Kitchen of the Week: White, Wood and Gray With Tons of Storage
A designer expands into a dining room to create a large kitchen with a roomy island, expansive cabinets and fresh style
With two teenagers, this Pennsylvania couple wanted to expand their kitchen with their growing family. The existing 265-square-foot space felt tight, with a small island that had room for only two. Short upper cabinets offered limited storage and furthered the cramped feel.
The couple turned to designer Maria Cross for help. Cross took down a wall between the kitchen and the rarely used dining room and incorporated the extra space to enlarge the kitchen by 165 square feet. That freed up room for a large island that can seat four, and it let Cross add tons of cabinet storage, including a hardworking beverage station with a flat-screen TV. White cabinets give the space a light and airy look, while a gray glass tile backsplash, a dark gray island and black details bring an elegant touch. White oak flooring and a white oak band on the range hood add warmth.
The couple turned to designer Maria Cross for help. Cross took down a wall between the kitchen and the rarely used dining room and incorporated the extra space to enlarge the kitchen by 165 square feet. That freed up room for a large island that can seat four, and it let Cross add tons of cabinet storage, including a hardworking beverage station with a flat-screen TV. White cabinets give the space a light and airy look, while a gray glass tile backsplash, a dark gray island and black details bring an elegant touch. White oak flooring and a white oak band on the range hood add warmth.
After: Cross stripped the former kitchen back and removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room. She used the extra space to expand the kitchen by 165 square feet, to 430 square feet. She also removed the bulkhead over the former island. “That really gave us that more open feeling,” she says.
The expansion allowed Cross to install a larger island that can seat four. The new U-shaped layout also let her maximize storage by adding tons of cabinets, including a beverage center on the left. Bringing the upper cabinets to the ceiling helped take advantage of every inch.
The white Shaker-style cabinets give the room bright, fresh style. Warm gray walls (Gossamer Veil by Sherwin-Williams), gray glass tile backsplash and nearly black charcoal gray island (Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams) lend a touch of elegance and drama. The white oak floor and white oak band on the range hood add a dose of warmth. “We wanted something that looked updated but still had a classic look to it,” Cross says.
Cabinets: Martin, frameless, Oak and Pillar Cabinetry by McQueen Building
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The expansion allowed Cross to install a larger island that can seat four. The new U-shaped layout also let her maximize storage by adding tons of cabinets, including a beverage center on the left. Bringing the upper cabinets to the ceiling helped take advantage of every inch.
The white Shaker-style cabinets give the room bright, fresh style. Warm gray walls (Gossamer Veil by Sherwin-Williams), gray glass tile backsplash and nearly black charcoal gray island (Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams) lend a touch of elegance and drama. The white oak floor and white oak band on the range hood add a dose of warmth. “We wanted something that looked updated but still had a classic look to it,” Cross says.
Cabinets: Martin, frameless, Oak and Pillar Cabinetry by McQueen Building
Find a kitchen designer in your area
Marble-look quartz countertops complement the white and grays in the kitchen. “Engineered quartz is great because it’s scratch- and stain-resistant, so it’s the perfect solution for a busy family,” Cross says. “The white helps brighten up the space, because it’s one of the first surfaces your eye hits.”
Two large glass globe pendants above the island have a black finish that coordinates with the black counter stools.
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Two large glass globe pendants above the island have a black finish that coordinates with the black counter stools.
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A 36-inch stainless steel gas cooktop with sealed brass burners, chrome-infused griddle and cast-iron grates gives the homeowners some serious cooking power. Oil-rubbed bronze cabinet knobs and pulls coordinate with other dark details in the kitchen.
The custom range hood has a curved profile. “This client had a transitional style with simple, clean lines, but because this was a focal point, we brought curves into it to bring more interest,” Cross says. “The band was stained to match the dark tones of the floor and to bring more contrast to that wall.”
This view also offers a closer look at the 2-by-4-inch gray glass backsplash tiles set in a brick pattern with white grout.
