Kitchen of the Week: Breezy Layout in White, Wood and Black
A designer opens up a confined space to create a light and airy room with a large island and a bright new look
A poor layout gave this couple’s 150-square-foot kitchen a confined feel, while basic 1990s cabinets and countertops anchored it in a past style the homeowners were eager to forget.
In search of a more open floor plan with a brighter, custom-looking style, the couple reached out to designer Mil Kikos for help. Kikos took down walls and changed the layout from a tight U shape to a breezy L shape that increased the footprint by 45 square feet. That extra space allowed her to add a large white oak island that offers seating, a sink, storage and warmth that balances the bright white perimeter cabinets and white zellige-style backsplash tile.
In search of a more open floor plan with a brighter, custom-looking style, the couple reached out to designer Mil Kikos for help. Kikos took down walls and changed the layout from a tight U shape to a breezy L shape that increased the footprint by 45 square feet. That extra space allowed her to add a large white oak island that offers seating, a sink, storage and warmth that balances the bright white perimeter cabinets and white zellige-style backsplash tile.
After: Kikos stripped back the kitchen and took down half walls separating it from the living room. She then expanded into the living room space, increasing the kitchen’s footprint by 45 square feet. She used that extra room to add an 8-foot island with seating for four, a sink and plenty of prep space on a quartzite-look quartz countertop. “The new layout gives them a space for entertaining, which they didn’t have before,” Kikos says. “By removing those walls, everything felt more connected.”
The fridge stayed in about the same spot, but with the island and new L-shaped layout, Kikos created a more efficient work triangle.
A custom smooth plaster range hood alcove with white oak trim makes the relocated cooking area a focal point. “I sketched out the concept of how the alcove would be linked to the lower cabinetry with the fun recessed spice shelves there,” Kikos says. “It’s beautiful and functional and makes their kitchen feel more custom-designed.”
Perimeter paint-grade maple cabinetry features a commercial-grade white. The walls, ceiling and trim are painted a cool, bright white (Cool December by Dunn-Edwards). “They really wanted a light and airy feel,” Kikos says.
Varnish for island base: Decorative Painter’s Dead Flat Varnish, Modern Masters; island countertop: Calacatta Oro quartz, Vadara Quartz Surfaces
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The fridge stayed in about the same spot, but with the island and new L-shaped layout, Kikos created a more efficient work triangle.
A custom smooth plaster range hood alcove with white oak trim makes the relocated cooking area a focal point. “I sketched out the concept of how the alcove would be linked to the lower cabinetry with the fun recessed spice shelves there,” Kikos says. “It’s beautiful and functional and makes their kitchen feel more custom-designed.”
Perimeter paint-grade maple cabinetry features a commercial-grade white. The walls, ceiling and trim are painted a cool, bright white (Cool December by Dunn-Edwards). “They really wanted a light and airy feel,” Kikos says.
Varnish for island base: Decorative Painter’s Dead Flat Varnish, Modern Masters; island countertop: Calacatta Oro quartz, Vadara Quartz Surfaces
Find kitchen remodelers near you
The backsplash adds to the light look. It features 5-by-5-inch white glazed ceramic tiles with a smooth gloss finish and variations in tone. “I’m a big fan of the Moroccan zellige tiles, but they are cost-prohibitive,” Kikos says. “I felt like this tile had enough variation in sheen and texture to soften the space and add visual interest.”
Contrasting with the white are four black woven counter stools and two oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights. “It gave us a beautiful contrast that pops against the range hood alcove,” Kikos says.
The kitchen also includes added LED recessed ceiling lights that provide general illumination.
Backsplash tile: Cloe in white, 5 by 5 inches, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; pendant lights: Goodman in antique brass and bronze, Visual Comfort; stools: Ceylon woven counter-height bar stool, Threshold, Target Home
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Contrasting with the white are four black woven counter stools and two oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights. “It gave us a beautiful contrast that pops against the range hood alcove,” Kikos says.
The kitchen also includes added LED recessed ceiling lights that provide general illumination.
Backsplash tile: Cloe in white, 5 by 5 inches, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; pendant lights: Goodman in antique brass and bronze, Visual Comfort; stools: Ceylon woven counter-height bar stool, Threshold, Target Home
Shop for bar stools and counter stools
Before: Here’s a look at the former U-shaped layout. A pass-through on the left connected the space to the combined family room and dining area. The dishwasher sat to the right of the sink in a spot that meant if it was open, you had to step away from the sink to load it, and the open door would block the lower cabinet doors. “She felt very confined in that space,” Kikos says. “It wasn’t a space where she could entertain guests.”
The range sat to the right of the dishwasher on a wall that separated the kitchen from the mostly unused living room. The kitchen had a skylight, but the homeowners didn’t particularly like it.
The range sat to the right of the dishwasher on a wall that separated the kitchen from the mostly unused living room. The kitchen had a skylight, but the homeowners didn’t particularly like it.
After: Kikos closed up the former pass-through and used that new full wall to place the range and alcove. Removing the former range wall opened the kitchen to the former living space, allowing it to receive more natural light. “So there was no need to have a skylight anymore,” Kikos says.
An outlet on both island ends lets the family plug in items such as a stand mixer and vacuum.
A polished nickel faucet and deck-mount soap dispenser offer a mixed-metals look that contrasts with the oil-rubbed bronze finishes while complementing the new stainless steel appliances. The dishwasher sits to the lower right of the sink. A pullout trash and recycling center is at the lower left.
A 48-inch rail system on the kitchen wall to the right also has an oil-rubbed bronze finish. “My client stores onions, garlic and other fresh items in those woven baskets,” Kikos says. “She was worried about it being a blank wall, so I wanted to add a fun feature that was also functional. She cooks a lot, and this gives her easy access to her favorite ingredients.”
