The 100-Square-Foot Kitchen: A Former Bedroom Gets Cooking
DIY skill helps create a modern kitchen where there wasn’t one before
Mitchell Parker
March 3, 2016
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
This article is from our Most Popular stories file.
Our 100-Square-Foot Kitchen series profiles kitchens that measure around 100 square feet, one of the most common kitchen sizes in the U.S., according to Houzz data.
One of the easiest ways to save money on your kitchen remodel is to leave the location of the plumbing and gas lines alone. So creating a kitchen where there wasn’t one before — and doing it for just $15,000 — may have some of your personal remodeling sensors going haywire. But with some savvy DIY skill, Vicki and Larsson Omberg were able to do just that, turning a dark and grungy bedroom into a lofty, skylit kitchen on a tight budget.
Our 100-Square-Foot Kitchen series profiles kitchens that measure around 100 square feet, one of the most common kitchen sizes in the U.S., according to Houzz data.
One of the easiest ways to save money on your kitchen remodel is to leave the location of the plumbing and gas lines alone. So creating a kitchen where there wasn’t one before — and doing it for just $15,000 — may have some of your personal remodeling sensors going haywire. But with some savvy DIY skill, Vicki and Larsson Omberg were able to do just that, turning a dark and grungy bedroom into a lofty, skylit kitchen on a tight budget.
Kitchen at a Glance
Size: 90 square feet (8.3 square meters); 10 by 9 feet (3 by 2.7 meters)
Layout: U-shaped
Location: Seattle
Cost: $15,000, including plumbing, structural engineering fees, permitting fees, appliances and materials
Special features: Lofted ceiling with skylights, butcher block countertops, backsplash tile that looks handmade
Designer: None. Homeowner Vicki Omberg selected all the materials and finishes. Her husband, Larsson, handled the demolition, construction and installation along with her father.
Size: 90 square feet (8.3 square meters); 10 by 9 feet (3 by 2.7 meters)
Layout: U-shaped
Location: Seattle
Cost: $15,000, including plumbing, structural engineering fees, permitting fees, appliances and materials
Special features: Lofted ceiling with skylights, butcher block countertops, backsplash tile that looks handmade
Designer: None. Homeowner Vicki Omberg selected all the materials and finishes. Her husband, Larsson, handled the demolition, construction and installation along with her father.
BEFORE: The house was built in 1925 and is a traditional two-bedroom, one bathroom Craftsman. The original kitchen had been updated in the 1960s or ’70s with wood paneling and popcorn ceilings and, despite being small already, had been divided into two rooms to create a tiny dining room.
The Ombergs planned to take down the separating wall to open the space, but no matter what they tried in the design phase, they couldn’t figure out how to fit everything they wanted.
So they turned their attention to the 10-by-9-foot bedroom seen here, with stained wallpaper, on the other end of the house.
The Ombergs planned to take down the separating wall to open the space, but no matter what they tried in the design phase, they couldn’t figure out how to fit everything they wanted.
So they turned their attention to the 10-by-9-foot bedroom seen here, with stained wallpaper, on the other end of the house.
AFTER: Larsson removed a load-bearing wall (after consulting a structural engineer) to open the former bedroom to the living room. Installing a steel beam and glulam beam for support significantly extended the duration of the project.
The upside, though, was that the couple was able to live in the attic during construction and use their old kitchen while the new one was being built.
Larsson lofted the ceiling and added two skylights to bring in more natural light.
To save money, the Ombergs went with Ikea cabinets and butcher block countertops. “We find butcher block easy,” Vicki says. “If you do burn or scratch it, you can just sand it out.” They also bought all their appliances at Lowe’s during a holiday sale.
Cabinets, hood and countertops: Ikea; backsplash tile: Home Depot
The upside, though, was that the couple was able to live in the attic during construction and use their old kitchen while the new one was being built.
Larsson lofted the ceiling and added two skylights to bring in more natural light.
To save money, the Ombergs went with Ikea cabinets and butcher block countertops. “We find butcher block easy,” Vicki says. “If you do burn or scratch it, you can just sand it out.” They also bought all their appliances at Lowe’s during a holiday sale.
Cabinets, hood and countertops: Ikea; backsplash tile: Home Depot
Vicki toyed around with putting the cooktop or sink on the peninsula, but in the end decided she wanted to have an open, clean surface so people could stand on either side and work or prep.
Larsson turned one cabinet around so it’s accessible from this side of the peninsula, an idea they saw during a local floating-house tour.
For the backsplash tile, the Ombergs originally planned to order handmade tiles from Portugal, where Larsson’s family lives, but they had difficulty making a decision based on photographs sent by his mother. Instead, Vicki found this version online through Home Depot for about $10 per square foot. It’s manufactured in Spain using a process that makes it look hand-pressed. They hired a tiler for installation.
Details
Walls moved: Yes. A structural wall was removed.
Plumbing moved: Yes. Because this was a bedroom, all-new plumbing and electrical had to be routed here.
Other professionals hired: Structural engineer, tiler, drywall installer
Duration of project: About four months
Lived in during remodel: Yes. But the couple used their existing kitchen while this one was built.
Savings: The Ombergs saved by doing a lot of the work themselves and buying things on sale at local big-box stores.
Cost Breakdown
Appliances: $2,100 (bought during a holiday sale)
Cabinets, sinks and countertops: $3,400
Faucet: $100
Tile: $800
Labor: $8,600 (includes Sheetrock, structural engineer, flooring, permits, beams and other building materials)
Total: $15,000
Next: No more dead-ends for this 100-square-foot kitchen
More
Browse more stories about small kitchens
See the latest compact kitchen photos
Do you have a 100-square-foot kitchen? We’d love to see your “before” and “after” photos in the Comments below.
Larsson turned one cabinet around so it’s accessible from this side of the peninsula, an idea they saw during a local floating-house tour.
For the backsplash tile, the Ombergs originally planned to order handmade tiles from Portugal, where Larsson’s family lives, but they had difficulty making a decision based on photographs sent by his mother. Instead, Vicki found this version online through Home Depot for about $10 per square foot. It’s manufactured in Spain using a process that makes it look hand-pressed. They hired a tiler for installation.
Details
Walls moved: Yes. A structural wall was removed.
Plumbing moved: Yes. Because this was a bedroom, all-new plumbing and electrical had to be routed here.
Other professionals hired: Structural engineer, tiler, drywall installer
Duration of project: About four months
Lived in during remodel: Yes. But the couple used their existing kitchen while this one was built.
Savings: The Ombergs saved by doing a lot of the work themselves and buying things on sale at local big-box stores.
Cost Breakdown
Appliances: $2,100 (bought during a holiday sale)
Cabinets, sinks and countertops: $3,400
Faucet: $100
Tile: $800
Labor: $8,600 (includes Sheetrock, structural engineer, flooring, permits, beams and other building materials)
Total: $15,000
Next: No more dead-ends for this 100-square-foot kitchen
More
Browse more stories about small kitchens
See the latest compact kitchen photos
Do you have a 100-square-foot kitchen? We’d love to see your “before” and “after” photos in the Comments below.
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I think they did a lovely job . . . so what became of the old kitchen?
I was wondering, does the kitchen have more surprises up its sleeve, you know like hidden pantries or something?
Lovely kitchen, very refreshing. I love the countertop, its something I have in mind when I renovate my kitchen. Anyone who knows where I can check it and the cabinet paints around here in South Africa, especially Gauteng.