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Same Layout, Different Kitchens: Which Do You Prefer?

These kitchens are in identical apartments, owned by two sisters who live on the same floor of a building in Manhattan. One is crisp and elegant; the other slightly rustic and casual. We're loving both (and the idea of living down the hall from one's sister), but we're leaning towards the kitchen on the right. See full-sized photos below.

 
 

The use of the high ceilings for that long pot rack is awesome, and the stainless steel fridge looks hulking and industrial, like what you'd find in a restaurant kitchen. To us, it makes a narrow kitchen feel bigger. This is a fearless kitchen, without a lot of extra adornment. It's a place to throw down some flour, but it's also really inviting.

2010_03_12-lonny4.jpgAnd yet, how pretty are these propped-up pieces of art and the beautiful penny tiles? This kitchen looks so clean and organized, qualities we're also very fond of. And it's interesting to see the same cabinetry work so well in a different design.

2010_03_12-lonny3.jpgWhat do you think? Which elements are your favorites?

• See both apartments at Lonny magazine.

Related: Kitchen Gallery: Pot Rack Inspiration

(Images: Patrick Cline/Lonny)

Comments (35)

totally the left...i don't know why but i'm a sucker for everything put away and nothing out in the open! it looks cleaner, tidier and neater to me! JUST my opinion though ;)

posted by CasaCullen on March 12th 2010 at 3:37pm
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The one on the right. It's got lots of room to hang pots and utensils, the counter is expansive and clear of decorative clutter. It's a place to work and do some serious cooking.

posted by bubble on March 12th 2010 at 3:41pm
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Cabinets... must have cabinets.

posted by somewhiteguy on March 12th 2010 at 3:45pm
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*shudder* I can't get past the idea of living down the hall from my sister (Sorry, Nee-chan!). We'd kill each other.

I love the floors but I wish we could see the right hand side of the kitchen with cupboards. It's hard to compare the two when the photos are of different angles.

posted by Tiamat_the_Red on March 12th 2010 at 3:45pm
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I like the left picture.
The dishes behind the glass cabinets make it look more tidy and there is less stuff on the counter top, the floor is lighter color. And I absolutely loved colors: books, glasses, plates and flowers!

posted by IronOrchid on March 12th 2010 at 4:00pm
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I like the one on the right. She looks more like a cook. Everything she needs is right there for her to grab.

Now of course, the other one could have the same stuff.

I'm always in a hurry so having it right in front of me is very appealing

posted by kimmywizzie on March 12th 2010 at 4:05pm
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both are really gorgeous but i am a sucker for hanging pots!

posted by chitra on March 12th 2010 at 4:17pm
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I think the wood countertop in the right hand photo makes the kitchen look warmer. I love the industrial look. Having said that, I think the left looks more organized, as you've pointed out. While I love the look of the left, the right would work better for me -- cupboards work better for a shortie like me (I doubt I'd be able to reach that pot rack, which makes it totally impractical for me) and I like how everything's put away.

posted by SarahBerneche on March 12th 2010 at 4:35pm
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Definitely the left! Just clean and less cluttered looking.

posted by lini_330 on March 12th 2010 at 4:43pm
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If clutter equals function, it's what I want! I like have everything out and in plain sight, it works for my improvisational cooking style. The wood countertop is gorgeous too.

posted by virtualjess on March 12th 2010 at 5:00pm
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i am a fan of having very little on my counters, so both lose out there, however the second kitchen wins on the sheer amount of storage. love the backsplash as well. also, not a fan of hanging pots and pans (or open shelving units).

these both seem like quite sizable kitchens for new york! lucky sisters!

posted by the polish chick on March 12th 2010 at 5:05pm
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LEFT! Where will I put all my dishes with no cupboards? Plus I love the blue glass/interiors in the cabinets. Although, if I could put the butcher block counters from the one on the right in the kitchen on the left, I totally would.

posted by vintagejenta on March 12th 2010 at 5:30pm
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Left. I already have a kitchen with shelves instead of cupboards (hate it) and butcher block countertops (stained and in need of sanding thanks to the last owners). I'll take the cupboards and a countertop that is easy to clean, stays clean, and LOOKS clean.

posted by onesnowyowl on March 12th 2010 at 5:35pm
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The one on the right looks like a kitchen that was designed to be used. The one on the left looks like one that has been designed to be admired from the next room but never touched.

posted by Rpoole11 on March 12th 2010 at 6:08pm
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Rpoole11, you summed up my thoughts perfectly.

posted by onebravegirl on March 12th 2010 at 7:05pm
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Well I do like the open spacing in the photo on the right, but love the shelving from the photo on the left. While it isn't as open, I know for a fact that the right's shelves (what little she has) would be so crammed with everything that they couldn't hang up...aah!

