at Mel’s initial blueprints, Parkinson’s first suggestion was to move the run of kitchen cabinets to the opposite wall, allowing for a clear view of the striking windows from the moment you enter the space. And she had plenty more careful considerations up her sleeve. 

Work the Mood Into Your Plans From the Get-go

Mel was so on top of her planning that she knew how long her dining table would need to be before construction started. This allowed Parkinson to plot exactly where task and accent lighting would go, with each being on individual circuits. “Creating little moods and nooks is something Mel and I felt strongly about,” says the designer.

Music was also important to Mel and her husband, Bev, but not wanting to hedge their bets on a potentially temperamental, integrated sound system, they opted for synced-up Alexa speakers. One often sits on the tiny shelf in the dining corner, but on quieter nights it houses a scented candle. 

Pick a Color That “Pings” in the Sun

Mel really wanted the new windows and exposed steel beams to pop—and what better way than with an unexpected splash of color? Bev was all in, telling her, “If we’re doing color, then we’re doing color.” Out came Mel’s RAL chart.

They settled on Ruby Red (Ral Color 3003) for all the steel, and Farrow & Ball’s Rectory Red on the millwork, which complements the Setting Plaster on the ceiling and baseboards. “Bev wanted to go even brighter, but it really pings when the sun shines in. It’s a good one to live with,” attests Mel. 

Get Artsy With Your Open Shelves

It was Parkinson’s idea to break up the run of storage cupboards that hold the family’s coats and shoes with a unit of open shelving. But it was Bev who suggested making the ledges heart shaped. “The builders said it looked like a bum or boobs—we’ve had a few comments,” says Mel, laughing. There is more open storage for table linen and toys along the shapely openings of the built-in dining banquette, which provided another opportunity to get playful with color. 

Mel’s favorite detail is the pantry cupboard with reeded glass doors. “It’s intentionally shallow so we can instantly see what’s in there,” she says. “When we were moving, we found things that were five years out of date because they’d been shoved to the back.”

Chop While Watching the Game—Then Put It Away

With Bev being the cook of the house, his top request for the kitchen was a TV to keep him company while he preps food at the island. The trick was not making the room look like just another lounge area. Parkinson’s charming solution was to disguise the wall-mounted monitor behind a handmade patchwork cover by Lizzie Scarlett.

The custom textile features the birth flowers of the couple’s two young daughters. It’s a personal touch that keeps the kitchen far from feeling like a soulless extension.  

The post On This Architect’s Kitchen Wish List: Red Windows and Heart-Shaped Open Shelves appeared first on domino.

Near the center of San Francisco, the steep hills that surround Cole Valley are lined with colorful Victorian and Edwardian homes that have stood for generations. When two Midwestern transplants moved to the compact neighborhood a little over a decade ago, they fell in love with its many beautiful views, but it wasn’t until 2021 that they purchased a home in the area on an enviable perch. 

Aside from a coat of paint and a newish stove, oven, and refrigerator, it was clear the previous owners hadn’t done much to spruce up the kitchen since the Summer of Love was still a fresh memory for the city (yes, we’re talking circa 1967). For designer Rachel Seldin, principal of Seldin Design Studios, the glaring issues were the room’s lack of charm, countertop space, and storage. “And the predominantly white and gray cabinetry blended in with nondescript, bulky appliances,” she points out.

The couple requested a space where the architectural details on the exterior of the home (and frankly throughout their neighborhood) were reflected in the interior, from push-button light switches to the antique brass hardware. Here’s how Seldin reimagined old-world features for a modern address.

Create an Even Better Layout by Making Tiny Moves

The owners didn’t have an issue with the existing layout of the kitchen. In fact, with the sink conveniently located next to the dishwasher, and the refrigerator and oven situated diagonally from one another, you can move about the space efficiently. And yet the appliances were all just a few inches from their ideal spots, cutting down on precious countertop space.

Seldin swapped the 30-inch-wide stove for a 36-inch version and centered it along the wall, allowing for around 18 inches of prep space on both sides. She also increased the size of the fridge-freezer to 42 inches and pushed it 12 inches to the left so it aligned with the end of the countertops on the opposite wall. The result? There’s a lot more room to chop veggies and roll dough. 

