Kitchen of the Week: White and Wood for a Busy Family of 5
A designer helps a New Jersey couple create a brighter and more efficient space for their active lifestyle
Jeannie Matteucci
April 1, 2021
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish spaces, smart lighting and a good decaf dry cappuccino.
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish... More
This New Jersey couple’s kitchen was in decent enough shape, but after a few years with three young kids running around, they realized the space wasn’t supporting their active lifestyle. The standard maple cabinets, beige backsplash tile, granite countertops and large square tile flooring didn’t fit the style they wanted, and the small island didn’t offer the kind of function they needed for a family of five. They wanted a more efficient space with a soothing-but-not-boring look and a better connection with their backyard.
The couple hired designer Ioana Curovic to help, and they looked at inspiration photos on Houzz to determine the right style direction and which features would best accommodate their vision. They arrived at a layout with a more open feeling and a soothing white-and-wood palette that makes the space feel bright, warm and inviting.
The couple hired designer Ioana Curovic to help, and they looked at inspiration photos on Houzz to determine the right style direction and which features would best accommodate their vision. They arrived at a layout with a more open feeling and a soothing white-and-wood palette that makes the space feel bright, warm and inviting.
“After” photos by Photography by Cara
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with three young children
Location: Bergen County, New Jersey
Size: 270 square feet (25 square meters)
Designer: Ioana Curovic of Z+ Interiors
Before: The previous kitchen was functional but not a great experience. The owners disliked the look of the basic maple cabinets and how the upper cabinets hung at varying heights. The square beige ceramic backsplash and basic granite countertops felt dated, and the tile floor was always cold.
The white appliances weren’t exactly inspiring either, and a piece of plywood had been added to the dishwasher after its original panel had worn down.
Double wall ovens to the left of the gas cooktop limited counter space and storage. The paneled white door to the left of the ovens leads to the garage. “A tiny mudroom area there was spilling into the kitchen,” Curovic says.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with three young children
Location: Bergen County, New Jersey
Size: 270 square feet (25 square meters)
Designer: Ioana Curovic of Z+ Interiors
Before: The previous kitchen was functional but not a great experience. The owners disliked the look of the basic maple cabinets and how the upper cabinets hung at varying heights. The square beige ceramic backsplash and basic granite countertops felt dated, and the tile floor was always cold.
The white appliances weren’t exactly inspiring either, and a piece of plywood had been added to the dishwasher after its original panel had worn down.
Double wall ovens to the left of the gas cooktop limited counter space and storage. The paneled white door to the left of the ovens leads to the garage. “A tiny mudroom area there was spilling into the kitchen,” Curovic says.
After: Curovic took the former space down to the studs. She pushed the kitchen 5 feet into the backyard along the sink wall, helping to add 80 square feet to the space and to allow for a larger island. She also relocated the wall ovens to another wall to free up space around the new cooktop and create better circulation.
Curovic opted for an expanded window along the new sink wall instead of upper cabinets to create an open feel. White upper cabinets on the other wall, along with backsplash tile, ceiling and trim paint and an ivory-colored quartz countertop give the space a fresh, bright atmosphere. (See below for paint colors).
Shaker-style white oak base cabinets, white oak hood detail and new red oak flooring warm the space and give it character. “A lot of the inspiration photos from the client included white with wood accents, which bring some nice warmth to the space,” Curovic says.
Flat black cabinet hardware, sconce plates and island stool bases add a bit of contrast and graphic lines.
Custom cabinets: MiterBox; cabinet hardware: Lydia T-shape knob and Kinney pull in flat black, Top Knobs; paint colors: Chantilly Lace (upper cabinets), Winter White in matte finish (walls), Ceiling White in a flat finish (ceiling), Super White in a semigloss finish (trim), Benjamin Moore
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Curovic opted for an expanded window along the new sink wall instead of upper cabinets to create an open feel. White upper cabinets on the other wall, along with backsplash tile, ceiling and trim paint and an ivory-colored quartz countertop give the space a fresh, bright atmosphere. (See below for paint colors).
Shaker-style white oak base cabinets, white oak hood detail and new red oak flooring warm the space and give it character. “A lot of the inspiration photos from the client included white with wood accents, which bring some nice warmth to the space,” Curovic says.
Flat black cabinet hardware, sconce plates and island stool bases add a bit of contrast and graphic lines.
Custom cabinets: MiterBox; cabinet hardware: Lydia T-shape knob and Kinney pull in flat black, Top Knobs; paint colors: Chantilly Lace (upper cabinets), Winter White in matte finish (walls), Ceiling White in a flat finish (ceiling), Super White in a semigloss finish (trim), Benjamin Moore
Find a home design and remodeling team
Curovic customized the new 36-inch gas cooktop with a front panel made from the same quartz as the countertops. “This was a very critical design choice by the client,” Curovic says. “At first we thought of making it out of wood but then realized the smarter choice was to wrap the quartz down. She loved the modern look of it too, so it was worth the extra expense.”
