Before & After: This Kitchen Went from Dark and Cramped to Light and Bright

This kitchen was small and it didn’t help that it had a tiny, barely usable breakfast nook just off to the left. Honestly, I don’t think a bagel, let alone a human, could fit in that space, so it just didn’t make sense to keep it. On top of that, the small kitchen was dark and uninviting.

Laura Medicus of Laura Medicus Interiors had great vision and saw that the breakfast nook got great light and, if she opened up the small wall that separates it from the kitchen, she could give the homeowners more usable kitchen counter space instead of the choppy footprint they currently had.

In addition to opening up the wall, she punched in a new window to seriously brighten up the dark space. This was the perfect place to center the sink underneath, leaving a bit more breathing room in the corner.

Another easy, but effective design choice that brightened up the space was painting the cabinetry Benjamin Moore White Dove. Installing a walnut butcher block countertop added warmth to the clean, white palette. Finishing off the fresh look with a modern twist is a simple white subway tile backsplash that extends from the countertops all the way up to the crown molding.

To add some soul, Laura sourced vintage pantry doors from Rare Finds in Denver. Hidden behind them? The microwave and food storage. This area used to house the ice box back in the 1930s. Now it can store unsexy things like flax seed and saltines and you’d never know because you’re just focused on how cool those doors look.

Finally, Laura added the jewelry to the room—hardware. A champagne bronze faucet and pot filler again add warmth, and complement the antique brass pendants.

To read more about this project and find additional resources check out the project page at The Colorado Nest.

Thank you Laura!

This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: This Kitchen Goes from Dark and Cramped to Light and Bright