A Kitchen Turns True Blue

With a lot of wasted space, Rashmi knew a more efficient floor plan was in order

Project: Intelligent use of space in a Manhattan kitchen

Before: When Rashmi purchased a one-bedroom co-op on the Upper West Side, she wanted to renovate the kitchen immediately. It was clearly run down, as the original kitchen in a prewar building, but had plenty of unused space and potential. “Once I moved in, I realized I needed to live with the space to understand what I really wanted,” said Rashmi. She gave herself six months—it took four years. At one stage, she even stored her bike in some dead space next to the fridge. She didn’t like the idea of an open kitchen, so knocking down a wall wasn’t an option. The main goal was to simply use the space effectively while flipping a hodgepodge of different whites into something bright.

After: Rashmi had owned a home before, but buying into a co-op was a new experience. She posted her project and found a contractor through Sweeten, a free service that connects homeowners with vetted general contractors. She was having problems getting her package submitted to her co-op board for approval until she found her Sweeten contractor. “My contractor was an invaluable partner, especially during the planning and approval phase with my co-op and the building engineers,” she said. Once work got underway, Rashmi decided to give the kitchen a roomier feel by opting for 18-inch cabinets on one side rather than the standard 24 inch. Adding a washer and dryer was also “life-changing.” A layout geared toward casual entertaining was also important, so she extended the counter right along the wall to include an eat-in perch and two chairs. Rather than go with backsplash tiles, Rashmi chose a semi-gloss paint for ease of cleaning. She picked a bright yet deep blue for the walls that contrasted with gold-toned cabinet hardware.

Bonus: Rashmi worked from home, so her Sweeten contractor and his team were conscious that they were sharing the same workspace. “They worked clean and were as quiet as possible,” she said.

Style finds: Kitchen cabinets: American Woodmark. Omnia cabinet hardware: Simon’s Hardware. Silver Waves Granite countertops: MSI. Faucet: Delta. Liebherr refrigerator: Liebherr. Bosch dishwasher: Bosch. Samsung stove: Samsung. LG washer and dryer: LG. Samsung microwave: Samsung. Lighting: MODCREATIONStudio. Surf Blue paint in semi-gloss: Benjamin Moore. Wicker-style brass wall air duct register: Signature Hardware.

A note on fixture and appliance deliveries: If you’re on a tight timeline, Appliances Connection has over 50,000 items in stock and ready to ship nationally. If you’re in the NY/NJ metro area, in-stock items typically deliver within 2-3 days.

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A coral accent wall adds a splash of personality to this modern kitchen.

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