Before & After: 6 Kitchen Makeovers in 200 Sq Feet Or Less
See how designers used new layouts and finishes to make these kitchens work better for homeowners
Erin Carlyle
3 July 2021
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
As professionals and homeowners continue to show, a kitchen space of any size can be both stylish and functional. The following six kitchen makeovers — which range from 122 to about 200 square feet — show that there’s always room to improve a kitchen. Which before-and-after photos most inspire you?
1. Vintage to modern
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Matt Vance and Peter Ashbaugh
Location: Berkeley, California
Size: About 200 square feet (19 square metres)
Architect: Stacy Eisenmann of Eisenmann Architecture
Before: The homeowners disliked their 1964 home’s kitchen layout and lack of natural light. The kitchen had vintage appliances, painted grey cabinets and linoleum floors.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Matt Vance and Peter Ashbaugh
Location: Berkeley, California
Size: About 200 square feet (19 square metres)
Architect: Stacy Eisenmann of Eisenmann Architecture
Before: The homeowners disliked their 1964 home’s kitchen layout and lack of natural light. The kitchen had vintage appliances, painted grey cabinets and linoleum floors.
Photo by Mark Compton
After: Knocking down the wall across from the old range and oven opened the kitchen to the dining space. It also gave the architect sufficient space for a center island, which houses a gas range over a marble-look quartz countertop.
Browse more kitchen photos on Houzz
After: Knocking down the wall across from the old range and oven opened the kitchen to the dining space. It also gave the architect sufficient space for a center island, which houses a gas range over a marble-look quartz countertop.
Browse more kitchen photos on Houzz
Photo by Mark Compton
Adding a skylight drew natural light into the space, and a door leading to the patio from the dining room also brightens the kitchen.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
Adding a skylight drew natural light into the space, and a door leading to the patio from the dining room also brightens the kitchen.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
2. Dark to refreshed
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a child in college and another in high school
Size: About 150 square feet (14 square metres)
Location: Ada, Michigan
Designer: Amanda Sherman of Copper Acorn Interior Design Studio
Before: The homeowners used to own a restaurant and enjoy cooking. Over time they had upgraded their home kitchen’s appliances and they also wanted to update its look. They disliked the cabinet colour surrounding the range hood, the shiny black granite perimeter counter, the St. Cecilia granite island counter and the tumbled travertine backsplash tile.
Find an interior designer near you in the Houzz pro listings
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a child in college and another in high school
Size: About 150 square feet (14 square metres)
Location: Ada, Michigan
Designer: Amanda Sherman of Copper Acorn Interior Design Studio
Before: The homeowners used to own a restaurant and enjoy cooking. Over time they had upgraded their home kitchen’s appliances and they also wanted to update its look. They disliked the cabinet colour surrounding the range hood, the shiny black granite perimeter counter, the St. Cecilia granite island counter and the tumbled travertine backsplash tile.
Find an interior designer near you in the Houzz pro listings
Photo by David Sparks
After: Light green-blue paint on the burgundy cabinets, a new backsplash, new countertops and new wall paint completely changed the look and feel of the room. The cabinet colour was inspired by the cloudy colours of Lake Michigan’s water, which can be more blue or more green depending on the weather.
After: Light green-blue paint on the burgundy cabinets, a new backsplash, new countertops and new wall paint completely changed the look and feel of the room. The cabinet colour was inspired by the cloudy colours of Lake Michigan’s water, which can be more blue or more green depending on the weather.
Photo by David Sparks
The new counters are a Taj Mahal quartzite with a honey amber vein. Designer Amanda Sherman kept the strip of cherry wood on the range hood to help tie this part of the room to the rest.
The wall was painted a warm sand colour (Naturel by Sherwin-Williams) and the trim white (White Dove by Benjamin Moore).
Read more about this kitchen makeover
The new counters are a Taj Mahal quartzite with a honey amber vein. Designer Amanda Sherman kept the strip of cherry wood on the range hood to help tie this part of the room to the rest.
The wall was painted a warm sand colour (Naturel by Sherwin-Williams) and the trim white (White Dove by Benjamin Moore).
Read more about this kitchen makeover
3. Closed-off to open-concept
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Bryan and Lisa Kelly, co-founders of online retailer PrairieMod
Location: Wheaton, Illinois
Size: About 150 square feet (14 square metres)
Designer: Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Before: A bulky peninsula cut the kitchen off from the main living areas of this condo. The upper cherry cabinets were too visually heavy and the black granite countertops contributed to a dark feel.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Bryan and Lisa Kelly, co-founders of online retailer PrairieMod
Location: Wheaton, Illinois
Size: About 150 square feet (14 square metres)
Designer: Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Before: A bulky peninsula cut the kitchen off from the main living areas of this condo. The upper cherry cabinets were too visually heavy and the black granite countertops contributed to a dark feel.
Photo by Michael Alan Kaskel
After: This photo, taken from the same angle as the previous shot, shows how eliminating the peninsula and moving the sink to an island created better flow. Light grey walls and white cabinets and trim help visually expand the space. Oak X-end caps on the island add warmth and tie in with the homeowners’ white oak furniture.
After: This photo, taken from the same angle as the previous shot, shows how eliminating the peninsula and moving the sink to an island created better flow. Light grey walls and white cabinets and trim help visually expand the space. Oak X-end caps on the island add warmth and tie in with the homeowners’ white oak furniture.