Another benefit of keeping the appliances (mostly) in their familiar places was that the budget didn’t have to include any changes to the water and gas lines. Instead, Seldin could direct those funds to more fun features like solid brass cup pulls and custom roman shades in the dining nook. 

Lower the Ceiling If the Right Hood Calls for It

When Seldin and her clients were first discussing the changes they wanted to make in the kitchen, they all agreed to shine a spotlight on the range hood. Prior to the renovation, it was integrated into the cabinetry on the half-wall near the doorframe, and the trio agreed that pulling it out and making it a feature in that corner would be more worthwhile. The only problem? The nearly 11-foot ceiling was so tall they’d need to add a soffit for additional support, which would result in a boxy look. 

“We pivoted our approach, opting to lower the entire ceiling by a few inches,” Seldin says. A lower profile made it possible to have a stand-alone hood as a streamlined focal point, while also making the area feel cozier. The ceiling still feels so tall that the family barely notices a difference.

Add Historic Details in a Classic Palette

Seldin and the owners were on the same page when it came to the color palette, deciding that the kitchen’s long footprint didn’t exactly call for stark white cabinets, which could actually make the room feel cold and uninviting. Plus the goal was to bring the Victorian aesthetic indoors, so Seldin and the couple went with Stormy Black soapstone countertops alongside creamy white lower cabinets (painted in Strong White by Farrow & Ball) and dark wood upper storage that coordinates with the floors. Incorporating a handful of glass fronts lent an apothecary-like touch. 

Even the backsplash’s swooping shape behind the sink provides a wink to history and a layer of texture. “The gracefully curved backsplash not only adds an element of elegance and uniqueness, but also harmonizes with the overall aesthetic,” says Seldin.

Incorporate the Breakfast Nook by Copying Curves

The breakfast nook had already been a part of the kitchen by the time Seldin was asked to refresh the room, but it seemed disjointed. “That area felt empty, despite having a table and four chairs,” she says. To make the nook feel a part of the kitchen, Seldin built a custom bookcase using the same wood stain, countertop stone, and brass detailing as she did throughout the rest of the kitchen.

Sadly, the designer couldn’t trick out the bench with hidden storage (it houses the baseboard heaters), but she did give it a half-moon silhouette, similar to the backsplash behind the sink. “It facilitates a smooth visual flow, ensuring that even if the table and chairs are removed, the nook could stand alone as a beautiful reading area,” she says. Although, let’s be real, when you’re sitting in that window, you’re looking out onto the hills, not down at a book.

The post With a Good Layout in Place, This Kitchen Reno Was About Gaining More Counter Space appeared first on domino.

Jessie Randall isn’t afraid to admit that she couldn’t have redesigned her Bridgehampton, New York, kitchen alone. Sure, as the founder and creative director of fashion brand Loeffler Randall, she knows the perfect proportions for a puffed sleeve and how long to make the strap on a leather cross-body bag. But as for where to orient her stove? She needed to call for backup. 

Luckily, help found her: Interior designer Zoe Feldman happened to be seated across from Randall at a dinner party in Washington, D.C., one fateful evening last year. Over text the very next day, Randall vented to Feldman: She had hated her black counters for nearly a decade and was stumped by the vastness of the adjacent dining area. Feldman started to envision how they could make the space more her. “I have a very strong sense of what I like, which is why I’ve been reluctant to get involved with a designer, but I could have never come up with this kitchen without Zoe,” says Randall.

Working alongside Randall’s contractor, Phil Pape of Pape Construction, Feldman’s first piece of advice was to make the kitchen more prominent by expanding the island and relocating the appliances. “She was like, we’re moving the stove,” shares Randall. “I didn’t even know you could do that.” Read on to see how they brought the fashion designer’s long-awaited kitchen to life. 

