Kitchen of the Week: Inviting Green Cabinets and Improved Storage
A designer updates a California couple’s aging kitchen with bright color, hardworking cabinets and more natural light
After 20 years of putting off a kitchen remodel, Eugene and Janet Wang reached their breaking point. One of their wall ovens went out five years ago. They’d been taping down loose linoleum floor tiles for a while. And the wood cabinets were over 50 years old. Deciding enough was enough, they turned to designer Megan Paulson for help.
Instead of knocking down walls, Paulson widened openings into the kitchen from surrounding spaces to improve flow and connection with the rest of the home. Janet’s collection of jadeite and green Depression glass inspired the muted forest green cabinet color. And a wider peninsula, upgraded appliances, improved lighting and revamped breakfast nook give the couple a fresh, modern-day kitchen with timeless appeal.
Instead of knocking down walls, Paulson widened openings into the kitchen from surrounding spaces to improve flow and connection with the rest of the home. Janet’s collection of jadeite and green Depression glass inspired the muted forest green cabinet color. And a wider peninsula, upgraded appliances, improved lighting and revamped breakfast nook give the couple a fresh, modern-day kitchen with timeless appeal.
After: Paulson removed the old appliances, sink, faucet, flooring and some of the cabinets, including the upper units over the peninsula. She was able to repurpose some of the original cabinets. “With the original cabinets we kept, we sprayed them warm white inside to give them a fresh look and match the interiors of the new custom cabinets,” Paulson says.
The new custom paint-grade wood cabinets and drawers and the repurposed units are a welcoming shade of green (English Holly by Dunn-Edwards). “It has a richness to it without being too dark or too heavy,” Paulson says.
She also widened the peninsula to fit a new slide-in range and widened the openings into the breakfast area and TV room. “We couldn’t take down any walls to make it one grand space, and that’s not what she wanted anyway,” Paulson says. “This gives the illusion of an open space.”
Large-format (12-by-24-inch) sand-colored porcelain floor tiles have a matte textured finish and the look of limestone.
The white pocket door leads to the formal dining room.
Custom cabinets: Julio’s Fine Cabinetry; flooring: Consulate, Daltile
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The new custom paint-grade wood cabinets and drawers and the repurposed units are a welcoming shade of green (English Holly by Dunn-Edwards). “It has a richness to it without being too dark or too heavy,” Paulson says.
She also widened the peninsula to fit a new slide-in range and widened the openings into the breakfast area and TV room. “We couldn’t take down any walls to make it one grand space, and that’s not what she wanted anyway,” Paulson says. “This gives the illusion of an open space.”
Large-format (12-by-24-inch) sand-colored porcelain floor tiles have a matte textured finish and the look of limestone.
The white pocket door leads to the formal dining room.
Custom cabinets: Julio’s Fine Cabinetry; flooring: Consulate, Daltile
Find a kitchen designer
Before: In the former kitchen, a soffit over the sink created a heavy feel.
The aging white tile countertops were particularly difficult to maintain. “The grout was an absolute mess,” Janet says. “I tried to get in there with bleach to clean it, but it never worked.”
The aging white tile countertops were particularly difficult to maintain. “The grout was an absolute mess,” Janet says. “I tried to get in there with bleach to clean it, but it never worked.”
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After: Paulson eliminated the soffit, lightening the look around the window and allowing her to install white glazed ceramic subway tiles all the way to the ceiling. “At first we were thinking of just having the tiles go to just under the cabinets, but then we realized that it would be better to go all the way to the ceiling,” Janet says.
Polished marble-look quartz countertops give the space a durable and stylish surface. “The gray and gold tones in it pull in the flooring and backsplash,” Paulson says.
A satin nickel faucet, porcelain and wood sconce and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet knobs and pulls create a mixed-materials look.
Backsplash tile: Cloe, 2½ by 8 inches in white, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; sconce: Tucker, Worley’s Lighting; sink: Allia, Rohl; faucet: Davoli, California Faucets
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Polished marble-look quartz countertops give the space a durable and stylish surface. “The gray and gold tones in it pull in the flooring and backsplash,” Paulson says.
A satin nickel faucet, porcelain and wood sconce and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet knobs and pulls create a mixed-materials look.
Backsplash tile: Cloe, 2½ by 8 inches in white, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; sconce: Tucker, Worley’s Lighting; sink: Allia, Rohl; faucet: Davoli, California Faucets
Shop for kitchen sinks and faucets
Before: One of the ovens had broken down years ago, and the other appliances weren’t far off from a similar fate.
After: Paulson removed the wall ovens and moved their function to the slide-in range in the peninsula. This allowed her to add drawer storage in place of the wall ovens, as well as a built-in, low-profile microwave. A stainless steel dishwasher joins other stainless appliances for a sleek, updated look.
The Pros and Cons of 3 Popular Kitchen Layouts
The Pros and Cons of 3 Popular Kitchen Layouts
Before: Janet was in need of better storage. In the former kitchen, she kept serving bowls on top of the small white refrigerator, which also didn’t offer adequate storage.
A microwave on the right ate up countertop space. The cabinet above it was in good condition, so Paulson moved it across the room and reused it. A large pantry cabinet on the left was also in decent shape and in a good location.
