A Wall Comes Down and a Skylight Goes Up in a Sleek New Kitchen
Before-and-after pictures show the dramatic changes in this remodeled California kitchen
Before: The original kitchen featured vintage appliances, cabinets painted gray and linoleum floors.
The doorway, which remains, leads to the home’s front entryway.
The doorway, which remains, leads to the home’s front entryway.
After: The size of the renovated kitchen is essentially the same, but by knocking down the wall across from the old range and oven, the architect gained enough space to add a center island. Gas burners top the marble-look quartz island.
Browse marble-look quartz countertops on Houzz
Browse marble-look quartz countertops on Houzz
Before: Replacing the old sink and dishwasher in the original kitchen are updated ones located on the same wall. The wall of cabinets, at far right in the photo, was removed to open the space to the dining room beyond.
After: The cabinets were removed above the new sink in favor of a sculptural floating shelf made out of stained oak. “The old kitchen had too many upper cabinets. It made the space feel cramped,” Eisenmann says.
The wall behind the sink is covered in white subway tile, the countertops are marble-look quartz, and the floating shelf features integrated LED strip lights.
Find LED strip lights
The wall behind the sink is covered in white subway tile, the countertops are marble-look quartz, and the floating shelf features integrated LED strip lights.
Find LED strip lights
In addition to knocking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the space and draw in light, Eisenmann added a large skylight to the ceiling to make the space even brighter.
The new cabinets, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue, were brought all the way up to the ceiling to create a sleek, streamlined look. “Painting the cabinets such a dark color was a bit daring in a small space,” Eisenmann says. “But we brought in lots of natural light, so the space still feels bright.”
The new cabinets, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Black Blue, were brought all the way up to the ceiling to create a sleek, streamlined look. “Painting the cabinets such a dark color was a bit daring in a small space,” Eisenmann says. “But we brought in lots of natural light, so the space still feels bright.”
A built-in buffet facing the dining area features the same materials and color palette as are used in the kitchen, but Eisenmann flipped the look by making the cabinets above the buffet out of stained oak and painting the cubbies dark blue.
New oak-framed French doors lead to a front courtyard, replacing the old aluminum sliding doors in the dining area. The space features midcentury-inspired reproduction furniture, including plastic Eames dining chairs and a Nelson bubble pendant above the table.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Matt Vance and Peter Ashbaugh
Location: Berkeley, California
Size: About 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Architect: Stacy Eisenmann of Eisenmann Architecture
Homeowners Matt Vance and Peter Ashbaugh, both real estate agents, immediately saw the value and potential in this 1964 midcentury house in Berkeley, California. The house had great character, good bones and a lot studded with mature trees. All it needed was a designer’s touch, especially in the original kitchen, which had a dated layout and received no natural light.
With the help of architect and designer Stacy Eisenmann, the kitchen received a major remodel that included knocking down a wall to open the space to the adjacent dining room and adding a skylight to draw in natural light.