Define an Open-Concept Space With Textured Floor Tile

There was no question that the existing kitchen floors were banged up. The dilemma was, if Randall were to replace one section of boards, would she have to replace the ones that span into the living room, too? “All of a sudden, I could see the numbers ticking up to something very scary,” she says. Feeling inspired by a trip she had taken with her design team to Marrakech years ago, she decided to redo the cooking zone in checkered zellige tile from Mosaic House. The large-scale pattern is white and sky in 4-by-4 squares; the border is Dama Corner in white and green.

Not only did opting for a fresh material create a natural sense of separation between the kitchen and the rest of the house, but by adding a border, it made the addition of the extra-large island look intentional. “I love that it’s so imperfect,” Randall says of the inherent undulations and color variations in the tile. Other than a handful of pieces that shattered when they installed the fridge, it’s held up nicely. “I love the way it feels under my feet—it’s nice and cool in the summer,” she adds. 

Don’t Judge a Paint Color by Its Name

Originally, Randall’s plan was to swathe her new cabinets by Unique Kitchens & Baths in subdued French Gray. “Then I just had this epiphany: no, I need a crazy green kitchen,” she says. After many panicked calls to her designer, Randall committed to a different Farrow & Ball hue: Pea Green. “Which I don’t think is an accurate representation of what the color is,” she points out. The shade is much brighter and crisper than the soupy yellowish shade that automatically comes to mind when you hear those two words. Wanting details in the millwork, like the scalloped trim along the island, to be the star, Feldman suggested saturating the knobs in the same color, too. 

Let Your Wardrobe Inspire Your Walls

Long before she hired an interior designer, Randall took a stab at adding some charm to the space by wallpapering the inside of her glass upper cabinets. When Feldman came into the picture, they took things a step further by covering all the walls in a print from the Loeffler Randall x Temple Studio collaboration, which uses florals from her brand’s ready-to-wear collection. “The quality paper it’s printed on…it looks like it was hand-painted on the wall,” says Randall. 

Stitch Together a Cozy Kitchen Sofa

Even when there are no beach snacks to prepare or barbecues to host, you’ll still find Randall in here. “I don’t really go in my living room,” she says. Instead she likes to lie down and relax in the kitchen atop a modular Sixpenny sofa, and she’s usually got company. “My dogs get up there and they chew everything,” she adds. To protect the piece of furniture, she made a removable slipcover out of two king-size Les Indiennes bedspreads. She also DIYed the fabric skirt underneath the sink out of Svenskt Tenn fabric she picked up in Sweden. 

Hang More Than Just Pots 

Accessorizing a kitchen to Randall means having her entertaining ware out on full display. There is a dedicated rack for her ever-growing plate collection, spanning pieces by Kaneko Kohyo, Pomelo Casa, and Carolina Irving & Daughters, as well as one for all her taper candles. Randall scooped up a slew of colors from Danica Design Candles in Maine, knowing she’d be burning them (almost) around the clock. “My friends and I were in Copenhagen last June and even during the day in the summer, they would have candlelight,” says Randall. “It was a lightbulb moment for me: I had never considered using candles during the day.” Even lunchtime feels special thanks to this addition.

Get the Look

Pea Green, Farrow & Ball

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Scallop Sconce, Nickey Kehoe ($525)

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Watercolor Floral Mist Wallpaper, Temple Studio (Price upon request)

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Aged Brass Ionian Tap, deVOL ($1,200)

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The post Loeffler Randall’s Founder Keeps a Fully Stocked Candlestick Rack in Her New Kitchen appeared first on domino.

Lee Thornley and his partner, Phil Brocklebank, had only one disagreement when designing their Yorkshire, England, kitchen: what tile to use for the backsplash. Brocklebank made a case for graphic cement squares reclaimed from the south of Spain; Thornley argued that sandy-colored zellige in a 2-by-6-inch format would be timeless. But if you know anything about the couple, you already know who won.

As the founder of U.K.-based handmade tile manufacturer Bert & May, Thornley’s choice ultimately found its way onto the walls—but not before he made a loving compromise. The colorful Rio tile Brocklebank had picked out now adorns the kitchen fireplace. “It was perfect for it,” says Thornley. “It really feels like a piece of art.” Ahead, the tile pro reveals how they built a kitchen that makes everyone in the house happy. 

