Room of the Day: Custom-Kitchen Look on a Budget
An artistic New York City family enlists the help of a skillful designer to create a customized built-in appearance using Ikea cabinets
Karen Egly-Thompson
May 26, 2016
Houzz Contributor
Brooklyn residents Bosco Sodi and Lucia Corredor liked the clean lines, no-frills nature and budget-friendliness of Ikea kitchens. But the artistic couple were a bit turned off by the thought of going with a cookie-cutter solution in their new home.
Seeking a European style with lots of storage, they sought out designer Jennifer Levy to create a customized built-in look for their open-plan kitchen. To top it off, Levy modified Ikea butcher-block countertop pieces to form a waterfall-edge breakfast bar.
Seeking a European style with lots of storage, they sought out designer Jennifer Levy to create a customized built-in look for their open-plan kitchen. To top it off, Levy modified Ikea butcher-block countertop pieces to form a waterfall-edge breakfast bar.
Photos by Jennifer Levy
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Bosco Sodi, an artist; Lucia Corredor, owner of a vintage-furniture store; and their three kids, ages 8, 11 and 12
Location: Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 180 square feet (16.7 square meters)
Year built: 2014
Designers: Jennifer Levy of CAVdesign and architect John Gillis
Levy laid out Ikea cabinets in a symmetrical design, using a filler piece above the refrigerator to give a more custom look.
On the right arm of the U-shaped kitchen, Levy installed a microwave drawer in the lower cabinets. To accommodate the wiring, she had to install the base cabinets a few inches away from the half wall. She filled in the gap using a cut piece of cover panel, which you can see on the bottom right of this photo, between the base cabinets and the half wall. “I do this a lot, especially when we can’t move plumbing, for example,” she says. “It makes for a slightly deeper counter, but generally, it’s not noticeable.”
Doors with a high-gloss foil finish brighten the space. Two skinny cabinets flanking the refrigerator store pantry items, while the wall cabinets are top-hinged for easy access. Glossy white subway tile spans the full height of the rear wall.
Cabinet system: Sektion, Ikea; doors: Ringhult, Ikea; cabinet pulls: Tyda, Ikea; backsplash tile: Rittenhouse Square in Arctic White semigloss, 6 by 3 inches, Daltile; wall and ceiling paint: Pure White, Benjamin Moore; refrigerator: KFCP22EXMP 36-inch counter-depth with French doors, Pro Line series, KitchenAid; hallway artwork: Bosco Sodi
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Bosco Sodi, an artist; Lucia Corredor, owner of a vintage-furniture store; and their three kids, ages 8, 11 and 12
Location: Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 180 square feet (16.7 square meters)
Year built: 2014
Designers: Jennifer Levy of CAVdesign and architect John Gillis
Levy laid out Ikea cabinets in a symmetrical design, using a filler piece above the refrigerator to give a more custom look.
On the right arm of the U-shaped kitchen, Levy installed a microwave drawer in the lower cabinets. To accommodate the wiring, she had to install the base cabinets a few inches away from the half wall. She filled in the gap using a cut piece of cover panel, which you can see on the bottom right of this photo, between the base cabinets and the half wall. “I do this a lot, especially when we can’t move plumbing, for example,” she says. “It makes for a slightly deeper counter, but generally, it’s not noticeable.”
Doors with a high-gloss foil finish brighten the space. Two skinny cabinets flanking the refrigerator store pantry items, while the wall cabinets are top-hinged for easy access. Glossy white subway tile spans the full height of the rear wall.
Cabinet system: Sektion, Ikea; doors: Ringhult, Ikea; cabinet pulls: Tyda, Ikea; backsplash tile: Rittenhouse Square in Arctic White semigloss, 6 by 3 inches, Daltile; wall and ceiling paint: Pure White, Benjamin Moore; refrigerator: KFCP22EXMP 36-inch counter-depth with French doors, Pro Line series, KitchenAid; hallway artwork: Bosco Sodi
The star of the kitchen — a custom waterfall island and breakfast bar — is a clever modification designed by Levy. “I wanted to create a symmetrical anchor on that side of the room, and incorporate organic material to warm up and balance the modern high-gloss cabinetry,” she says.
