Kitchen of the Week: Creamy Cabinets and a Walnut Island Top
A remodeling team reimagines a layout with roomy pathways, a classic wood-and-white style and hardworking storage
There were several elements that Luke and Christy Kujawa disliked in their former 151-square-foot kitchen. Top of the list was a confusing layout with awkward traffic paths and wasted space. The Kujawas couldn’t even open their dishwasher and oven at the same time. And that’s saying nothing of the aging oak cabinets, dark green granite countertops and worn wood floors.
Seeking a simpler layout with improved storage and a lighter look, they hired designer Kate Roos and builder Mitch Tuthill. The remodeling team removed walls and incorporated space from a back entry and a bathroom to add 64 square feet to the floor plan and create breathing room for a reconfigured layout. An island with a rich walnut countertop is the new star of the space, adding warmth and establishing an efficient work triangle and breezy traffic paths. Creamy white cabinets add more warmth and work with crisp white backsplash tile to enhance light from new windows and deliver a bright and inviting style befitting the 1903 house.
Seeking a simpler layout with improved storage and a lighter look, they hired designer Kate Roos and builder Mitch Tuthill. The remodeling team removed walls and incorporated space from a back entry and a bathroom to add 64 square feet to the floor plan and create breathing room for a reconfigured layout. An island with a rich walnut countertop is the new star of the space, adding warmth and establishing an efficient work triangle and breezy traffic paths. Creamy white cabinets add more warmth and work with crisp white backsplash tile to enhance light from new windows and deliver a bright and inviting style befitting the 1903 house.
After: The team knocked the kitchen back to the studs, took down walls and the back staircase, and incorporated the rear entry, a portion of the bathroom and the breakfast area to expand the kitchen by 64 square feet. The U-shaped layout includes a reconfigured appliance layout with efficient work zones and a central island that creates roomy traffic paths.
A walnut butcher block island top, matching walnut wood shelves over the new casement window and engineered maple flooring add generous planes of warmth and texture. Creamy light greige cabinets, molding and ceiling beams (Natural Cream by Benjamin Moore) create an inviting atmosphere.
“They really wanted a brighter space,” Roos says. “We chose colors that maximize the natural light that now comes in the kitchen. We added those shelves there to maintain the light of the windows but also allow them to have more storage.”
When the remodelers removed the old ceiling, they discovered 7 extra inches of space. The higher ceiling features a new structural support beam, while the other beams are decorative. “It gives the room a bit of history since this is a turn-of-the-century house,” Roos says. “It makes the kitchen feel like it has been there a while.”
Cabinet hardware: Channing pull in Flat Black and Kinney knob in Flat Black, Top Knobs; floor: hard maple, Lauzon Wood Floors
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A walnut butcher block island top, matching walnut wood shelves over the new casement window and engineered maple flooring add generous planes of warmth and texture. Creamy light greige cabinets, molding and ceiling beams (Natural Cream by Benjamin Moore) create an inviting atmosphere.
“They really wanted a brighter space,” Roos says. “We chose colors that maximize the natural light that now comes in the kitchen. We added those shelves there to maintain the light of the windows but also allow them to have more storage.”
When the remodelers removed the old ceiling, they discovered 7 extra inches of space. The higher ceiling features a new structural support beam, while the other beams are decorative. “It gives the room a bit of history since this is a turn-of-the-century house,” Roos says. “It makes the kitchen feel like it has been there a while.”
Cabinet hardware: Channing pull in Flat Black and Kinney knob in Flat Black, Top Knobs; floor: hard maple, Lauzon Wood Floors
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Roos relocated the sink in front of the new window and near the new 36-inch dual-fuel range. “Having the sink and range on the same wall allows the island to be uninterrupted,” she says.
The walnut floating shelves on iron brackets keep everyday dishes on hand without totally blocking the leafy view.
The custom hood matches the cabinet paint and features a detail that holds framed artwork.
The backsplash tile has a white painted brick look that lets the creamy cabinet color stand out. “The tiles have a bit of texture and reflectivity, but also have a straightforward format in keeping with the age of the home,” Roos says.
Two industrial-style black pendant lights over the island coordinate with flat black cabinet knobs and pulls. The kitchen also includes new recessed LED lights in the ceiling and dimmable undercabinet lighting over task areas.
Backsplash: Expo collection in Prima White, Ceramic Tileworks
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The walnut floating shelves on iron brackets keep everyday dishes on hand without totally blocking the leafy view.
The custom hood matches the cabinet paint and features a detail that holds framed artwork.
The backsplash tile has a white painted brick look that lets the creamy cabinet color stand out. “The tiles have a bit of texture and reflectivity, but also have a straightforward format in keeping with the age of the home,” Roos says.
Two industrial-style black pendant lights over the island coordinate with flat black cabinet knobs and pulls. The kitchen also includes new recessed LED lights in the ceiling and dimmable undercabinet lighting over task areas.
Backsplash: Expo collection in Prima White, Ceramic Tileworks
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Before: In the former kitchen, this section of cabinets was off the main area in a corner. “That spot in the kitchen was always really cluttered,” homeowner Christy says. “That was the only space we had for the toaster and canisters of flour and things like that. It was also part of the very limited workspace we had available.”
After: With the reconfigured floor plan, Roos turned that corner wall into hardworking storage and display space with tall pantry cabinets and open storage cubbies. “That whole wall is shallow, about 14 inches deep,” she says. “That allowed us to make the island bigger.”
