Downtown Seattle Kitchen Makeover

Time for a change. The owners of a downtown condominium had waited long enough! Their 26-year-old kitchen was out of date visually, and the functionality was nil. The access was awkward, drawer and storage space minimal, and the counter space limited. For one passionate cook and another who dabbled, it was a tiresome and frustrating place to cook in.

The goal: Maximize counter space, double the storage with new cabinets, have better and more functional lighting, and create a handsome, elegant space to work in and view from the dining area.

In the planning process it was quickly evident to the designer that changing the access into the kitchen would accomplish these wish list items. By moving the opening from the front of the dining room to the adjacent hall, the first gain would be a  48” wide entrance. Investigation into the hall wallspace yielded no impediments, so planning could commence efficiently.

The new plan: a U-shaped kitchen with large counter expanses for prep and cooking. We were able to keep the existing plumbing for the sink in place and relocate a new dishwasher to the right of the new sink base cabinet.

With the exception of the sink base cabinet and a narrow pull out cabinet next to the stove, drawers were installed for all other storage below the counter. Upper cabinets with semi-transparent glass doors face the kitchen opening and give a lighter appearance than a solid wood door. A stainless backsplash complements the stainless edge on the glass doors. New low voltage under-cabinet lighting (on a dimmer) softly illuminates the backsplash and countertop. A practical, easy-to-clean taupe porcelain floor tile with a slight non-skid finish was selected for its elegance and durability. For the counters, the client selected Chroma, a composite stone in a soft taupe color, with a straight-eased, polished edge. The result is a pleasing contemporary look.

A  24” wide cabinet floor-to-ceiling cabinet, accessed from the dining room, provides abundant storage for large pantry items. Additional storage was gained by installing three, 12″ deep double upper cabinets with a custom toe kick below the counter facing the dining room. A new paint color sealed the less-than-two-month long renovation.

As you might have guessed, the owners are thrilled and delighted by their new kitchen.