Same house, more space

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ELECTRONICALLY REPRINTED FROM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012

remodeling secrets only the pros know

Same house, more space and lots less clutter!

> store-it-all built-ins  > family-friendly basement redo            > tidy attic retreat

32 fresh wallpaper ideas

more value inside! Room-expanding paint colors Space-saving furniture Budget kitchen makeover

before+after: kitchen

Two cooks, one small space Every square inch counts in this compact, light-filled family kitchen

produced by colette scanlon. styling: patricia gaylor

By deBorah Baldwin + Photographs by laura moss

When quarters are tight, layout is critical. Consider this hardworking kitchen, configured by designer Heidi Piron for serious cooks Liza and Peter Tulloch. Owners of a 70-year-old Colonial Revival in Summit, New Jersey, they had two kids, one dog, and lots of ideas when they asked Piron to improve the workings of their 110-square-foot kitchen. She did so without changing its footprint, and left the sink under the window so Liza could keep an eye on the kids. Three walls were interrupted by doors, one of which opened smack in between the range and peninsula. “My first goal was to move it because it was causing traffic jams in the cooking area,” says Piron. She also converted an out-of-the-way broom closet into a message center that doubles as a storage-packed serving area. To make the room seem larger, she suggested glass subway tile and other light-reflecting finishes, like pale granite and red-oak flooring. The cabinets fit together precisely, with a pullout for spices and oils, squeezed in near the range, “in a frameless cabinet, which offers a bit more space inside than one with an inset door,” Piron notes. Says Liza, “As the space was quite limited, every inch was thoughtfully maximized.”

In a space   that is all right  angles, rounded  shelves soften  the cabinets’  crisp lines.

before A door swing between  the range and peninsula created  traffic jams. after Moving the  door allowed for an efficient   U-shaped work area. Glass tile,   oak flooring, granite counters,   and white cabinets add polish   as well as performance. 

{ before }

>

> The snack bar forms an L and doubles as prep  space. The microwave contains an exhaust fan that  vents through the upper cabinet to the outside. Range and microwave: Viking

≤ White Roman granite, finished with an ogee  edge, tops counters and the snack-bar peninsula,  which has an apron designed to hold an outlet for   small appliances. Countertops: Atlas Marble & Granite

after

and dishwasher where  they were. 

range micro

the garage to create a  better spot for the new  pro-style range, plus  prep and storage space.

sink

to dining room

d/w fridge

5'

to living room

sink to dining room

cabinets and 

drawers for dishes and  flatware within reach  of the dishwasher. 

d/w fridge to living room

3_ Turned the

broom closet

10'

2_ Added pantry

9'

micro range

broom closet into  a message center and  serving area stocked  with upper cabinets  and deep drawers.

5_ Replaced the peninsula with one  that is narrower and  integrated with the rest   of the countertops. 

6_ Gave up a cabinet to provide 

5'

9'

4_ Moved the door that opens to  

to garage

1_ Kept the sink 

to garage

10'

space for a larger fridge  situated closer to prep  and cooking space. 

floor plans: ian worpole

before

With three doorways eating   up valuable wall space, the  110-square-foot kitchen felt  busy and cramped.

Moving one doorway and converting a broom  closet to a message center–serving area allow  for more storage and prep space and smoother  traffic flow in the same-size kitchen.  

> The message center has a charging  station, with an outlet   strip hidden under the  upper cabinet. Setting   the backsplash tile on   end gave the area its own  identity while tying it to   the rest of the kitchen. Tile: Waterworks. Mugs: Marimekko

pro advice Heidi piron, kitcHen designer, summit, n.j.

inside the box Find 14 smart kitchenstorage solutions at thisoldhouse .com/janfeb2012

“To keep the backsplash    from looking cluttered, opt  for one or two outlet strips  under upper cabinets.” 

< Open shelves

keep glassware within easy  reach. Their rounded shape  and two-piece molding— crown over inverted base— add a formal, finished note.  Tumblers: Marimekko. Finish carpentry: R&D Installation

< A custom lazy Susan   turns dead corner space into accessible storage for bowls, pots, and  utensils. The switch plate on the wall coordinates with the stainlesssteel appliances and chrome pulls. Cabinets: Prevo Cabinetry. Knobs and pulls: Top Knobs

Posted with permission from the January/February 2012 issue of This Old House ® Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. For more information on the use of this content, contact Wright’s Media at 877-652-5295.

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