A microwave on the right ate up countertop space. The cabinet above it was in good condition, so Paulson moved it across the room and reused it. A large pantry cabinet on the left was also in decent shape and in a good location.
After: A 36-inch-wide counter-depth stainless steel refrigerator greatly improved cold storage. “I love the fact that the freezer is on the bottom and I can open the refrigerator now and look straight in and see what’s there,” Janet says.
Paulson updated the pantry cabinet on the left to match the green cabinets. A new bank of upper cabinets above the fridge stores and displays Janet’s collection of jadeite and green Depression glass.
A thick custom oak floating shelf with a natural finish offers another spot for decorative items. Below sits a new coffee bar. “She loves her coffee — and didn’t have a designated space for that before,” Paulson says.
Paulson updated the pantry cabinet on the left to match the green cabinets. A new bank of upper cabinets above the fridge stores and displays Janet’s collection of jadeite and green Depression glass.
A thick custom oak floating shelf with a natural finish offers another spot for decorative items. Below sits a new coffee bar. “She loves her coffee — and didn’t have a designated space for that before,” Paulson says.
Before: Heavy upper cabinets made the former kitchen feel dark and closed off from the breakfast area and blocked light from a sliding glass door. “We hated those upper cabinets,” Janet says. “We would bang our heads on that corner if we weren’t paying attention.”
The walls were a bright coral color. “I took art classes and wanted to play around with color,” Janet says.
The walls were a bright coral color. “I took art classes and wanted to play around with color,” Janet says.
After: With the upper cabinets gone, the kitchen shares a better connection — and more light — with the breakfast area.
The 30-inch dual-fuel slide-in range has downdraft ventilation and a convection oven. “They just had an electric cooktop there before,” Paulson says. “I widened this peninsula almost all the way to the sliding door so we could have room for this range.”
Warm tan walls (Stucco Tan by Dunn-Edwards) and the off-white ceiling, trim and pocket door (Swiss Coffee by Dunn-Edwards) combine to create a neutral backdrop for the green cabinetry.
The 30-inch dual-fuel slide-in range has downdraft ventilation and a convection oven. “They just had an electric cooktop there before,” Paulson says. “I widened this peninsula almost all the way to the sliding door so we could have room for this range.”
Warm tan walls (Stucco Tan by Dunn-Edwards) and the off-white ceiling, trim and pocket door (Swiss Coffee by Dunn-Edwards) combine to create a neutral backdrop for the green cabinetry.
A pullout to the right of the range stores sheet pans and cutting boards, as well as a spice drawer.
The pullout to the left has containers for utensils and shelves for ramekins and small mixing bowls.
Before and After: 3 Light Green-and-White Kitchen Makeovers
The pullout to the left has containers for utensils and shelves for ramekins and small mixing bowls.
Before and After: 3 Light Green-and-White Kitchen Makeovers
This wide view of the kitchen shows the waterfall edge on the widened peninsula. “We had enough countertop remaining to pull that off,” Paulson says. “It also contains all that green, so it doesn’t seem too heavy.”
Panel fronts on the peninsula help finish it off.
The kitchen now also includes LED recessed lights in the ceiling and undercabinet lights on dimmers.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Panel fronts on the peninsula help finish it off.
The kitchen now also includes LED recessed lights in the ceiling and undercabinet lights on dimmers.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A touch-open cabinet sits on this far end of the peninsula. “I try to put hidden storage wherever I can put in hidden storage,” Paulson says. “That’s the beauty of going custom.”
Before: The former breakfast area had a small and basic rectangular wood table and wood chairs. “The pendant light in that location was not centered,” Paulson says.
After: In the updated space, a custom banquette in a performance fabric wraps around an oval wood table and black dining chairs. The double pendant above has a hardwood backplate and white linen drum shades. “I was thinking about that space for a long time,” Janet says. “I wanted something really comfortable.”
A natural-fiber sisal rug under the table and chairs has a geometric pattern and adds a touch of softness over the porcelain tile floor.
The curated gallery wall includes Janet’s art collection and finds from her travels, adding a personal touch to this cheerful, renovated kitchen. “It’s so warm, comfortable and inviting,” she says. “The remodel has really made the kitchen the center of our home.”
Pendant light: Charlotte double pendant, Worley’s Lighting; rug: Palm Beach Collection, Safavieh
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A natural-fiber sisal rug under the table and chairs has a geometric pattern and adds a touch of softness over the porcelain tile floor.
The curated gallery wall includes Janet’s art collection and finds from her travels, adding a personal touch to this cheerful, renovated kitchen. “It’s so warm, comfortable and inviting,” she says. “The remodel has really made the kitchen the center of our home.”
Pendant light: Charlotte double pendant, Worley’s Lighting; rug: Palm Beach Collection, Safavieh
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: Eugene and Janet Wang
Location: Oxnard, California
Size: 220 square feet (20 square meters)
Designer: Megan Paulson of 22 Design House
Before: The G-shaped layout of the former kitchen worked for the Wangs, but that’s about all the space had going for it. The peninsula was too short. Upper cabinets physically and visually separated the kitchen from the breakfast area. “The kitchen felt like it wanted to be more open, but it was really closed off,” Janet says.
The wood cabinets were original to the 1969 house. And the white tile countertops, aging white appliances and worn-out linoleum flooring had seen better days probably a decade ago.