Treat Your Island Like Any Other Piece of Furniture

Something the couple agreed on from the get-go was tapping DeVol to construct their cabinetry. They landed on the brand’s Haberdasher’s line, which stars unpainted oak cupboards (finished with one coat of tinted oil to ensure any scrapes can be easily repaired) and an island that went through nearly 100 different design iterations before DeVol got it just right.

Even so, Thornley and Brocklebank decided to customize the central structure by extending it to 10 feet long, that way it would look at home in their extra-large open-plan kitchen. The see-through glass doors make it the go-to spot for dishes, but the old world–inspired piece also houses spices and cookbooks. “A recent favorite [recipe] of ours has been pad thai,” says Thornley. “The mix of flavors perfectly suits the freshness of the space.”

Match Your Wall Paint to Your Backsplash Tile

Thornley’s thinking behind going with the Hessian Bejmat zellige for the backsplash was to let everything else in the space (the tambour-style slatted doors, the glazed glass pantry fronts) sing. So he took it a step further by having the walls and ceiling painted in Roman Plaster by Little Greene—it has the same pink undertones as the tile.  

Keep Your Cool Around Copper Counters

Copper is the last material most people would want hanging out near their sink (when the metal is exposed to moisture and air, it oxidizes and takes on a greenish tint). But that’s exactly what Thornley loves about it. “Over time, the patina has naturally developed, enhancing its character,” he says. To clean it, they simply use a mixture of mild soap and water, avoiding abrasive cleaners at all costs. 

Channel Your Favorite Vacation Memories Into the Flooring

While it was important to Thornley and Brocklebank to pick materials that appear like they could be as old as the Georgian house itself (150 years old, to be exact), that didn’t necessarily mean sticking to a Yorkshire aesthetic. The raw, thick Bejmat floor tile, which is handmade in Morocco from a blend of clays and has a natural wear and tear to it, looks straight out of a Mediterranean villa. “I was inspired by the laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere of Los Angeles and the rustic charm of Spain, having spent time in both places,” says Thornley.

Lead the Way to the Pool

The most important update the pair made to their kitchen isn’t actually in the kitchen at all—it’s the view. “We both love being outside and wanted to design the garden in a way that would encourage us to be out there as much as we possibly could,” says Thornley. What screams “Come on out, and bring the chips and salsa with you!” more than a massive natural swimming pool? In the summertime, the couple can unravel the bifold doors so their two kids can seamlessly go from snacking to splashing.

The post How This Tile Company Founder Landed on the Perfect Backsplash for His Own Kitchen appeared first on domino.

While the ubiquitous open-concept layout took a brief hiatus during the pandemic, it’s gaining steam (again), but not in the way you think. According to a kitchen trends study from Houzz, open floor plans are on the rise, with 40 percent of homeowners choosing this option, but people aren’t stopping at knocking down interior walls. Twenty percent of renovators are making their kitchens open concept by transitioning them to the outdoors rather than just the dining or living room.

The survey revealed the most common way to do so is by adding a row of two or more doors leading to the exterior (46 percent of those making the upgrade suggested this). A single door was the second most popular solution (29 percent), followed by pass-through windows (14 percent). Ahead, find a few of our favorite examples of kitchens that expand to the backyard and beyond. 

Slide Your Way Outside 

In just two steps, this already spacious kitchen, designed by Jessica Risko Smith, seamlessly transforms into a double cooking zone. When pushed aside, the accordion-style windows and doors create a breezy passageway to the adjacent grill and alfresco dining space. 

Give Yourself Options

Almost every room in Brian and Jessie De Lowe’s Montecito, California, home offers access to nature, but the kitchen has two options to do so. A massive garage-door window opens up to bar seating, and there’s also a sliding glass partition right next to it (both are by Architectural Ironworks) that leads to the patio. 

Make a Pass for It 

This made-for-baking getaway in Palm Springs was handpicked by the team at New York Times Cooking specifically for its kitchen layout. The room seamlessly flows from the prep space to the pool area by way of a concession-style window over the sink. Thanks to an eat-in bar on the other side, Genevieve Ko, NYT Cooking’s deputy editor, notes, “It’s one of our team’s favorite cookie nooks in the house.”