To make it, the contractor built a 42-inch bar-height wall behind the base cabinets at the sink area. This wall supports the top butcher-block piece. Two sides were added to create the waterfall look, both cut from a second butcher-block piece, and installed with neatly mitered corners. “Like all modifications to Ikea and other stock items, it did require some carpentry skills to pull off successfully, using a very budget-friendly material,” Levy says. It’s a nice spot for the homeowners to enjoy a snack or glass of wine.
Beech butcher-block countertop material: Ikea (discontinued but similar to Hammarp); sink: KU32188DBN, Kingston Brass; faucet: Ringskär, Ikea; artwork: Ugo Rondinone; construction: Budimex
To make it, the contractor built a 42-inch bar-height wall behind the base cabinets at the sink area. This wall supports the top butcher-block piece. Two sides were added to create the waterfall look, both cut from a second butcher-block piece, and installed with neatly mitered corners. “Like all modifications to Ikea and other stock items, it did require some carpentry skills to pull off successfully, using a very budget-friendly material,” Levy says. It’s a nice spot for the homeowners to enjoy a snack or glass of wine.
Beech butcher-block countertop material: Ikea (discontinued but similar to Hammarp); sink: KU32188DBN, Kingston Brass; faucet: Ringskär, Ikea; artwork: Ugo Rondinone; construction: Budimex
Levy used dark gray paint as a focal point. The moody hue also hides scuff marks.
To balance the modernity of the kitchen, Corredor sprinkled a few treasures from her vintage-furniture business throughout the space, such as the antique scales seen atop the upper cabinets in the first photo, and the white storage box seen on the perimeter countertop in this photo.
Island stools: Perch, From the Source; island paint: Racoon Fur, Benjamin Moore
To balance the modernity of the kitchen, Corredor sprinkled a few treasures from her vintage-furniture business throughout the space, such as the antique scales seen atop the upper cabinets in the first photo, and the white storage box seen on the perimeter countertop in this photo.
Island stools: Perch, From the Source; island paint: Racoon Fur, Benjamin Moore
A custom stainless steel panel provides splatter protection behind the 30-inch KitchenAid range while maintaining the openness of the 15-foot high-wall. Levy chose not to wrap the tile backsplash to this wall because its size and the ceiling height would have created an unsightly stopping point for the tile midway up the wall.
The range hood connects to a ducting system inside the wall that then goes up to the outside.
Hardworking dark quartz countertops provide contrast against the glossy white finishes, and emphasize the horizontal lines of the hardware, cabinet style and island.
Countertops: Belgian Moon, Caesarstone; wine rack: Vurm; Ikea; vent hood: SEH3630, Professional series, Summit; artwork: Ernesto Neto
The range hood connects to a ducting system inside the wall that then goes up to the outside.
Hardworking dark quartz countertops provide contrast against the glossy white finishes, and emphasize the horizontal lines of the hardware, cabinet style and island.
Countertops: Belgian Moon, Caesarstone; wine rack: Vurm; Ikea; vent hood: SEH3630, Professional series, Summit; artwork: Ernesto Neto
This rendering illustrates the symmetrical layout of the cabinets and island, and shows the undercounter microwave drawer.
Microwave drawer: Sharp
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Microwave drawer: Sharp
Learn about working with cabinet designers and cabinetmakers
Read more stories about kitchen cabinets
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great clean, modern kitchen design!
Question: The designer mentions she had to provide extra room in back of the cabinet for the microwave drawer. I'm about to install one of these in Ikea cabinets, too. I've read the appliance spec, and I don't understand why there needs to be extra space. Can anyone explain? Thanks!
That's pretty much the kitchen I am dreaming of, love it, thanks for sharing!