This Storage-Packed Kitchen Remodel is a Baker's Dream
When a Chicago family tasked designer Amy Storm with overhauling their1904 home's kitchen, she expanded the space by annexing a small office. That gave her room for the dedicated baking area and strategic storage her clients wanted, plus the merger capitalized on the office's corner windows. Stain-resistant quartz counters and subway tiles in light hues bounce all that new sunlight, but Storm made sure to mix in wood and charcoal paint, granting the family's final wish—go bright, but not all white.
Taking out the walls exposed windows that were in the office area, giving the kitchen so much more light.
Before and After: In the Zones
Smart Storage Additions
Details make the difference. See the clever ways this kitchen's storage was upgraded to serve its family even better.
Hidden Appliances
To the left of the refrigerator, an oversize toaster oven finds a dedicated slot. There's room to make breakfast on the pullout surface below—a nod to the hideaway cutting boards common in historic kitchens.
Prep Sink
The kitchen already had an island—Storm just made it work harder, moving the sink and dishwasher here from the window wall. A deep, wide farmhouse sink eases prep. Stools pull up to the other side.
Handsome Stowaways
Walnut cabinetry evokes vintage built-ins. Hidden toe-kick drawers hold cookie sheets. A mixer and blender slide out of the counter cabinet.
Zone Redo
Storm loaded the peninsula and island with storage so she could skip cabinets on this window wall. That opened up more floor space for the cook and guests.
Designers Notebook
Learn about the materials Amy Storm used to achieve the desired eclectic look.
CEMENT TILES
Strikingly patterned and a greener choice than porcelain, matte-finish cement tiles have soared in popularity. If you consider them, keep in mind that though durable, they're fussier to install and will develop a patina, even with sealing.
SUBWAY TILES
The homeowners like the Parisian bistro ambiance of floor-to-ceiling subway tile. Dark grout sharpens and updates the style (and masks stains better than white).
MIXED METALS
It's OK to match a little—just not too much. Satin nickel cabinet pulls mimic the stainless-steel appliances and have a traditional shape, while gunmetal and brass finishes take the light fixtures in a different direction.
DARK WOOD
Storm ditched the dated all-wood look, then brought back the natural material in smaller doses. Walnut cabinets, barstools, and accent shelves warm the white and gray palette and echo floors in adjacent rooms.