Kitchen of the Week: Bye-Bye, Big Red Wall
An in-the-way wall disappears to bring in a large island, built-in cabinets and lots of light
Brenna Malmberg
April 7, 2017
A kitchen remodel had been on the mind of this homeowner for a while. She found herself discussing her ideas with many people, including two local home professionals: Matthew S. Hallett, who lived down the street, and her friend Abigail Powell. “She felt like she might have to choose between us, until she found out we work together,” Hallett says. Once she heard that news, her kitchen remodel went from a dream to a reality.
“After” photos by Richard Leo Johnson of Atlantic Archives
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A social woman who likes to entertain
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Size: 323 square feet (30 square meters)
Designers: Matthew S. Hallett and Abigail Powell of Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals
During the first meeting, the homeowner expressed the desire to have an open, bright kitchen that would better connect to the rest of the house. She also hoped they could squeeze in an island.
The home, which sits in a historic district, has a traditional feel that needed to be reflected in the kitchen. “She wanted a much higher level of detail and layering of finishes, which was a lot of fun for us to work on,” Hallett says.
The design duo took photos and measurements, and went to the drawing board to see what was possible.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A social woman who likes to entertain
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Size: 323 square feet (30 square meters)
Designers: Matthew S. Hallett and Abigail Powell of Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals
During the first meeting, the homeowner expressed the desire to have an open, bright kitchen that would better connect to the rest of the house. She also hoped they could squeeze in an island.
The home, which sits in a historic district, has a traditional feel that needed to be reflected in the kitchen. “She wanted a much higher level of detail and layering of finishes, which was a lot of fun for us to work on,” Hallett says.
The design duo took photos and measurements, and went to the drawing board to see what was possible.
BEFORE: A wall separated the kitchen from the breakfast room and completely cut it off from the rest of the house. “All you could see was the back of a wall of cabinets,” Hallett says.
Dark red paint covered the wall, making it the space dark. The client loved a deep wine color, so the designers kept that in mind when picking a color to inject into the remodeled space.
Dark red paint covered the wall, making it the space dark. The client loved a deep wine color, so the designers kept that in mind when picking a color to inject into the remodeled space.
AFTER: The wall came down, making way for a large kitchen island with storage and seating.
To fit in that island, the designers extended the kitchen by about 3 feet. The space expands out to the left and is lined with windows. This small change meant that the courtyard lost some of its footprint and that the home inched closer to a cluster of palm trees that the client had planted with her late husband. To preserve the trees, the construction crew hand-dug the new foundation.
A steel beam was added in the ceiling to support the open space. They also learned upon demolition that the room lacked support in other places, so a second beam was added to ensure that it was solid. “It took a couple of site visits from the engineer, but in the end everything looks seamless,” Hallett says.
The new design packs in lots of storage space, thanks to built-in cabinets that have swing-out shelves and pullout trays for easy access.
A patterned tile backsplash stretches over the stove. To avoid cutting into the backsplash, the design team installed angled power strips into the bottoms of the upper cabinets. “We didn’t want to interrupt the expanse of beautiful backsplash tile with the power outlets,” Powell says. These spots can also hide USB ports, cable connectors and switches.
Another hidden feature is the exhaust hood above the stove. “We built a soffit above the cabinets just deep enough to conceal the duct,” Hallett says. “Once the cabinets and their crown molding were installed, the soffit completely disappeared.”
Paint by Sherwin-Williams: Shoji White (walls), Pure White (trim) and Futon (cabinets); ceiling paint: Horizon, Benjamin Moore; island paint: custom; cabinet hardware: Revitalize collection, Amerock; countertop: Minuet, Viatera; double-bowl sink: Elkay; faucet, soap dispenser and garbage disposal switch: Rosolina, California Faucets; Orchard Park pendant lighting and sconces: Hudson Valley; backsplash: Tuileries collection, Walker Zanger; counter-depth refrigerator: KitchenAid; electric range: Electrolux
To fit in that island, the designers extended the kitchen by about 3 feet. The space expands out to the left and is lined with windows. This small change meant that the courtyard lost some of its footprint and that the home inched closer to a cluster of palm trees that the client had planted with her late husband. To preserve the trees, the construction crew hand-dug the new foundation.
