BEFORE
THE DESIGNER
Gladys Schanstra
Drury Design
(drurydesigns.com)
THE CHALLENGE
Take a dowdy, cramped kitchen and create a family hub that will function smoothly even in high gear.
THE WISH LIST
• IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW
• MORE COUNTER SPACE
• COUNTER SEATING INSTEAD OF FREESTANDING TABLE
• A FEELING OF SPACIOUSNESS
When these lights are dimmed or off, the glass appears to be solid brown; when they’re turned up, striations appear.
THE RESULT
Banish the traffic jams without adding square footage. That was the prime directive handed to Schanstra by her Glen Ellyn clients and their two busy sons, aged 12 and 16. She started by changing the kitchen’s L-shaped layout to a U, creating more counter space and a place to tuck in a couple of stools while eliminating a roadblocking kitchen table. To create the illusion of height in the low-ceilinged room, Schanstra ran shiny chocolate-brown subway tile all the way up the wall. Interior windows on either side of the stove function as pass-throughs to the dining room and extend the visual boundaries of the kitchen. Farmhouse accents—an apron sink, 1920s-style drawer pulls, and recessed-panel cabinets—mix with modern pendant lights to impart a funky cottage vibe.
Angled corners on countertop and built-in shelving allow for easy movement in a tight space.
Resources See Buy Guide.
Photography: Eric Hausman