A small kitchen is almost always a lotfurniture and little space. It’s cramped to be here, let alone cook! How can you expand the space without resorting to construction work? How can you revive your favorite corner of the house so that it brings joy? We will look for answers to these questions together. Despite a complete renovation, the house in Jersey City, New Jersey, has retained its original eclectic character both inside and out. The owners wanted more free space in the kitchen. Their cousins and part-time designers John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino coped brilliantly with the task. All the furniture, plumbing and appliances are located on one wall. Two ordinary, at first glance, chairs and a wooden table are not as simple as they seem. But we will save this secret for dessert. The design of this house managed to combine everything: turquoise vintage furniture, equipment in an eclectic style; modern accents were elegantly placed.
Kitchen at a glance
Who lives here: a married couple.Location: Jersey City, New Jersey. Size: 9 m2. Furniture: Decora, Turquoise Rust; 30-inch gas stove, refrigerator, Broan hood. Kitchen cost: about $58,000. This amount includes dismantling, custom-made display cases, windows, new electrical wiring, plumbing, and a design project. The original arrangement of furniture and appliances was not functional enough. The corner sink ate up a lot of space, so the designers moved it to the edge of the work surface. All plumbing and installation work for the remodel cost the owners $13,000.
The carpenters reduced the doorway to free up some more space. Carrino and Colaneri were able to place the necessary furniture and equipment along one wall, which significantly expanded the space.
The original parquet floors were originallyhidden under the linoleum with a checkerboard pattern. The designers got rid of the latter and found out that the parquet was in excellent condition and did not require repair. So the kitchen acquired another highlight, which did not cost the owners anything. The black stone countertop gives the kitchen a classic look. The chandelier emphasizes the high ceilings, while the folding chairs from Ikea became a kind of modern touch in the overall picture.
Carrino and Colaneri used eachfree centimeter of the available space, so, for example, next to the refrigerator there are two vertical racks for storing spices. The custom-made furniture cost the owners $ 17,500, but it was worth the money. The coziness that emanates from the kitchen set will attract the residents of this house: every morning you will want to meet with a cup of aromatic coffee or herbal tea right here. Household appliances harmoniously fit into the overall concept - the refrigerator, stove, modern hood with a steel surface perfectly match the metal apron and eclectic plumbing. Refrigerator: 61 cm wide, Summit
Lighting became an important issue.In order to get more natural light, it was decided to install a small window instead of the old baseboard. And the aged mirror was placed right behind the sink so that it could reflect the light. This solution allowed to significantly brighten and visually expand the area of the kitchen. By the way, the surface of the mirror was carefully processed: a special film was formed, thanks to which the emerging stains and splashes will not be so noticeable. An elegant antique faucet reminds us of the respectable age of the house. In addition, together with a vintage mirror, industrial lampshade and antique furniture, it creates an atmosphere of coziness and warmth. You don’t want to leave such a kitchen.
The brothers approached the table and chairs with special care.meticulousness. The walnut folding table was perhaps the biggest achievement of the remodel – it freed up a lot of space. Wall paint: Morning Fog, Sherwin-Williams; companion paint: Truly Taupe, Sherwin-Williams; folding chairs: Franklin, Ikea.
The transformed kitchen took on a new look.The layout allowed to visually increase the space. The eclectic style did not allow to forget about the origin of this wonderful house. Now the spouses, throwing a party, can safely place a dance floor right in the kitchen: for this you will only need to hang chairs on hooks located on the wall and fold the table.