A steel beam was added in the ceiling to support the open space. They also learned upon demolition that the room lacked support in other places, so a second beam was added to ensure that it was solid. “It took a couple of site visits from the engineer, but in the end everything looks seamless,” Hallett says.
The new design packs in lots of storage space, thanks to built-in cabinets that have swing-out shelves and pullout trays for easy access.
A patterned tile backsplash stretches over the stove. To avoid cutting into the backsplash, the design team installed angled power strips into the bottoms of the upper cabinets. “We didn’t want to interrupt the expanse of beautiful backsplash tile with the power outlets,” Powell says. These spots can also hide USB ports, cable connectors and switches.
Another hidden feature is the exhaust hood above the stove. “We built a soffit above the cabinets just deep enough to conceal the duct,” Hallett says. “Once the cabinets and their crown molding were installed, the soffit completely disappeared.”
Paint by Sherwin-Williams: Shoji White (walls), Pure White (trim) and Futon (cabinets); ceiling paint: Horizon, Benjamin Moore; island paint: custom; cabinet hardware: Revitalize collection, Amerock; countertop: Minuet, Viatera; double-bowl sink: Elkay; faucet, soap dispenser and garbage disposal switch: Rosolina, California Faucets; Orchard Park pendant lighting and sconces: Hudson Valley; backsplash: Tuileries collection, Walker Zanger; counter-depth refrigerator: KitchenAid; electric range: Electrolux
BEFORE: The dark red walls continued over to the breakfast area, making that space dark too.
AFTER: The kitchen extends into the previous breakfast area, as do the paint colors, molding and built-in cabinets.
French doors now stand in place of windows, allowing more light to flood in. The designers cut down to the floor and had the door custom-built to fit the space.
French doors now stand in place of windows, allowing more light to flood in. The designers cut down to the floor and had the door custom-built to fit the space.
The built-in cabinets give the homeowner even more storage and allow her to display antiques and put out a serving tray while entertaining.
Paint by Sherwin-Williams: Ceiling Bright White (ceiling) and Pure White (trim); wall paint: Gray Owl, Benjamin Moore; wall art: Daniel E. Smith
Paint by Sherwin-Williams: Ceiling Bright White (ceiling) and Pure White (trim); wall paint: Gray Owl, Benjamin Moore; wall art: Daniel E. Smith
BEFORE: Plants, seating and a wooden railing once crowded the doors leading to the area behind the home.
AFTER: A new ipe and wrought iron terrace now dress up the rear entrance. The stairs lead right up to the new French doors and into the open kitchen.
Custom cabinets: Williamson Millworks; countertops; Viatera quartz surface, Counter Fitters; appliances: Livingood’s; lighting fixtures: Pace Lighting; plumbing fixtures: Sandpiper Supply; hardwood flooring: Cowart Floor Surfacing; windows, doors, trim and ipe: Guerry Lumber; furniture and wallpaper: Georgia Furniture & Interiors
Engineering: M. Cody Tharpe of Tharpe Engineering
Custom ironwork: Bob Bernard
More
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
6 Kitchen Transformations Where Color Plays a Role
See more Kitchens of the Week
Custom cabinets: Williamson Millworks; countertops; Viatera quartz surface, Counter Fitters; appliances: Livingood’s; lighting fixtures: Pace Lighting; plumbing fixtures: Sandpiper Supply; hardwood flooring: Cowart Floor Surfacing; windows, doors, trim and ipe: Guerry Lumber; furniture and wallpaper: Georgia Furniture & Interiors
Engineering: M. Cody Tharpe of Tharpe Engineering
Custom ironwork: Bob Bernard
More
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
6 Kitchen Transformations Where Color Plays a Role
See more Kitchens of the Week
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Light, bright and beautiful!
Very nicely done!
I LOVE the purple! Beautiful kitchen.