Do It for the Kids

Even though content creator Rachel “Rocky” Barnes didn’t design her L.A. home’s kitchen with her growing family in mind (she and her husband, Matthew Cooper, have two sons), it turns out that the outdoor bar that butts up to the cooking space is great for casual kid meals and keeping tabs on little ones roaming the backyard.

The post This Ever-Popular Kitchen Layout Is Back (Again) appeared first on domino.

It was on the fourth iteration of kitchen design plans that Deidre Webster’s client decided to trade having a walk-in pantry for a series of windows overlooking her garden. But gaining a view came with a price: They’d have to reroute a large section of plumbing to secure the wall for the windows—a costly pursuit. The splurge ultimately cost the homeowner an en suite renovation she’d also been hoping to make. “It started with the kitchen and her primary bathroom but she ended up deciding that she really wanted to put most of her budget into the kitchen instead,” says Webster, the principal of Studio Day. 

Luckily, Webster was already familiar with her client’s 1890 St. Paul, Minnesota, home. The previous owners are good friends of Webster’s. This time around, she had full permission to really go for it in the kitchen, adjacent dining room, mudroom, and powder room. Here’s how the Minneapolis-based designer made every penny count. 

Look to Your Exterior for Inspiration

Taking a cue from the Queen Anne–style home’s facade, Webster tasked their contractor at Edgerton & Co. and Griff Merry, founder of Helianthus Woodworks, to apply the same ornate circular motif outside on the upper kitchen cabinets. “I’m always wanting to pick little things here and there from other parts of the house,” says Webster, ”and the ceilings are so high in there, it needed some kind of break.”

While plain sawed red oak wood might get a bad rap because it’s synonymous with 1990s suburbia, Webster took a chance on it and reaped the benefits—it’s much cheaper than popular rift-cut white oak. “I’m not afraid of the red tones it brings out,” she says. 

Play the Role of Trim Matchmaker

As she paid close attention to the home’s original details, Webster clocked the impressive, 8-inch-thick window and door trim work throughout. In the process of shifting things around in the kitchen, Webster was left with areas in which they’d have to try to replicate the same cased openings from scratch. Carpentry firm Rustic Elegance executed the work. “It’s something people don’t necessarily notice right away, but you would notice if it was different,” says the designer. 

Raise the (Wainscoting) Bar

Webster remembers walking into the dining room as a guest in the past and wondering why the wainscoting was at her knees. “It felt out of place, like in the ‘90s they went to Home Depot and found some paneling and did it,” she says. This time around, they literally raised the bar and added wallpaper. “I wanted it to feel as if it had always been there,” adds Webster. But the most recent owners (the designer’s friends) did leave behind a useful gift: the chandelier. Webster plopped on new shades from 36 Bourne Street. 

Make Your Mudroom Work Hard for You and Guests

By relocating the plumbing and washer-dryer, Webster scored a mudroom for her client—a must-have during Minnesota winters. “She has a lot of shoes and hats, and she was like, ‘This is crazy. I can’t live in a house without a mudroom,’” says the designer. This one is small but efficient: There are tons of hooks, shelves for shoes, a tall cabinet for a vacuum, and a breathable wardrobe for outerwear. Details like the Murano glass chandelier, bow-shaped handles by Beata Heuman, and the Morris & Co. wallpaper make it feel special when you walk through the space to get to the powder room. 

Fill the Powder With Pattern

In the powder room, Webster set out to finish what she had started (previously, for her friends, she had painted the vanity in Studio Green by Farrow & Ball). “It was just one of those things where you move into a house and you’re like, I want it to feel a little more like me,” she shares. Webster knew exactly what Morris & Co. print to use (Compton in brown/orange) because she had tried it in her own house once, although it was a short-lived experience. “I put it in my old house a week before we moved out, just to make it more palatable,” says Webster. “I’ve always been obsessed with that pattern and palette. It feels like it belongs in a Victorian house.” 

