Rehab Diary: A Small-Kitchen Makeover with Maximum Storage - Remodelista
Tucked into a corridor-like niche, the 9-by-12-foot kitchen in a Victorian house in Noe Valley, San Francisco, had no natural light. Photography by Drew Kelly. Tasked by her client with brightening the space and maximizing storage and seating, designer Alison Davin, founding principal of Jute, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, wanted to make the kitchen feel bigger and yet knew she couldn’t add any more square footage. The streamlined new kitchen is in a light-reflecting white palette. Having worked with Davin before, the client gave her and her team at Jute the freedom to work without an approval process because the project was under a tight deadline. A kitchen cabinet next to the refrigerator reveals a hidden microwave. Davin created a U-shaped layout to maximize the efficiency and functionality of the small kitchen, and introduced cabinets and shelves on all three walls. Caesarstone counters are paired with custom marble tiles (Parramore in Thassos and Alba Chiara) from Waterworks. The Quincy Deck-Mounted Bridge Faucet with Lever Handles is by Kallista. The neutral palette provides a blank canvas for culinary color. Above L and R: These images show the wall between the living areas and kitchen that was removed in the remodel. The enclosures created a corridor-like kitchen (shown here looking toward the front hall). A view of the old kitchen looking toward the living area. The before and after plans illustrate the dramatic opening effect of removing the wall separating the kitchen and dining room.