I do wonder though, if all of those beautiful pieces of art and cute bud vases are on that countertop (in left kitchen), where the heck is all of their kitchen stuff? Where's the microwave? The small appliances?? If that's her only real counterspace...well that's just crazy.

http://www.abbeycatchat.com

posted by amiebarber8 on March 12th 2010 at 9:00pm
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Great post, but I am a little hesitant to post my opinion on which kitchen I prefer. No one likes to divide sisters. ;)

posted by mprentice on March 12th 2010 at 10:53pm
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Definitely the kitchen on the left. I love the white countertops and glass front panels. Plus...lots of storage space and drawers which are precious commodities in my house. I like the clean spaces, uncluttered look and bright colors. Hanging pots, stainless steel and a restaurant-look kitchen do not appeal to me.

Left absolutely. I love the look, and I find cabinets and storage way more practical than a pot rack.

posted by DCarl1 on March 13th 2010 at 1:06am
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Definitely the right-hand one. It's very friendly.

posted by marmite on March 13th 2010 at 6:07am
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Definitely the one on the left. I really HATE having stuff all over the place, it makes me feel unorganised. I love the white with the pops aof colour and the art propped against the back.

posted by TussahSilk on March 13th 2010 at 7:23am
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I'm too short for the hanging-pot thing to ever work. I like how it looks but I know I'd be happier working from the cupboards (and I'd have my trusty folding step-stool of course). I like the art in the hanging-pot kitchen, though. In my place, those pretty propped up framed things would be trashed in a week. I would not enjoy digging splattered batter out of the frames or constantly wiping grease off the glass.

posted by cmcinnyc on March 13th 2010 at 3:52pm
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Left. Me too, I am too short to hang pots up. I want open counter space and cabinet space for dishes.

posted by ithink on March 13th 2010 at 9:32pm
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The right one for me. I want to cook in there '-)

posted by Rain on March 14th 2010 at 1:31pm
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Definitely the one on the left, but WITHOUT all the stuff on the counter. Also wondering...what's on the right-hand wall of the left-hand kitchen? Is it the same/similar?

posted by zahirah on March 14th 2010 at 7:07pm
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The one on the right for sure. I want to be able to get at my cooking tools quickly. Colander, stat!

posted by technicolor troglodyte on March 15th 2010 at 12:28am
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I like the right, although I probably would not hang the utensils, just the pots and pans. I keep a very minimal kitchen and prefer under counter storage to cabinets.

posted by photographd on March 15th 2010 at 1:37am
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the left one! Very nice and neat, the one in the right is too chaotic for me.

posted by sweetiebox on March 15th 2010 at 7:57am
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The one on the right seems more spacious, but I'd probably prefer more cabinet space. The one on the left looks too decorated to actually cook in though (at least for me and my spatters), though it's very pretty.

I would have the one on the right, but keep my serving platters at my sister's.

posted by lemonadefish on March 15th 2010 at 10:33am
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Sister on the right must be 6'2 or something? How does she reach those pots! ;) (spoken from a bit of height envy).

I actually like both of them. To make it my own I'd probably combine parts from each. But I love that they look so different and yet still the same. Great post.

posted by stephinmd on March 15th 2010 at 10:54am
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Butcher Block! I love it, I'm a fan of the kitchen on the right. It's not clutter it's causally-organized.

posted by melissawiz on March 15th 2010 at 11:34am
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I noticed that the light fixture on the right looks way better. The way that it lights the ceiling makes the room look brighter and more spacious. The wood countertop adds some great texture and tone, but a splash of more intense color (I love blues and greens) would be nice, either in the form of a different countertop or tiled backsplash.

posted by technicolor troglodyte on March 15th 2010 at 1:29pm
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So is Lonny, Domino under a new name????

posted by shayna on March 15th 2010 at 1:46pm
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I take the one on the right. I like to cook, and the larger counter space feels much more useful. Sure, it's a bit cluttered on the walls, and you could possibly get around this with some higher cabinets. But I do love the size and accessibility of the one on the right.

posted by ErikTheRed on March 15th 2010 at 9:42pm
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The one on the right looks more useful, and it makes me want to cook. The one on the left just makes me want to enjoy a cup of tea!

I say this hoping that there's a blind spot in the right kitchen where you can't see the extra cabinets in a nook or there's an extra corner not shown in the photo....

posted by shawnamuffin on March 16th 2010 at 6:45pm
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