The storage cubbies are lined with walnut, which coordinates with the island countertop and open shelves in front of the window. “They are one of my favorite things about the kitchen,” Christy says. “The books we keep there bring wonderful color to the room, and I can easily access all my favorite recipes.”
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The storage cubbies are lined with walnut, which coordinates with the island countertop and open shelves in front of the window. “They are one of my favorite things about the kitchen,” Christy says. “The books we keep there bring wonderful color to the room, and I can easily access all my favorite recipes.”
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Before: This angle shows the former kitchen’s sink setup. “It felt very cluttered in this area with the dishwasher and range,” Roos says. “It was also lacking in counter space for more than one cook.”
A ceiling light in the center of the room and harsh undercabinet lights gave the space an uninviting feel.
A ceiling light in the center of the room and harsh undercabinet lights gave the space an uninviting feel.
After: Roos removed the sink wall to push the kitchen into an unused entry area. Now a 72-inch stainless steel fridge, microwave drawer and bank of cabinets with an appliance garage sit on the rear wall.
Upper cabinets on the left near the door to the mudroom store seasonal items.
Upper cabinets on the left near the door to the mudroom store seasonal items.
This photo shows the bifold doors of the appliance garage open. “They wanted a clean counter,” Roos says. “The clever thing about the doors on this garage is that when the doors are open, it adds to their counter space.”
A drawer below the microwave holds snacks. The narrow cabinet to the right holds rolls of foil, plastic storage bags and parchment paper. A cabinet above the refrigerator includes dividers for baking pans and cookie sheets. “All my great serving platters sit up there too,” Christy says.
The interior side of the island includes three wide drawers. “The top drawer holds my knives, measuring spoons, salad serving tongs, wine opener and things like that,” Christy says. “It’s more narrow. The deeper drawer below is for my measuring cups, hand mixer and small cutting boards. Then the bottom, deepest drawer is the place for water bottles and plastic containers.”
A pullout trash and recycling center sits on the end of the island across from the refrigerator.
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A drawer below the microwave holds snacks. The narrow cabinet to the right holds rolls of foil, plastic storage bags and parchment paper. A cabinet above the refrigerator includes dividers for baking pans and cookie sheets. “All my great serving platters sit up there too,” Christy says.
The interior side of the island includes three wide drawers. “The top drawer holds my knives, measuring spoons, salad serving tongs, wine opener and things like that,” Christy says. “It’s more narrow. The deeper drawer below is for my measuring cups, hand mixer and small cutting boards. Then the bottom, deepest drawer is the place for water bottles and plastic containers.”
A pullout trash and recycling center sits on the end of the island across from the refrigerator.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Before: An angled bank of cabinets in the former kitchen surrounded the refrigerator, next to the entrance to the dining room. “It was all funky,” Roos says. “The wall just jogged back a couple of times in this location.”
After: With the refrigerator relocated, Roos created this recessed wet bar and beverage station in place of the former angled cabinets. “We were able to create a very deep cased panel opening to the dining room by flushing the walls out there too,” Roos says. “We wanted to simplify the wall and make it feel more thoughtful.”
Wall paint: Rockport Gray, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Rockport Gray, Benjamin Moore
Before: This floor plan shows the former kitchen (bottom right), rear entry and staircase (top right) and guest bathroom (top) with its unused bathtub.
A bank of L-shaped cabinets (center right) created a peninsula with a range that protruded into the space. Angled details did little to help the narrow path (center) to the dining room (bottom left).
A bank of L-shaped cabinets (center right) created a peninsula with a range that protruded into the space. Angled details did little to help the narrow path (center) to the dining room (bottom left).
After: The new floor plan shows how the remodeling team expanded the kitchen by incorporating the former entry area and a portion of the bathroom, which is now a powder room.
A U-shaped layout with a central island creates roomy pathways. The refrigerator stands near the mudroom doorway (top right), the sink and range are on the right and the recessed wet bar is opposite that (center).
“I feel so fortunate that we worked with this incredible designer and builder who worked so well together,” Christy says. “We have more quality time together in the kitchen as a family because it was so thoughtfully designed and beautifully built.”
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A U-shaped layout with a central island creates roomy pathways. The refrigerator stands near the mudroom doorway (top right), the sink and range are on the right and the recessed wet bar is opposite that (center).
“I feel so fortunate that we worked with this incredible designer and builder who worked so well together,” Christy says. “We have more quality time together in the kitchen as a family because it was so thoughtfully designed and beautifully built.”
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: Luke and Christy Kujawa, their two high-school-age kids and two dogs
Location: Minneapolis
Size: 215 square feet (20 square meters)
Designer: Kate Roos Design
Builder: Mitch Tuthill of City of Lakes Builders
Before: The awkward layout of the former kitchen made photography somewhat of a challenge. This view shows the L-shaped bank of cabinets with the range on the end of a peninsula that protruded into the room, dividing the kitchen and a small breakfast area. The angled design of the cabinet nearest the doorway was an attempt to ease the traffic path into the dining room, from which this photo was taken.
“The biggest overall issue for the space was that the work zone was essentially a pass-through from the dining room,” Roos says. “Not having a sink with a window above was an issue, but not the big problem.”
A full bathroom sat on the other side of the sink wall, with a tub the couple and their two teenagers never used. And on the other side of the peninsula, a doorway led to a rear entry area with back staircase. Roos saw the potential to incorporate the space and streamline the floor plan.