Scott renovated his kitchen entirely on his own, figuring it out as he went along. You'd never guess it from spending time in this delightfully bright space, a classic with a modern twist. He's certainly made the most of this funky layout with the use of strategically placed pantries and a keen sense of organization. Scott is also one of the most inventive cake makers I've ever met. This man's got a gift and no friend's birthday is complete without one of his outrageous confections.
Scott cooks a lot, mostly vegetarian/vegan, with an emphasis on fresh and healthy produce. We mutually gushed over our love of Indian food and Alicia Silverstone's cookbook, The Kind Diet (we are both huge veggie nerds, that goes without saying).
The fact that Scott remodeled his kitchen without much experience (he's a color/pattern designer by day) is remarkable. It doesn't look like a novice job; in fact, it's very polished. Scott used multiple upgrades to put a new spin on his kitchen. He replaced mauve Formica counter tops and walls with zebrawood-patterned countertops and subway-tiled the walls, forgoing paint all together — it's bold but it totally works!
He replaced a sad old vent above the stove with a proper hood, installed cork floors where impractical white linoleum once prevailed, moved the fridge so he could open the door without it jamming into the wall and gutted an entire surface (near the fridge) to install cabinets. The ceiling is lined in white molding as well, just to top off the whole look. Wow!
This kitchen is not only beautiful but very organized. Scott keeps tools that he uses on a regular basis and has gotten rid of the clutter and 'gadgety' kitchen devices. "If you can do the same thing with a knife, then get rid of it" Scott told me. Now that's a kitchen manifesto to keep clutter down if I ever heard one. We all have a lot to learn from this charming DIY space and fantastic cake-maker!
10 Questions for Scott (and His Kitchen)
1. What inspires your kitchen and your cooking?
Ina Garten. Ha! I love her. What a life! Actually, trying to find different ways to make vegetable meals delicious without adding butter or cheese to everything (I try to use those very sparingly).
2. What is your favorite kitchen tool or element?
I love the KitchenAid mixer. I bake birthday cakes for my friends so it comes in really handy. However, in the fall and winter I love my immersion blender (from a thrift store). There is nothing better than soup during that time in Portland.
3. What's the most memorable meal you've ever cooked in this kitchen?
It wasn't a meal per se, but I made my friend Jeremy a birthday cake. It was a cross-dresser. I bought a Ken doll and pulled off his legs then built the dress out of many layers of sheet cake. It took hours, but the entire time I kept laughing, so it was completely worth it.
4. The biggest challenge in your kitchen:
I think that would be the non-gas stove. I love cooking with gas.
5. Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
Well, I was working with budget constraints, so I think I did great at keeping the costs down low, but I think next time I would go for an undermount sink; I like when you can just wipe things directly into the sink. Also, a single bowl sink. With a dishwasher, there really isn't a need for two basins.
6. Biggest indulgence or splurge in the kitchen:
Not out of my pocket, but the fridge would have been. However, for two years for my birthday and Christmas, I had everyone give me Lowe's gift cards. It was in stock so I got an extra 10% off, plus it was on sale, so after gift cards I think I may have spent 200 dollars tops.
7. Is there anything you hope to add or improve in your kitchen?
I think at this point I am done with the kitchen. Finally!
8. How would you describe your cooking style?
I like following recipes and then adapting as I go along depending on what I have in the house. I love fresh herbs.
9. Best cooking advice or tip you ever received:
Keep an eye on what you are cooking! (I am easily distracted so things can burn easily).
10. What are you cooking this week?
Soft boiled eggs, greens, mushroom hash, beans, beans, and more beans!
Featured Resources
• Refrigerator: Frigidaire
• Oven: Frigidaire
• Pots and pans: Cuisinart multi-clad pro stainless steel (I just bought them last year and I am really enjoying them). And I couldn't imagine cooking without my cast iron skillets that all belonged to my grandma that I inherited about 7 years ago.
• Dishes: Crate and Barrel
• Subway tile: Lowe's
• Cork floor: Lumber Liquidators
• Zebrawood counter tops: Formica
• Faucet: Overstock.com
• Paint color: Bedford Gray by Martha Stewart
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(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)
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way cool!
