Kitchen of the Week: Galley Makeover for Improved Style and Flow
A New Jersey couple and their designer update a 1980s kitchen with white-and-wood cabinets and a better layout
One of the main reasons Ben and Sarah Walker bought their center hall Colonial-style home in Summit, New Jersey, was that they immediately saw how they could improve the galley kitchen and its awkward angled peninsula. “It was the space that sold us on the house,” Sarah says. “We knew it had potential.”
The Walkers spent a year living with the cream-colored cabinets and laminate countertops while taking note of what they enjoyed about the kitchen (the spacious galley layout) and what they disliked (the angled peninsula and outdated 1980s look). The couple, who have three children and a Portuguese water dog and who love to entertain, hired kitchen designer Rebecca Mahoney of Robinwood Kitchens to create a transitional space with personality and improved flow.
The Walkers spent a year living with the cream-colored cabinets and laminate countertops while taking note of what they enjoyed about the kitchen (the spacious galley layout) and what they disliked (the angled peninsula and outdated 1980s look). The couple, who have three children and a Portuguese water dog and who love to entertain, hired kitchen designer Rebecca Mahoney of Robinwood Kitchens to create a transitional space with personality and improved flow.
Need a pro for your kitchen remodeling project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
After: Mahoney removed the old cabinets, appliances and flooring and fixed the ceiling. She then introduced a continuous run of hickory cabinets in place of the previous angled arrangement. The cabinets mix Shaker-style doors with slab drawer fronts. “With three kids and a dog, having the rustic hickory for the bottom was much more practical,” Mahoney says. She skipped upper cabinets on the sink and range wall to give an airier feel.
The 24-by-24-inch charcoal gray ceramic floor tiles in a matte finish connect the kitchen to the eating area. The large-format tile also helps visually enlarge the space.
Mahoney replaced the former breakfast table with a custom island in a medium-dark color (Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams). “This island is out of the main cooking area but really functional,” Mahoney says. “It provides space for eating meals, entertaining or working on school projects.”
Custom cabinets: Candlelight Cabinetry; cabinet hardware: Lydia pulls and T-shape knobs in flat black, Top Knobs
The 24-by-24-inch charcoal gray ceramic floor tiles in a matte finish connect the kitchen to the eating area. The large-format tile also helps visually enlarge the space.
Mahoney replaced the former breakfast table with a custom island in a medium-dark color (Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams). “This island is out of the main cooking area but really functional,” Mahoney says. “It provides space for eating meals, entertaining or working on school projects.”
Custom cabinets: Candlelight Cabinetry; cabinet hardware: Lydia pulls and T-shape knobs in flat black, Top Knobs
The 48-inch gas range has two convection ovens and a chrome-infused griddle. “My husband is the big weekend pancake guy, so the griddle was important to him,” Sarah says. The range replaced a former small cooktop and wall ovens. The Walkers decided to combine the functions so they could add more pantry storage where the wall ovens had been.
A custom sheetrock hood with hickory trim was made on site and includes a powerful fan that keeps smells and smokes from drifting into nearby spaces. A magnetic knife holder under the hood keeps knives handy for prep work. “I didn’t want a knife block on the counter or in the drawers, so I came up with this idea to keep them easily accessible behind the range,” Sarah says.
Find a kitchen remodeler near you
A custom sheetrock hood with hickory trim was made on site and includes a powerful fan that keeps smells and smokes from drifting into nearby spaces. A magnetic knife holder under the hood keeps knives handy for prep work. “I didn’t want a knife block on the counter or in the drawers, so I came up with this idea to keep them easily accessible behind the range,” Sarah says.
Find a kitchen remodeler near you
A large undermount stainless steel sink to the right of the range includes a bamboo cutting board and colander. A paneled trash and recycling pullout sits to the left of the sink; a stainless steel dishwasher is to the right.
Above the sink, a new window with a black fiberglass frame offers a bit of contrast to the white engineered quartz counters, which mimic the look of Statuario marble, and the glossy white hexagonal ceramic tile on the backsplash.
An appliance garage with lift-up door to the right of the sink has electrical outlets inside for the family’s blender and for charging electronic devices. The large white cabinet above with adjustable shelves holds everyday dishes. The wood drawers below store utensils, measuring cups and other baking items.
Sink: Prolific, Kohler; countertops: Eternal Statuario, Silestone by Cosentino
Above the sink, a new window with a black fiberglass frame offers a bit of contrast to the white engineered quartz counters, which mimic the look of Statuario marble, and the glossy white hexagonal ceramic tile on the backsplash.
An appliance garage with lift-up door to the right of the sink has electrical outlets inside for the family’s blender and for charging electronic devices. The large white cabinet above with adjustable shelves holds everyday dishes. The wood drawers below store utensils, measuring cups and other baking items.