Photo by Michael Alan Kaskel
Handmade black tiles in a herringbone pattern add a pleasant contrast to all the white. The grout is light grey. The countertops are durable white quartz. A faucet in champagne bronze pairs well with the satin brass pulls on the cabinets.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
Handmade black tiles in a herringbone pattern add a pleasant contrast to all the white. The grout is light grey. The countertops are durable white quartz. A faucet in champagne bronze pairs well with the satin brass pulls on the cabinets.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
4. Awkward to open
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with two kids and two dogs
Location: Franklin, Tennessee
Size: 192 square feet (18 square metres)
Designers: Erin Hurst of French’s Cabinet Gallery and Weston Blankenship of E35 Design
Before: The homeowners wanted to open their kitchen to the living room and create an island large enough for the family to eat around. They also wanted the kitchen to tie in design-wise with the adjacent living space.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with two kids and two dogs
Location: Franklin, Tennessee
Size: 192 square feet (18 square metres)
Designers: Erin Hurst of French’s Cabinet Gallery and Weston Blankenship of E35 Design
Before: The homeowners wanted to open their kitchen to the living room and create an island large enough for the family to eat around. They also wanted the kitchen to tie in design-wise with the adjacent living space.
Photo by Chris McCarthy
After: Kitchen designer Erin Hurst replaced the angled wall to the right of the doorway (see previous photo) with one straight in line with the doorway. She also removed the peninsula. These changes expanded the kitchen’s footprint.
The kitchen island’s deep blue paint balances the ivory perimeter cabinets, and a cement tile backsplash chosen by interior designer Weston Blankenship adds a lively touch. The bar stool seat covers were chosen to pull from the floral prints above the fireplace and the colors in the kitchen rug.
After: Kitchen designer Erin Hurst replaced the angled wall to the right of the doorway (see previous photo) with one straight in line with the doorway. She also removed the peninsula. These changes expanded the kitchen’s footprint.
The kitchen island’s deep blue paint balances the ivory perimeter cabinets, and a cement tile backsplash chosen by interior designer Weston Blankenship adds a lively touch. The bar stool seat covers were chosen to pull from the floral prints above the fireplace and the colors in the kitchen rug.
Photo by Erin Hurst
After: A detailed range hood that Hurst designed is the focal point on the kitchen’s back wall. Cabinets flanking the hood create symmetry.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
After: A detailed range hood that Hurst designed is the focal point on the kitchen’s back wall. Cabinets flanking the hood create symmetry.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
5. Retro style to updated farmhouse vibe
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Colleen and Javier Guzman and their two sons
Location: Minneapolis
Size: 122 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Carol Kornak of Crystal Kitchen + Bath
Before: The old kitchen in this 1918 home in Minneapolis had cabinets from a previous remodel and little counter space. The homeowners wanted built-in appliances, better storage and a small breakfast bar.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Colleen and Javier Guzman and their two sons
Location: Minneapolis
Size: 122 square feet (11 square meters)
Designer: Carol Kornak of Crystal Kitchen + Bath
Before: The old kitchen in this 1918 home in Minneapolis had cabinets from a previous remodel and little counter space. The homeowners wanted built-in appliances, better storage and a small breakfast bar.
Photo by Spacecrafting
After: Designer Carol Kornak reconfigured the kitchen layout within the room’s existing footprint. Bright finishes, new windows, Shaker-style cabinets and 4-by-12-inch glossy gray backsplash tile gave the kitchen an updated farmhouse look in keeping with the home’s style. The apron-front sink from Franke is a classic farmhouse style.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
After: Designer Carol Kornak reconfigured the kitchen layout within the room’s existing footprint. Bright finishes, new windows, Shaker-style cabinets and 4-by-12-inch glossy gray backsplash tile gave the kitchen an updated farmhouse look in keeping with the home’s style. The apron-front sink from Franke is a classic farmhouse style.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
6. Clunky flow to better layout
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with three kids
Location: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Size: 190 square feet (18 square meters)
Designer: Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Before: The old kitchen had wood cabinets, dark granite countertops and a small centre island and peninsula that cut off the flow to the breakfast area.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with three kids
Location: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Size: 190 square feet (18 square meters)
Designer: Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Before: The old kitchen had wood cabinets, dark granite countertops and a small centre island and peninsula that cut off the flow to the breakfast area.
Photo by LOMA Studios
After: Better flow and seating for the whole family were the top priorities for this remodel. The designer removed the small island and peninsula and added a long center island with five counter stools. She also moved the refrigerator to the side wall of the kitchen to help the space feel more open.
After: Better flow and seating for the whole family were the top priorities for this remodel. The designer removed the small island and peninsula and added a long center island with five counter stools. She also moved the refrigerator to the side wall of the kitchen to help the space feel more open.
Photo by LOMA Studios
Shaker-style cabinets maximize storage. The island is clad in dark gray shiplap and the countertops are marble-look quartz. The home’s original wood floors were refinished.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
Tell us:
Which makeover did you like the best?
Shaker-style cabinets maximize storage. The island is clad in dark gray shiplap and the countertops are marble-look quartz. The home’s original wood floors were refinished.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
Tell us:
Which makeover did you like the best?
What are you working on?
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Extraordinary
I like the position of the sink my only query would be would there be enough room to prepare and serve meals
I love this post! My husband and I will be moving to a condo in the future and I’m storing all of these ideas in my brain so whatever kitchen is available I can see it in a different light! These ideas are great! I like that there is the same appliance placement in most! The first one with just the counter, backsplash and paint changed made a huge difference! Thanks!