A “Dull, Lifeless” White Kitchen Gets a Bold Makeover (with 3x the Storage!)
ABOUT THIS BEFORE & AFTER
HOME TYPE: Apartment
PROJECT TYPE: Kitchen
STYLE: Colorful, Eclectic
RENTAL FRIENDLY: No
When Sin Ying Tracy Leung purchased a 450-square-foot apartment in Queens, New York, though she appreciated the bones of the home, she described the apartment as “old, dull, and lifeless.” And that description especially applied to her 70-square-foot kitchen.
Not only was it a mostly white room (in stark contrast to Tracy’s colorful vision for the space), but it wasn’t the most functional space either. It was important, as she thought about updating the space, to maximize storage — which she said was, initially, lackluster.
The interior cabinets originally didn’t have any built-in storage features (but plenty of wasted space), an unused microwave was taking up previous counter area, the faucet was too close to the edge of the sink and water would splash everywhere, small gaps between the appliances and counters made cleaning up messes tricky, and the lighting was “outdated,” as Tracy tells it. Although she liked the layout and didn’t want to “completely overhaul it,” she wanted to focus on “improving space utilization, maximizing its potential, and making small adjustments to align with the apartment’s aesthetic.”
Over the course of a month, Tracy began making clever updates to the space. For starters, she added a countertop shelf riser, as well as a cabinet near the entryway that acts as a coffee station, traditional entry table, and home bar all at once.
She added rolling racks inside the once-disorganized cabinets, which created two levels and made storing pots and lids much easier (without wasting space). The same racks were placed underneath the sink to organize cleaning supplies.
The unused microwave was removed, and now it’s the perfect place to display Tracy and her partner’s tea collection. The original faucet was replaced with one with a movable sprayer, and stainless steel gap covers were installed to make cleaning a breeze.
“Additionally, the extra eat-in countertop is invaluable; it extends our working surface while cooking, serves as a bar table when we have guests, and seamlessly connects the kitchen to the living area,” Tracy says.
And it wasn’t just the room’s functionality that got an upgrade — Tracy also infused the space with color that flows with the rest of the eclectic home. York Wallcoverings’ Sprig & Heron wallpaper and a custom blue-green paint created by The Home Depot add depth and excitement to the room. The bamboo shelves and new wood hardware add warmth to the room, too.
The couple loves to cook, and they’re ecstatic about all of the smart ways the kitchen has become more livable.
Tracy’s kitchen design is thoughtful and gorgeous, as is the rest of her apartment — to see more, visit the full home tour on Apartment Therapy.
This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: A “Dull, Lifeless” White Kitchen Gets a Bold Makeover (with 3x the Storage!)
Further Reading
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Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
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