At first we couldn't quite get behind the zig-zaggy, dropped ceiling in this space. But once we realized its purpose (and saw the cramped, dark room before) we were on board. This is not a huge kitchen, and the owners made it feel open and expansive. Go take a look.
See the before? So confusing! What's with the floating wall and the hulking refrigerator blocking the entrance? The owners (he designed the space) clearly needed to remove some walls and cabinets and open up the room. The problem: the kitchen, living room, and dining room are all in one space. That's why the original kitchen was closed off- to give the apartment a little definition.
So the owners created the idea of the "canopy," as they call it. It not only hides some mechanical equipment; it defines the kitchen area. And the way it comes down behind the sink, creating a mini wall, separates it a bit from the living room. It's actually kind of smart. And we love the dark color.
Another thing we love is that two of the cabinets under the island are on casters, so the owners can roll them out and make a breakfast bar area or keep them put for extra storage. And the backlit spice row is beautiful (we love a library ladder), even if they claim they don't really use the spices...
• See the entire slideshow: D House Kitchen Renovation, at Dwell
Related: Before & After: Dark & Dull to Light & Delicious
(Images: Kate McElwee/Dwell)
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Elizabeth Apron fro...
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Jaw-droppingly amazing.
so beautiful... and the slim floating benchtop looks very chic – i'm going to Dwell to perve at it some more!
Truly inventive! Wow!
Why does AT always show the "After" photo first!?!
I kind of like the after photo first. If it's not my taste, I don't have to go into the post. And the kitchen looks great.
I looks like a kitchen for people who don't really cook. The before looked a lot more functional in terms of the work triangle. So the main prep area is in front of the refrigerators? Someone at the sink is right by the cooktop? For that amount of space and the money that was spent on it, 2 people should be able work comfortably and I just don't see it...unless there's some sort of super secret pop out countertops or secondary sink.
The old kitchen definitely needed a re-do and I like how they opened up the space and still kept it defined. If the cooktop was farther from the sink, the sink larger, the fridge & oven were on the wall, I'd be more enthusiastic. Having to constantly bend down to get in the refrigerators or stand right on top of each other? Yuck.
very good. no wait- very very very good :D
WOH! it went from totally drab to super bright and highfashionmodern kitchenland! i like how from one side it looks totally minimalist but on the other side there is the functionality.
great huge island and love the floors too.
Brilliant - I'd love a kitchen like this!
Nice kitchen but the Dwell captions are a bit too precious. About his chalkboard:
Most recently on the board: "bread", "OJ", "milk" (crossed off), and "mayonnaise" (crossed off).
While the functionality is less than ideal, there are some good solutions in this design.
Refrigerator drawers are a fantastic alternative to conventional full sizers:
- they're smaller,
- they can go under a cabinet without sacrificing countertop space, and
- they force people to buy only what they will eat right away - spoilage prevention!
The lit high shelf is a nice touch, but it will be interesting to see in 6 months or a year whether it actually gets used.
Huge improvement, light-wise though!
Although it's not my personal style, they did a great job! Very fresh and bright and modern. My only quibble, and it may just be the camera angle, is that it looks like the new kitchen island juts out in front of the fireplace, which looks kind of awkward and strange, but otherwise they did a great job.