Kitchen of the Week: A Colorful Look for a 1920s Bungalow
Teal cabinetry and display shelves for collections give an L.A. designer’s kitchen lots of visual appeal
Interior designer Barbie Palomino’s husband-to-be had bought this 1920s bungalow in West Hollywood, California, before they were married, and the kitchen needed a lot of work. “It was dingy, gross, had a weird terra-cotta tile floor that was not special and old tile countertops where the thick grout collected so much dirt I had to vacuum it with a special attachment on my Dyson,” Palomino says with a laugh. Lucky for her groom, he’d married a designer, and she transformed the space into a playful, colorful, functional space worthy of being on view.
Part of the renovation included adding these bookshelves around the cased opening to the kitchen. Palomino’s vintage finds, the couple’s books and her husband’s graphic novel collection frame the colorful kitchen. And Palomino chose wasabi green upholstery for the dining chairs that plays off the teal cabinetry.
In addition to the cased opening, a change in flooring marks the transition between the dining area and the kitchen. Her husband had installed the gray laminate flooring in the living and dining areas before she got her hands on the project. She matched the gray color with porcelain tile in a chevron pattern. The color provides continuity while the scale and pattern change things up.
Browse range hoods in the Houzz shop
Browse range hoods in the Houzz shop
“I was pregnant while we were remodeling, and my husband does most of the cooking,” Palomino says. This inspired a center island with a range facing the living room and dining room so he could be a part of things going on in the living and dining areas while preparing meals.
The dining area side of the island has convenient storage for china, serveware and flatware. The island is also well-placed to serve as a buffet.
The dining area side of the island has convenient storage for china, serveware and flatware. The island is also well-placed to serve as a buffet.
The sink area has windows for enjoying the backyard view. The fridge on the left completes the easy work triangle. Panel-front appliances that match the cabinetry, like the fridge and dishwasher (to the right of the sink) maintain a seamless look.
Wall color: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Wall color: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
The area on the other side of the kitchen is a bar and provides storage for glassware and displaying favorite things. Glass-front cabinets keep the area around the large window light and airy and give Palomino a spot to show off her collection of vintage glassware. The oak shelf provides another opportunity for styling.
“We were on a budget, so we bought Ikea cabinets and had them customized by Semihandmade with some slab fronts and customize them with paint,” she says. Large drawers instead of cabinet doors provide ergonomic storage that maximizes space for pots and pans.
The rug adds an eclectic touch. It’s an overdyed vintage Turkish rug she already had, cut down to fit the space as a runner.
Cabinet paint: Olympus Green, Benjamin Moore
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“We were on a budget, so we bought Ikea cabinets and had them customized by Semihandmade with some slab fronts and customize them with paint,” she says. Large drawers instead of cabinet doors provide ergonomic storage that maximizes space for pots and pans.
The rug adds an eclectic touch. It’s an overdyed vintage Turkish rug she already had, cut down to fit the space as a runner.
Cabinet paint: Olympus Green, Benjamin Moore
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“Choosing Shaker style nodded to the 1920s,” Palomino says of the cabinetry. Full overlay cabinetry and the slab front drawers update the traditional style. The finish on the hardware and faucets is satin brass. The countertops are white quartz, chosen for durability and the way it bounces the light around.
A brass double sconce over the sink provides mood lighting. The rest of the lighting scheme is provided by LED recessed lighting.
Light fixture: Clemente Double Sconce, Aerin Collection, Visual Comfort
A brass double sconce over the sink provides mood lighting. The rest of the lighting scheme is provided by LED recessed lighting.
Light fixture: Clemente Double Sconce, Aerin Collection, Visual Comfort
The paneled door leads to a powder bath-laundry room. The door was originally an exterior door on the home.
Palomino added a “WC” decal to embellish the vintage door with a playful touch.
Takeaways
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Takeaways
- Looking at the color wheel and meeting in the middle between your favorite colors can be a great way for partners to compromise.
- In an open kitchen, consider how all of the spaces within view of one another will work together.
- Panel-front cabinetry provides a seamless look. This is especially nice in an open plan.
- You don’t have to be strict about adhering to your home’s style and age, but a few nods to it will make it feel cohesive.
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Read more kitchen stories
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who uses it: Interior designer Barbie Palomino, her husband and their child
Location: West Hollywood, California
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Barbie Palomino of Studio Palomino
The first order of business was removing a wall that separated the kitchen from the rest of the living space. The large new opening put the kitchen within view upon entering through the front door.
The first design decision the newlyweds made was a compromise. “My husband loves green and I love blue, so we landed on teal for the cabinets,” Palomino says. “We wanted the space to be bright and playful but also refined and mature.” She played off the cabinet color throughout the rest of the public areas by using brightly colored pillows, chairs, decorative objects and art. “As a designer, I love switching things up, and these pops of color are easy to swap out,” she says.
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