NIce...clean and crisp. I like the frig/cabinet configuration a lot. Great job on a minimalist budget.
love it! nice job. m
Nice redo. I think the simplicity of it.
The little 2-inch wide strip of butcher block to the left of the stove is the sign of someone who understands design in relation to actual use. The whole kitchen is great - but that seemingly small item stood out for its attention to detail.
Cross-dressing cake! Priceless! Beautiful renovation!
I agree with @homebody. That little space by the stove would drive me nuts, but I am one that likes space on both side, especially since there was room to make it larger.
Over all I really like the space. At first glance I thought your counters where actual butcher block and that cabinet set-up around the fridge is to die for. I am going to see if my landlord will let me do something similar. Thanks for the creative idea.
I've had that paint chip taped to my cabinets for 6 months. I think this is the nudge I needed to go get a couple of gallons and friggin paint them already. Thanks!
Does anyone have an idea of the brand and model of that vent hood?
Fantastic! I love that he kept the original cabinets (I have a big pet peeve about people ripping out perfectly good cabinets). The kitchen looks airy and contemporary while still keeping its unique character.
This is a fantastic kitchen. Well done.
I love the clean simplicity. Are those spice jars on the fridge? If so, please advise where they are from.
The range hood is Broan Elite (somewhere off of the internet) and the magnetic spice jars are from Ikea. Thanks for all of the kudos!
This is a very neat kitchen. What are the items to the left of the sink? are they coffee makers?
Great Job Mr Scott. Love the area for cook books and your selection too
Ooops!!! I meant to the right of the sink. my bad.
I never would've guessed that was a cross-dressed cake! That must've been fun to make with all that time. I love the cabinet color you've chosen.
To the right of the sink is a french press and a juicer.
looks awesome! i would love information about vent hood make and model, if possible
thanks!
I want to order a cake! Adorably swank kitchn.
Very nicely done. LOVE these examples of stylish, resourceful, light-filled kitchens. Thank you!
Now I have no excuse. I have the same cabinets, but thought they would be too "plain" to paint. You have proved me wrong. Can't wait to get started!
love it. are the countertops actual wood or laminate?
The spice jars are from Ikea. I have them. They are great. They also sell narrower ones at World Market.
They are Formica actually.
http://www.formica.com/en/home/dna.aspx?color=9011
@baronvanradabaugh do you like them? how do they *feel*? :)
Cross dressing cake! Ina Garten inspired! Subway tile backsplash! Cooking vegetarian! Can we be friends?! Love the kitchen.
Love the white range hood, so over stainless.
@ANB, well, to be honest they feel like formica with a texture on them that goes with the grain of the "wood". I will say that most people who see them in person think they are actual wood countertops. I have had them in for about 5 years and they haven't stained. I haven't put a hot pan on them, so I cannot attest to how they would hold up with that. And, I always use a cutting board. But they seem to be rather sturdy!
Scott, please come to Virginia and remodel my kitchen!
7. Is there anything you hope to add or improve in your kitchen?
I think at this point I am done with the kitchen. Finally!
Um... there is something that still needs doing. An inch high painted bead that runs around the bottom of the overhead cabinets, to hide the lights and their ugly wiring. It would also reduce the abrupt "end" of the bottom of the cabinets.
Then the kitchen would be perfect!
Overall, it looked a bit sparse, but maybe that's the way he likes it. I love the condiment/herb magnet rack on the fridge though.
fun!
This is a really great kitchen. I'm looking to renovate my own kitchen in a little while. I have a very small space but the main thing is that I have no-where to put anything down near the stove. How is it possible to cook properly when there's nowhere to put down a spare pot or utensils? I really like that very narrow cabinet you've got there with the drawers beneath. That's exactly what I need. Thanks for showing us around your kitchen. (And we love the Ken cake.)
This is great, a kitchen that is more about function than anything else, and looks good doing so.
Though if it were me, a bit more color, and crocks of utensils by the stove would make it perfect in my book, along with fun artwork - and my Mom's blue apothecary canister set she bought back in the late 1960's.
What caught my eye, was him, bowtie and all at the top of the post, a handsome gent who happens to cook/bake as well.