The post This St. Paul Home’s 1890 Exterior Inspired the Wood Cabinets in the Kitchen appeared first on domino.

In Renovator’s Notebook, homeowners open up about the nitty-gritty of their remodels: How long it really took; how much it actually cost; what went horribly wrong; and what went wonderfully, serendipitously, it’s-all-worth-it-in-the-end right. For more tips to nail your next project, follow @reno_notebook.

The first time designer and DIYer Ajai Guyot drove down her street, she was shocked by the amount of Tudor-style homes that lined the lane. The rows of little cottages was an unusual sight in Los Angeles. “The moment I laid eyes on our home, it reminded me of our trip to the Cotswolds during Christmas a couple of years ago—it was love at first sight for us,” she says. But Guyot couldn’t say the same for the kitchen. 

While the galley space was certainly bigger than her and her husband’s previous kitchen in Atlanta, Guyot was bummed to have to cook in such a long and narrow area again. Her goal in renovating this kitchen was simple: “Make myself fall in love with it,” she states. Luckily, this go-round, they had decided they wouldn’t spend nearly as much money as they did on their first reno (in Georgia, they shelled out $25,000 on upgrades like porcelain floors and pendant lights). This time, Guyot transformed the space for less than $6,500. Ahead, in her own words, the seasoned renovator shares how she pulled it off.

The Receipts

Here’s a taste of what Guyot spent on her kitchen.

• Stainless steel shelves: $65
• Outlet covers: $26
• Range hood: $400
• Faucet: $392
• Fridge: $700
• Additional lower cabinets: $400 
• Quartzite counters: $1,800

Save: Recycling Packing Materials

I used packing paper, tape, and a drop cloth from our move to prep the kitchen for painting and sanding. 

Save: Painting the Cabinets (With the Doors On)

For me, painting the cabinets without removing the doors worked better because I don’t have a large workspace, and sanding, priming, and painting the inside of the doors is easier to do when they’re on (I could swing them back and forth by the old knobs). Plus I’ve discovered that I like the look of cabinets that are painted with a brush instead of a roller. I applied a custom color derived from Farrow & Ball’s Old White. I love the base of this color but wanted mine to be a bit more yellow, a bit darker.  

Save: Installing Additional Lower Cabinets Myself

After becoming a mom and nursing for years, and also falling in love with cooking, I knew I needed more storage, so I kept all of our uppers and added more lowers this time around. I opted for in-stock unfinished cabinets from Home Depot. I’ve used these before and quite like them. Installing the additional lower cabinet units myself felt really good, especially when the countertop installers came in and complimented my work (I told them it was my first time and they couldn’t believe it!). I store the trash can in the cabinet closest to the patio, and plates, cups, pans, and cooking utensils in the other cabinets.

Save: The Floor Model Refrigerator

I ended up replacing the previous refrigerator because the waterline was severely damaged. The fridge had a tough time closing as well (it was never quite flush). I purchased a floor model from Home Depot because it was marked down. It doesn’t have any dents (thankfully).

Splurge: A Silver Bridge Faucet

I had a nice amount left on an Etsy gift card, so I was like, “It’s now or never!”

Save: Reporting Our Moldy Sink

During our home inspection, two inspectors pointed out the mold [around the sink] to us. A month after we got the keys to our home, it was one of the first things we brought to our insurance company’s attention. They sent someone out to check it, and then granted us approval to have the sink removed and replaced with a $75 deductible. It wasn’t a difficult process; dealing with insurance companies is more of a waiting game—it requires patience. For the sink itself, I’d advise people to check their local countertop warehouses, because there are some great deals out there. My sink came from one and was around $120.

Save: Playing the Role of Assistant

I had one of my contractors come in to create a new arched entry into the kitchen (and I offered to assist for a better price). I love doing this because it allows me the opportunity to learn. We used wood and drywall to create the arches. The wood serves as a stud that allows us to anchor the drywall to it. My contractor plastered, and I sanded and painted.

When I hired our countertop installer, I told him I’d been DIYing the kitchen and was wondering if there was some work I could do to save him on time and me on money. He said I could install the plywood while he was cutting the counters outside. I ended up being a helper of sorts for him, and it all worked out. 

