“After” photos by Tatiana Sokolova of Capture Studio
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Alameda, California
Size: 285 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: William Adams Design
Before: The former 165-square-foot kitchen felt dated and inefficient with aging gray cabinets, mismatched white and black appliances, wood-look vinyl flooring and no island. A corner sink beneath two front-yard-facing windows anchored the layout. “I just felt like that corner sink was dated,” Adams says. “It also took up so much space by the way it was positioned.”
Without an island, storage and prep space were limited and the center of the room felt like wasted territory. An eating area with a large fireplace sat just off the kitchen. “Having that giant fireplace inside the kitchen made no sense at all,” Adams says.
White ceramic tile with dark grout wrapped the countertops and backsplash, creating a dingy look and maintenance the couple didn’t want. Lighting was also a problem: A single ceiling fixture plus a couple of fluorescent task lights left the space poorly illuminated. “The lack of light was not conducive for working in the kitchen or doing everyday tasks,” Adams says. “They enjoy cooking and entertaining and there wasn’t enough space in that footprint to contain what they needed. The cleanliness with those countertops was also an issue.”
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Alameda, California
Size: 285 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: William Adams Design
Before: The former 165-square-foot kitchen felt dated and inefficient with aging gray cabinets, mismatched white and black appliances, wood-look vinyl flooring and no island. A corner sink beneath two front-yard-facing windows anchored the layout. “I just felt like that corner sink was dated,” Adams says. “It also took up so much space by the way it was positioned.”
Without an island, storage and prep space were limited and the center of the room felt like wasted territory. An eating area with a large fireplace sat just off the kitchen. “Having that giant fireplace inside the kitchen made no sense at all,” Adams says.
White ceramic tile with dark grout wrapped the countertops and backsplash, creating a dingy look and maintenance the couple didn’t want. Lighting was also a problem: A single ceiling fixture plus a couple of fluorescent task lights left the space poorly illuminated. “The lack of light was not conducive for working in the kitchen or doing everyday tasks,” Adams says. “They enjoy cooking and entertaining and there wasn’t enough space in that footprint to contain what they needed. The cleanliness with those countertops was also an issue.”