When working with a new client, designers need to take the time to get to know the people they are working with, get a feel for their style, and understand how they need their kitchen to function.
But when Lichten Architects were called upon to help with this small kitchen redesign, they were helping previous clients downsize from a large townhouse to a much smaller two-bedroom apartment. The brief? To feel reminiscent of their former abode, yet adjusted for the tighter footprint.
The full-scale renovation has transformed the compact space into the most welcoming interconnected kitchen and living room, featuring classic color palettes, charming motifs, and genius solutions that maximize flow, function, and style.
Editing is a natural part of downsizing, but nowhere does it feel more testing than navigating a smaller kitchen. And while the homeowners of this Upper East Side apartment were ready for the challenge, they were keen to rethink the whole design to feel better suited to their tastes and way of life.
'This was a full-scale renovation with a complete demolition, a reimagined floor plan, and newly designed rooms with custom-built millwork throughout,' recalls Georgia Kursten, associate at Lichten Architects, who was tasked with leading the redesign.
'The existing kitchen had roughly the same configuration but felt cramped and dark due to a single source of natural light at one end. The other end of the kitchen was cut off from natural light by the walls of an old maid's room. It was also difficult to navigate; there were several turns to navigate within a small space,' she explains.
Enhancing natural light became the focus of the kitchen design, ensuring the small space still felt bright and airy. 'Once we cleared out the maid's room and its associated bathroom and closet, we had access to two large windows, allowing a flood of new natural light.'
But there was also the other challenge of bringing the sense of the homeowners' previous (and much larger) home into the new space. While a tricky endeavour, it gave Georgia a familiar starting point for the project.
'We were mindful of the owner's apprehension about leaving the four-story townhouse they had called home for decades. Our goal was to ensure the new apartment felt just as light and welcoming despite being a smaller space,' she explains.
'By using the same vocabulary of materials and finishes, we could subtly reassure them that the new apartment matched the quality of their former home. Drawing from the client’s distinctive style, we brought a vibrant yet classically traditional character to the space, with natural light accentuating its openness and airy quality.'
The small L-shaped kitchen is now a bright room that blends style and unrivaled functionality. 'The challenging L-shaped layout is barely noticeable, as the kitchen seamlessly opens to the family room. Sunlight bounces off every surface, highlighting the Delft tile backsplash, enhancing the sense of brightness throughout,' she adds.
'Long kitchen countertops reinforce the room’s spacious feel, while consistent millwork detailing unifies the space,' she continues. 'By embracing design challenges as opportunities to create functional zones, every element feels purposeful, and the eye moves seamlessly through the room without interruption.'
The cohesion between the kitchen and living area was key to ensuring the spaces felt as though they belonged together. To make them feel connected, Georgia introduced a continuous color palette of white and blue, with wallpaper marrying the two zones.
'The clients emphasized that the kitchen is the heart of their home, a space for both socializing and unwinding. With that in mind, we incorporated a peninsula to balance expansiveness with defined zones, connecting the kitchen and family room while still delineating each area,' she explains.
'Cohesion was further reinforced through architectural details and carefully considered millwork. Matching profiles and hardware throughout both spaces ensures the kitchen and sitting area feel seamlessly integrated, creating a multifunctional environment that flows effortlessly.'
As well as tying in beautifully with the kitchen, the clients really wanted the small living space to feel cozy and inviting, yet still feel functional for day-to-day life. To tick every box, Georgia integrated as much hidden storage as she could.
'The client wanted both functional storage and comfortable seating, so we designed a paneled nook for the couch that accomplishes both. The nook defines an intentional seating area while providing ample storage that feels integrated and polished,' she explains.
'A protruding column became an opportunity to add flanking desk and countertop spaces, transforming a limitation into a functional feature. By crafting purposeful sections, the space feels cozy and inviting, yet visually connected.'
The brief has been flawlessly fulfilled, providing the owners with a smaller interpretation of their former home, blending style and function seamlessly. 'The result is an elegant multifunctional space that reflects the client’s refined aesthetic while offering a sense of warmth and sophistication.'
This space proves that small kitchens can be just as functional and visually pleasing as a larger space when designed well. The flow and storage solutions in this connected space maximize the compact footprint, while the decorative details, like the Delft tiles and patterned wallpaper, add character to the light, airy space.
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