The opening on the right connects the kitchen to a hallway that leads to the kids’ bedrooms.
Rail system: Brookside in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation; sink: Torun, Signature Hardware; faucet: Talis in polished nickel, Hansgrohe USA
Before and After: 5 Kitchens With Contrasting Wood Islands
An outlet on both island ends lets the family plug in items such as a stand mixer and vacuum.
A polished nickel faucet and deck-mount soap dispenser offer a mixed-metals look that contrasts with the oil-rubbed bronze finishes while complementing the new stainless steel appliances. The dishwasher sits to the lower right of the sink. A pullout trash and recycling center is at the lower left.
A 48-inch rail system on the kitchen wall to the right also has an oil-rubbed bronze finish. “My client stores onions, garlic and other fresh items in those woven baskets,” Kikos says. “She was worried about it being a blank wall, so I wanted to add a fun feature that was also functional. She cooks a lot, and this gives her easy access to her favorite ingredients.”
The opening on the right connects the kitchen to a hallway that leads to the kids’ bedrooms.
Rail system: Brookside in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation; sink: Torun, Signature Hardware; faucet: Talis in polished nickel, Hansgrohe USA
Before and After: 5 Kitchens With Contrasting Wood Islands
The new 40-inch dual-fuel freestanding convection range has a rich matte graphite-and-chrome finish. “Because we decided on the range hood alcove, I knew we wanted to have a statement range,” Kikos says. “I have used it in other projects, and my client instantly loved the look. It has an old-world-meets-new-world look about it.”
The countertops are an engineered quartz that mimics the look of a dark quartzite stone. “I wanted the kitchen to feel luxurious and thoughtful,” Kikos says.
The drawers include organizers like cutlery dividers. The lower cabinets on each side of the range feature a pullout shelf that provides easy access to pots and pans. Cabinet knobs and sleek drawer pulls have a dark oil-rubbed bronze finish that coordinates with other finishes used in the kitchen.
Range: Nostalgie dual-fuel freestanding convection range, 40 inches, ILVE USA; range countertops: Petra Grigio quartz, Vadara Quartz Surfaces; cabinet hardware: Claybourne knob and Rigdon pull in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation
The countertops are an engineered quartz that mimics the look of a dark quartzite stone. “I wanted the kitchen to feel luxurious and thoughtful,” Kikos says.
The drawers include organizers like cutlery dividers. The lower cabinets on each side of the range feature a pullout shelf that provides easy access to pots and pans. Cabinet knobs and sleek drawer pulls have a dark oil-rubbed bronze finish that coordinates with other finishes used in the kitchen.
Range: Nostalgie dual-fuel freestanding convection range, 40 inches, ILVE USA; range countertops: Petra Grigio quartz, Vadara Quartz Surfaces; cabinet hardware: Claybourne knob and Rigdon pull in oil-rubbed bronze, Rejuvenation
Niches flanking the range feature custom white oak spice shelves. “Because we had a range hood alcove, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just aesthetic but also functional,” Kikos says. “My client cooks a lot, and I presented the idea of the integrated spice shelves. I also thought it was beautiful how the shelves tie into the custom white oak island and white oak trim on the range hood.”
The 40-inch-wide range hood insert has a powerful four-speed motor that quietly ventilates the cooking area.
Hood insert: Professional 280 - 700 CFM 40-inch, ZLINE Kitchen and Bath
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The 40-inch-wide range hood insert has a powerful four-speed motor that quietly ventilates the cooking area.
Hood insert: Professional 280 - 700 CFM 40-inch, ZLINE Kitchen and Bath
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Tall pantry cabinets stand to the left of the new fridge. An upper area inside holds the microwave.
A beverage station and coffee bar sit to the right of the fridge and include a built-in undercounter 46-bottle dual-zone wine refrigerator. “They wanted somewhere to store drinks for the kids and the occasional wine bottles for guests when entertaining,” Kikos says.
The updated luxury vinyl plank flooring has a semi-matte finish and a warm wood look. “They were thinking of getting a puppy and wanted a puppy- and childproof floor,” Kikos says.
Overall, the updated kitchen gives the couple a space that better matches their lifestyle. “It creates a spacious area for entertaining and a hub for the family where they spend the most time,” Kikos says.
Flooring: SPC Mediterranean Sea collection in Crete, Bel-Air Wood Flooring
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A beverage station and coffee bar sit to the right of the fridge and include a built-in undercounter 46-bottle dual-zone wine refrigerator. “They wanted somewhere to store drinks for the kids and the occasional wine bottles for guests when entertaining,” Kikos says.
The updated luxury vinyl plank flooring has a semi-matte finish and a warm wood look. “They were thinking of getting a puppy and wanted a puppy- and childproof floor,” Kikos says.
Overall, the updated kitchen gives the couple a space that better matches their lifestyle. “It creates a spacious area for entertaining and a hub for the family where they spend the most time,” Kikos says.
Flooring: SPC Mediterranean Sea collection in Crete, Bel-Air Wood Flooring
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: A couple with two young daughters and a puppy
Location: Torrance, California
Size: 195 square feet (18 square meters)
Designer: Mil Kikos of ME Design Group
Before: The former kitchen sat between a mostly unused living room, seen here in the foreground, and a combined family room and dining room through the doorway in the background.
The kitchen layout awkwardly put the refrigerator opposite the tight U-shaped main area. “Whenever she was making food, she had to go from one side of the kitchen to the other,” Kikos says. “The refrigerator felt completely removed from the prep area.”
Meanwhile, dated oak cabinets and granite countertops rooted the kitchen in a generic style.