Kitchen Tour: A Cleverly Rejigged Layout Unlocks a Sociable Space
A couple’s kitchen is expanded to create an open-plan layout in a timeless style where they can entertain
Sometimes, finding more space to extend a kitchen is like moving pieces of a puzzle around to see what fits. That’s what designers Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare of