Space-Saving Ideas From a Compact Kitchen and Bath
A designer gives this income property a bright and airy refresh while preserving 1940s Miami Art Deco elements
Kitchen (Before)
The problems: The property had been neglected. The cabinets, countertops and appliances were part of a previous renovation and were dark and dated. There was a soffit on two sides of the kitchen, and this water heater was taking up valuable cabinet space. Dark tile that was in bad shape was covering up the original terrazzo. There was a wall closing off the kitchen from the rest of the apartment, making it seem even smaller than it was.
The scope of work: White gave both units in the duplex the same treatment: complete renovations of the kitchens, a serious sprucing up for the bathrooms and restoring or refinishing all of the terrazzo floors. She also added baseboards throughout.
The problems: The property had been neglected. The cabinets, countertops and appliances were part of a previous renovation and were dark and dated. There was a soffit on two sides of the kitchen, and this water heater was taking up valuable cabinet space. Dark tile that was in bad shape was covering up the original terrazzo. There was a wall closing off the kitchen from the rest of the apartment, making it seem even smaller than it was.
The scope of work: White gave both units in the duplex the same treatment: complete renovations of the kitchens, a serious sprucing up for the bathrooms and restoring or refinishing all of the terrazzo floors. She also added baseboards throughout.
Before: However, there were bright spots with the existing situation, like terrazzo floors, some of which were buried beneath tile. “Biscayne Park is a historic village and we really wanted to keep the integrity within this community,” White says. “The terrazzo floors were an important part of that.”
She was surprised and delighted the flooring pros were able to salvage and refinish the terrazzo to look as good as new, as she was almost certain it would have been too damaged from that tile job in the kitchen.
She was surprised and delighted the flooring pros were able to salvage and refinish the terrazzo to look as good as new, as she was almost certain it would have been too damaged from that tile job in the kitchen.
The solutions: Luckily, the wall in the previous photo that separated the kitchen from the living room was not load-bearing, so White was able to knock it down without too much fuss and create a breakfast bar. This made everything feel more open, bigger and brighter. Next, she found more cabinet and counter area by considering space-saving features for every item that needed to be included.
What You Need to Know Before Your Tear Down That Wall
What You Need to Know Before Your Tear Down That Wall
Here are some of White’s tricks for eking out every inch of cabinet and counter space.
- She took back the water heater’s cabinet space. “With the cost of tankless heaters down to just a few hundred dollars these days, it made sense to switch to one,” White says. She was able to mount it below the unit, taking up no usable space within the apartment.
- She replaced the existing bulky range and countertop microwave with a stovetop and overhead convection oven-microwave. This freed up room for more drawers and storage under the stovetop as well as more counter space.
- The dishwasher she chose is apartment-size, just 18 inches wide (standard dishwashers are 24 inches wide). “Six inches of extra cabinet space make a big difference,” she says.
- She decided to forgo the expected pendants-over-the-breakfast-bar look, adding recessed lighting and a flush-mount ceiling fixture instead. “We had just opened up that space by removing the wall. The last thing we wanted to do was to clutter it up and block the view,” she says.
- She used a white apartment-size refrigerator. “Lots of people think all of the appliances need to match, but that’s not true,” she says. “This white refrigerator blends in perfectly. There was no need to waste money trying to be matchy-matchy with the stainless steel.”
- She used a Lazy Susan cabinet on one of the corner cabinets.
- She removed the soffit on this side of the room and used the space gain for 42-inch-high upper cabinets. (She left the soffit on the window wall because it was more of a balanced, architecturally appropriate feature there.)
Rug and wall accessories: Target
Small Kitchens Whose Usefulness Your Won’t Believe
Before: The double sink hogged a lot of valuable counter space.
Sink: A smaller sink freed up precious inches. This one is only 15 inches wide.
Countertops: “I love the texture and contrast to all the white provided by the butcher block in here,” White says. The team sealed the counters several times.
Cabinets: Flat Shaker-style cabinets keep things clean and simple. Streamlined hardware plays off the original window and updates the look.
How to Clean and Care for Your Butcher Block
Countertops: “I love the texture and contrast to all the white provided by the butcher block in here,” White says. The team sealed the counters several times.
