A Kitchen With Vintage Style

This sweet 145-square-foot kitchen in Piedmont, California, “is meant to be on the humble side,” says architect Robert Kelly. “Ninety-five percentage of us live in tiny kitchens, and this kitchen has everything we need and want. Almost all magazine kitchens are big kitchens, but they aren’t what many of us have space for or desire.” Here is how Robert and his wife Ronna got their kitchen remodel directly.

On TV today: Watch all the specifics of the enchanting kitchen remodel

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Robert and Ronna Kelly and both kids
Location: Piedmont, California
Size: 145 square feet
That is interesting: Moving four doorways as well as consolidating counter area turned into a poorly working space into a household’s dream kitchen.

As it came time to remodel, revamping the flow and space from the kitchen has been the biggest challenge. “Many 1920s houses have several sources of entry and leaving from the space, which kills most of the counter area,” says Robert, of Kelly and Ambramson Architects. In cases like this, four doors and of the foot traffic to them really chopped up the space. “This project enhanced the efficacy of the space by rearranging the traffic flow to one side of the space, leaving more space for cabinets and counters.”

Robert had to relocate the interior staircase, outside stairs and windows, which ended up being much more work than he’d envisioned. He also increased the ceiling from 8 feet, 4 inches to 9 feet for a grand feel.

Notice how they changed the floor plan — that changed everything

Cabinetry: habit by Mark Johnson, San Leandro, California; refrigerator: Amana

Kelly and Abramson Architecture

The oversize mounts on both sides of the cooker are one of Robert’s favorite parts about this kitchen. He built it himself using a drywall box round a hood insert and accenting it with trim.

The vintage cooker, awarded to him by a friend who did not desire it, is a massive part of the kitchen’s allure.

Robert awakened the linoleum, revealing beautifully worn wood beneath — and a historical patch made from the surface of a tin can — that he kept.

Kelly and Abramson Architecture

The family chosen for a single broad porcelain sink from Kohler. The countertops are 1⅛-inch thick Carrara marble with a honed finish. The wall-mounted kitchen faucet has been chosen for its performance and its utilitarian look.

Robert integrated glass cabinetry into the rest of his custom cabinets. “Glass doors provide a sense of relief as opposed to a strong mass,” he says. “We like to display our colorful ceramic bowls and other items in our glass cupboards.” Bottom drawers hold Tupperware and so on.

Sink: Kohler; faucet: Chicago

The narrow framework of the outside redwood doorway, from Ohmega Salvage, increases the period look. To match code, Robert replaced the original wavy glass with wavy tempered glass from Bendheim. The windows came from a home down the road whose owners were throwing them off.

The family considered enlarging the kitchen by taking over the separate dining room, but retaining the wall and its own magical arched doorway allowed them to bring the china cabinet with its extra storage.

Here, the household loves their breakfast nook off the kitchen.

Watch more on Notice how this household got more use out of the kitchen without adding on

Perhaps you have remodeled a little kitchen? We’d love to find out what you did. Please show us!

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