Sink: Prolific, Kohler; countertops: Eternal Statuario, Silestone by Cosentino
Before: This photo shows how the angled peninsula impeded traffic flow and how the upper cabinets around the sink made that side of the kitchen feel heavy.
The sliding glass door in the adjoining family room, at left, opens to a deck.
The sliding glass door in the adjoining family room, at left, opens to a deck.
After: Eliminating the angled peninsula and the upper cabinets gave the kitchen a more open and airy feel.
The black frame of the new sliding glass door coordinates with the updated window over the kitchen sink.
The doorway seen in the middle back of this photo opens to a hallway that leads to a powder room and den.
The black frame of the new sliding glass door coordinates with the updated window over the kitchen sink.
The doorway seen in the middle back of this photo opens to a hallway that leads to a powder room and den.
Before: Previously, the refrigerator stuck out on one end of the cabinets. An open cabinet above it was used to store cookbooks, but it was hard to reach and the Walkers thought it made the kitchen look messy.
A small doorway between the wall ovens and microwave served as a narrow passage to the dining room.
A small doorway between the wall ovens and microwave served as a narrow passage to the dining room.
After: Mahoney enlarged the doorway to the dining room and eliminated the wall ovens. She moved the new built-in stainless steel refrigerator to the left to center the large appliance between new cabinetry.
The large white built-in cabinet to the left of the dining room doorway is the family’s central pantry storage. Six shelves with electrical outlets inside offer space for the microwave and toaster oven. “I knew it would be the catchall for everything,” Sarah says. “When I close those doors, it conceals everything.”
Crown and base moldings give the cabinetry a furniture-like look that complements the architecture of the home. “I wanted the space to feel new and fresh but not take away from the integrity of the house and when it was built,” Sarah says.
The large white built-in cabinet to the left of the dining room doorway is the family’s central pantry storage. Six shelves with electrical outlets inside offer space for the microwave and toaster oven. “I knew it would be the catchall for everything,” Sarah says. “When I close those doors, it conceals everything.”
Crown and base moldings give the cabinetry a furniture-like look that complements the architecture of the home. “I wanted the space to feel new and fresh but not take away from the integrity of the house and when it was built,” Sarah says.
A beverage refrigerator in the island stores beer, water and wine.
This wide view also shows the kitchen’s main work area on the left and the angled doorway that opens to the updated mudroom and the home’s side entrance.
Beverage fridge: Danby
This wide view also shows the kitchen’s main work area on the left and the angled doorway that opens to the updated mudroom and the home’s side entrance.
Beverage fridge: Danby
The island also includes a bar sink with filtered water, a trash and recycling pullout and seating for five. An abstract print on canvas hangs on the nearby wall and complements the green paint used on the island base. A cool gray wall paint with blue-green undertones (Harbor Gray by Benjamin Moore) also coordinates with the island.
Sarah selected the matte black dome pendants over the island and the single-light glass pendant above the sink. The kitchen also includes existing recessed lights in the ceiling and undercabinet lights over task areas.
Brynne pendant lights: Feiss
Sarah selected the matte black dome pendants over the island and the single-light glass pendant above the sink. The kitchen also includes existing recessed lights in the ceiling and undercabinet lights over task areas.
Brynne pendant lights: Feiss
A new desk area serves as command central for paying bills and managing schedules. A banquette features a custom cushion and striped pillows. The corner windows offer views of the front yard and give the family dog a cozy spot to watch the neighborhood.
Before: This floor plan of the previous kitchen shows the angled peninsula (center) and tight traffic flow.
After: The new layout and cabinet arrangement improved circulation, storage and style. Sarah says the family spends the vast majority of its time in the new kitchen. “We’re happier in this space,” she says. “It just really feels like a nice, warm place where everyone can gather, and it feels more open to the rest of the house.”
More on Houzz
Read more stories about kitchen makeovers
Get kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer in your neighborhood
Shop for kitchen furniture and other products
More on Houzz
Read more stories about kitchen makeovers
Get kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer in your neighborhood
Shop for kitchen furniture and other products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Ben and Sarah Walker and their three children and dog
Location: Summit, New Jersey
Size: 380 square feet (35 square meters)
Designer: Rebecca Mahoney of Robinwood Kitchens
Before: The Walkers thought the previous cream-colored laminate cabinets and countertops, smallish appliances, maroon tile backsplash and stone tile floor had to go. An angled peninsula cut into traffic flow, as did a stainless steel refrigerator that protruded from the cabinets. A water stain on the ceiling was like an exclamation point to all the problems. “That actually happened after we moved in,” Sarah says. “When we remodeled the hardwood floors upstairs, they must have hit a pipe.”
The family liked the spacious galley layout but wanted better connection to and more function in the breakfast area, seen in the background of this photo.