Range: Noir in stainless steel, 36 inches, JennAir
The custom range hood has a curved profile. “This client had a transitional style with simple, clean lines, but because this was a focal point, we brought curves into it to bring more interest,” Cross says. “The band was stained to match the dark tones of the floor and to bring more contrast to that wall.”
This view also offers a closer look at the 2-by-4-inch gray glass backsplash tiles set in a brick pattern with white grout.
Range: Noir in stainless steel, 36 inches, JennAir
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This interior side of the island includes drawers with dividers and pegs for organizing dishes. “The previous island was pretty small, so by having a larger island with storage it allows more space for appliances on the perimeter and keeps people out of the main cooking area when grabbing dishes,” Cross says.
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A carbon-colored undermount single-basin granite composite sink comes with a basin rack and basket strainer. It’s paired with a sleek matte black pull-down faucet. “Because this style was more transitional, the undermount allows for easy cleaning and speaks to that style,” Cross says. “Going with a black composite sink was also a way to make an eye-catcher, instead of it being just an afterthought.”
Faucet: Calverton in matte black, Signature Hardware
Faucet: Calverton in matte black, Signature Hardware
Burnished bronze wall sconces with clear glass shades provide lighting over the sink area. “This window was actually one we extended, a great way to bring more light in,” Cross says. “At night, the best place to have good accent light is above the sink.”
A 24-inch built-in stainless steel dishwasher with pocket handle sits to the right of the sink. A 30-inch microwave and wall oven and a stainless steel French door fridge stand nearby.
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A 24-inch built-in stainless steel dishwasher with pocket handle sits to the right of the sink. A 30-inch microwave and wall oven and a stainless steel French door fridge stand nearby.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A shallow upper cabinet to the right of the sink holds extra cups and glassware. “We wanted to make sure around the window that we kept it open,” Cross says. “So instead of making it a full-depth cabinet, we went with 12 inches deep to keep that area nice and open.”
The beverage station features plenty of storage and a TV the family uses to keep up with news and sports.
A floating wood shelf above the station coordinates with the range hood band. “It was just another way to bring warmth into the space and connect both areas visually,” Cross says.
Wide drawers hold entertaining supplies, while countertop cabinets for glassware and mail allow the surface to remain clear for serving. Glass-front cabinets up top display collectibles. “We used LED lights inside for creating a focal point for the pieces,” Cross says.
A floating wood shelf above the station coordinates with the range hood band. “It was just another way to bring warmth into the space and connect both areas visually,” Cross says.
Wide drawers hold entertaining supplies, while countertop cabinets for glassware and mail allow the surface to remain clear for serving. Glass-front cabinets up top display collectibles. “We used LED lights inside for creating a focal point for the pieces,” Cross says.
Before: This floor plan of the former kitchen (top center) shows its separation from the rarely used dining room (top left). The layout cut the kitchen off from the main living room (bottom left). “There was a lot of separation, and nothing really spoke together,” Cross says.
After: Cross removed the wall separating the dining room and expanded the kitchen into that space (top left). This allowed for the larger island and more efficient U-shaped layout. “The kitchen is a huge upgrade from what they had in terms of style and even appliances,” Cross says. “Now they have so much space. It’s a kitchen they want to use instead of a kitchen they have to use.”
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two teenagers and two dogs
Location: Peters Township, Pennsylvania
Size: 430 square feet (40 square meters)
Designer: Maria Cross of McQueen Building
Before: The homeowners felt their former kitchen lacked storage and style. Low-hung upper cabinets crowded the room and didn’t offer enough storage space, forcing the couple to keep small appliances on the countertops and the trash and recycling bins out in the open. The small two-seater island wasn’t sufficient for the family of four, and a central bulkhead dropped the pendant lights too low.
Meanwhile, brown cabinets, midtone wood flooring, deep red walls and dark granite countertops gave the space a low-energy atmosphere.
The range wall separated the kitchen from the unused formal dining room, where Cross looked to expand the kitchen. “The kitchen really needed to be brightened up,” she says. “We needed to create more counter space and make it more functional.”