Splurge: The ZLINE Stove

I knew I’d fall in love with the kitchen if I gifted myself the stove. I did end up selling our previous stove and microwave (because they were on the newer side) and applied those funds toward our current stove and range hood, so it wasn’t too pricey in the end.

Save: A Touch of Texture

I love how quaint beadboard is. I used a cordless jigsaw to cut each [panel], added a little glue to the back of the board, and then applied each one to the wall with a nail gun.

The textured look I created on my kitchen walls and ceiling is not limewash: I used a masonry brush, two different paints (one slightly lighter than the other), water, and a regular paintbrush. (Check out the process here). I painted the walls one color (two coats) using the regular paintbrushes, and before it dried completely, I followed up by stroking the walls with a lighter color (using the masonry brush), but I made sure to dilute each stroke with water. 

Save: Recharge Your Charging Stations

After adding the higher backsplash, I was going to have to upgrade all of the outlet screws to longer ones, so I figured while I was already at it, I’d upgrade the covers as well. I got a really good deal on them (about $25 for a pack of 20). 

Get the Look

VEVOR Stainless Steel Wall Shelf, Amazon ($66)

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Silver Bridge Kitchen Faucet, Etsy ($392)

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ZLINE Convertible Vent Wall Mount Range Hood in Stainless Steel, The Home Depot ($400)

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CML Decorator Metal Wall Plate 20 Pack, Amazon ($26)

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The post With a $6,500 Budget, I Was Determined to Fall in Love With My Galley Kitchen appeared first on domino.

As a professional recipe developer and food stylist, Diana Yen is used to adding things (a sprinkle of salt, a drizzle of olive oil), not taking them away. But when it came to renovating her Ojai, California, kitchen, that’s exactly where the founder of creative studio A La Carte started. “The cheapest thing you can do is to remove stuff,” says Yen. Getting rid of the upper cabinets that surrounded the cooktop and refrigerator instantly made her galley kitchen feel a bit bigger and breezier. Then Yen ditched the microwave-fan combo so she could fit a proper vent hood. “It definitely made it feel less heavy,” she says. 

Yen is used to getting scrappy. In fact her upcoming cookbook, Slow Burn (with Artisan in 2025), is all about dishes you can craft over a firepit. Making smart choices about where to splurge and where to save on her kitchen makeover came quite easy. Yen takes us through the process, ahead.

Lean Into the Darkness

Yen’s biggest save was keeping her existing cabinets and simply giving the sturdy Shaker-style doors a touch of color. To figure out what hues would work for her dark and narrow space, she went to the ultimate expert: Paddy O’Donnell, the international brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball. When O’Donnell noticed a number of trendy purple kitchens on Yen’s mood board, he got real with her. “He was like, ‘Honestly, you should just go with a sophisticated neutral,’” she recalls. His recommendations? London Clay, a warm brown, for the lower cabinets, and Jitney, a sandy gray, for the uppers and wall. “I thought it was going to be way too dark, but one of the things he and I talked about is, if your home is on the small side, and it does have some darkness to it, you should just make it moody and cozy,” says Yen.

Because her space is so small, when people walk in, their eyes—no matter what—go straight to the appliances. Through partnering with Big Chill, Yen scored an induction stove and refrigerator in matte black with brushed brass trim. Not only do these updated models make her work easier, they’re just nicer to look at. “I love country kitchens, especially French and British kitchens,” says Yen. “My neighborhood is all electric, and they were one of the only brands that made an induction that looks luxe and traditional.”

Put Ceiling Lights Center Stage

With little natural light coming into the kitchen, updating the artificial lighting was a must. Where there were once recessed cans, there are now brushed brass spotlights that Yen found on Etsy for $129 each. “This felt a little more theatrical,” she says, “and I put everything on dimmers.” Her new brass switch plate and faucet also came from Etsy (the latter all the way from a vendor in Morocco). “Sometimes you’re like, ‘I’m not sure how this is going to work or if it’s going to arrive,’ but it was great,” says Yen. 