Cabinets: Flat Shaker-style cabinets keep things clean and simple. Streamlined hardware plays off the original window and updates the look.
How to Clean and Care for Your Butcher Block
Bathroom (Before)
The problems: The bathroom is only 5 feet by 7½ feet. “My client loved the original tile, but unfortunately a lot of it was damaged,” White says. The dated vanity was a bulky and awkward space hog that didn’t offer up much storage. Also, she was not a fan of the glass shower divider in this particular case. “It’s hard if you need to bathe a child when you have one of these in a tight space,” she says. However, both she and her client were big fans of the original Art Deco tub and the tile.
The problems: The bathroom is only 5 feet by 7½ feet. “My client loved the original tile, but unfortunately a lot of it was damaged,” White says. The dated vanity was a bulky and awkward space hog that didn’t offer up much storage. Also, she was not a fan of the glass shower divider in this particular case. “It’s hard if you need to bathe a child when you have one of these in a tight space,” she says. However, both she and her client were big fans of the original Art Deco tub and the tile.
The Solutions
Sink: White replaced the vanity with a pedestal sink that plays off the tub’s Art Deco style and makes the room feel more open.
Tile: Removing the vanity meant she needed to fill in some of the wall that had been behind it with new tile, and there were some other broken and discolored tiles around the room that were a problem. So, after replacing those, she had a refinishing company come in to spray the tiles white and refinish the tub. “Luckily, all of the original black tile, soap dishes and towel bars were in great shape, so we were able to save those,” she says. Refinishing the old tiles only cost a few hundred dollars and preserved the integrity of the style.
Sink: White replaced the vanity with a pedestal sink that plays off the tub’s Art Deco style and makes the room feel more open.
Tile: Removing the vanity meant she needed to fill in some of the wall that had been behind it with new tile, and there were some other broken and discolored tiles around the room that were a problem. So, after replacing those, she had a refinishing company come in to spray the tiles white and refinish the tub. “Luckily, all of the original black tile, soap dishes and towel bars were in great shape, so we were able to save those,” she says. Refinishing the old tiles only cost a few hundred dollars and preserved the integrity of the style.
Storage: White kept the existing medicine cabinet because storage was at a premium with the vanity gone.
Shower curtain: A dip-dyed curtain with pom-pom trim brings in the quintessential Miami blue-green. It’s hung high enough to keep the Art Deco detailing on the tub on display.
Lighting: White chose an industrial pendant that befits the era and ties into the black tile.
Shower curtain and bath mat: Target; see more shower curtains
More
Small Living 101: Smart Space Savers for Your Kitchen Walls
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Shower curtain: A dip-dyed curtain with pom-pom trim brings in the quintessential Miami blue-green. It’s hung high enough to keep the Art Deco detailing on the tub on display.
Lighting: White chose an industrial pendant that befits the era and ties into the black tile.
Shower curtain and bath mat: Target; see more shower curtains
More
Small Living 101: Smart Space Savers for Your Kitchen Walls
Small Bathrooms: 5 Common Problems Solved
Project at a Glance
Who lives here: This is an investment rental property owned by music producer Walshy Fire (real name Leighton Paul Walsh), who is one-third of the group Major Lazer
Location: Biscayne Park neighborhood of Miami
Size: Kitchen: 72 square feet (6.5 square meters); bathroom: 37½ square feet (3.5 square meters)
Designer: Nicole White Designs Interiors
The backstory: Leighton Paul Walsh decided he wanted to invest some of the money he’s made from mega-hits like Lean On, Powerful and Light It Up in hometown income properties. Built in 1948, this 1,487-square-foot duplex in the historic Biscayne Park neighborhood of Miami was a great choice. The neighborhood is full of unique Miami Art Deco gems; this one just needed some polishing. So he called designer Nicole White for help. “This neighborhood is so hot that the entire time we were working over here, people knocked on the door every day asking if they could rent it,” she says.
Must-haves: “My client grew up in Miami. He’s investing in his community and wanted to preserve the integrity of the place,” White says. He loved the existing Art Deco style that still remained in the bathrooms, and he wanted try to restore the original terrazzo floors wherever possible.