A 24-inch electric oven with an extra large cavity below the cooktop combines steam and convection. “She figured having the steam oven here was a good idea, because it’s something she uses on a daily basis,” Curovic says. “She uses it to cook fish, veggies and one-sheet pan meals. The wall ovens are more for larger gatherings.”
The backsplash is 3-by-10-inch matte white ceramic tiles from Spain with a bright white grout. “We wanted to give the space texture without there being a super contrast,” Curovic says.
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A 24-inch electric oven with an extra large cavity below the cooktop combines steam and convection. “She figured having the steam oven here was a good idea, because it’s something she uses on a daily basis,” Curovic says. “She uses it to cook fish, veggies and one-sheet pan meals. The wall ovens are more for larger gatherings.”
The backsplash is 3-by-10-inch matte white ceramic tiles from Spain with a bright white grout. “We wanted to give the space texture without there being a super contrast,” Curovic says.
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Moving the location of the former ovens to another wall freed up space for Curovic to add more storage and workspace around the cooktop area. Deep drawers on each side hold pots and pans, while slim pullouts flanking the cooktop keep spices and bottles of oil close by.
This close-up of the pullout to the left of the cooktop also shows one of the electrical outlets Curovic placed under the upper cabinets to keep the backsplash uninterrupted.
Industrial modern sconces above the window are handcrafted solid brass and feature a filament bulb with a clear blown-glass shade. Recessed LEDs on dimmers provide overall lighting. And there was an initial discussion about adding a light over the island, but ultimately the idea was nixed. “I felt like it was going to block the view out the window and distract from the hood,” Curovic says.
An undermount stainless single-bowl workstation sink includes assorted accessories and a contemporary brushed stainless pull-down faucet. A paneled dishwasher sits to the left of the sink, while two separate paneled pullout trash and recycling bins sit to the right. “We usually only do one, but with a family of five they needed it,” Curovic says.
An undermount stainless single-bowl workstation sink includes assorted accessories and a contemporary brushed stainless pull-down faucet. A paneled dishwasher sits to the left of the sink, while two separate paneled pullout trash and recycling bins sit to the right. “We usually only do one, but with a family of five they needed it,” Curovic says.
This view of the kitchen highlights the new red oak flooring that was stained to match existing flooring throughout the home.
The backless island stools have black iron bases and oak wood seats that complement the white oak cabinets. “These were definitely chosen to keep the circulation around the island clear,” Curovic says. “She likes that she can tuck them underneath.”
The backless island stools have black iron bases and oak wood seats that complement the white oak cabinets. “These were definitely chosen to keep the circulation around the island clear,” Curovic says. “She likes that she can tuck them underneath.”
Before: The former kitchen included a desk area to the left of the paneled refrigerator. The desk area, and the narrow countertop space to the right of the fridge, often became a crowded drop zone piled with mail.
The two sets of white doors in the back hallway opened to two coat closets, one of which also did double duty as a utility closet.
The two sets of white doors in the back hallway opened to two coat closets, one of which also did double duty as a utility closet.
After: Curovic removed the two closets and used the location of one for the wall ovens and the other as mudroom built-ins.
A new large paneled refrigerator has molding on top for a finished look. A beverage center replaced the former desk area.
A look at this side of the island shows a flat-panel stainless steel microwave drawer and storage.
Microwave drawer: Sharp
A new large paneled refrigerator has molding on top for a finished look. A beverage center replaced the former desk area.
A look at this side of the island shows a flat-panel stainless steel microwave drawer and storage.
Microwave drawer: Sharp
A tall pantry cabinet with rollouts stands between the paneled fridge and new 30-inch double wall ovens. Cabinets above the pantry have vertical dividers for storing baking sheets.
The beverage center has a 24-inch undercounter beverage fridge with glass door that makes it easy to grab a drink and stay out of the way of the main cooking and task areas of the kitchen. “Keeping the drinks and snacks on that side of the kitchen just works better,” Curovic says.
The upper cabinet holds wine and cocktail glasses and features doors with woven wire mesh. “We did this to add another element of texture and give a way to display items without using glass,” Curovic says.
The upper cabinet holds wine and cocktail glasses and features doors with woven wire mesh. “We did this to add another element of texture and give a way to display items without using glass,” Curovic says.
The backsplash at the beverage center is polished stone marble mosaic tiles in a rhythmic pattern designed to add movement and reflect light. “We wanted this area to be more of an adult space,” Curovic says. “She also wanted a bit of texture and glam there.”
The well-planned kitchen gives the homeowners the brighter and more efficient space they wanted. “Better functionality was key for this family of five,” Curovic says.
More on Houzz
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
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The well-planned kitchen gives the homeowners the brighter and more efficient space they wanted. “Better functionality was key for this family of five,” Curovic says.
More on Houzz
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Get more kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for kitchen products
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Stunning and clean, it’s beautifully thought out!
So much nicer!!!
Love!!