In the process of reworking some of the electrical in the room, Yen had her outlets consolidated and added USB charging ports to them. “It’s so nice because I’m always on my phone when I’m cooking,” she notes. 

Start With a Blank Canvas That Always Stays Blank

As a food person, Yen’s dream was to have marble countertops. But when she heard that stain-prone stone can make it actually harder to sell in her area, she hopped on the quartz train. “I went to 10 showrooms and was shown one that looked like marble, it just didn’t have any issues with maintenance,” she says. Opposite the cooktop, she dropped in a fresh Native Trails farmhouse sink.

Sprinkle on the Decor

While styling plates is Yen’s jam, she unsurprisingly has a talent for putting together the finishing touches on a kitchen, too. She added a hint of practicality with a brass rail from DeVol that holds small cooking tools and bundles of herbs, and a pinch of beauty with a still life print.

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No one would have blamed you if you thought this Seattle apartment’s kitchen was actually a closet. Paneled in walnut and tucked into a corner, the space was once only accessible through a narrow threshold. Pull the sliding wood door closed and you’d never know what was behind it. A cool party trick, sure, but for a couple who loves to entertain, develop recipes, and make craft cocktails and cider, it was far from the dream. “When I saw this space, it was a time capsule,” recalls Amy Vroom. The designer behind The Residency Bureau was tasked with creating a sense of openness in the 1,200-square-foot condo the couple shares with their teenage son. “Kitchens used to always be walled off. This building is from 1963 and nothing had changed,” she adds.

Also on her list of to-dos? Replace the nonworking appliances, carve out more storage and counter space, and build out a bar in the adjacent dining area. While there was nothing salvageable from the original space, Vroom did want to hang onto one thing from the former kitchen: its mid-century modern roots. Today, a mix of slatted walnut and soothing sage green cabinetry pay homage to the old kitchen.

When All Else Fails, Drop the Soffit

The biggest limitation wasn’t the size of the two-bedroom condo but rather the building itself. “It’s a concrete building, so we couldn’t just add a new junction box for a light fixture,” notes Vroom. While she planned to open up the tiny kitchen by tearing out a wall and putting a peninsula in its place, she’d have to compromise with a soffit overhead. The bump-out was essential for hiding all the inner workings of the new exhaust and recessed lighting. 

Take Risks, But Be Mindful of the Timelines That Come With Them

A black double-door range from Café was high on the owner’s wish list, but choosing an appliance that is specialized comes with its downsides: The company makes fewer of them at a slower rate than the more popular stainless steel versions. When Vroom’s clients learned that it would take almost a year to get the oven they wanted, they began to reassess. “We ended up with the single door,” says the designer. “It’s still induction, it’s still black, but it’s not a double.” 

Dedicate Cupboards to Noncooking-Related Things

Incorporating deep drawers was only one part of the new cabinetry plan. “I’m not joking when I say every inch counted,” says Vroom. To the right of the fridge is what the designer calls the “super-pantry” because it not only has drawers for snacks and soup cans underneath the soapstone countertop but also a coffee station above.

To the left of the fridge is another hardworking spot that houses a step ladder, broom, and vacuum—in other words, it’s a mini cleaning closet. But the real game changer, according to her clients, has been the overhead cupboards that allow them to store nonkitchen essentials like extra rolls of paper towels and TP.

Separate the Food and Drink

Where there once used to be a freestanding shelving unit behind the dining table, there’s now a full-on bar. Vroom worked a wine fridge into the millwork, as well as a large cupboard for their vast collection of vintage glasses. 

Make Your Peninsula Work Hard All the Way Around

The kitchen is far from its closetlike days, but nevertheless, its footprint called for tight squeezes. “They have a pretty small sink,” notes Vroom. “But we wanted to keep it looking out the window [onto Elliott Bay] and still have a dishwasher to the left of it.” The cabinets on the other side of the peninsula are handy for hiding things like the Wi-Fi modem, while the open shelving is prime for displaying their handmade pottery. And integrating counter-stool seating might seem like a simple addition, but it’s “perfect for the three of them,” says Vroom. 

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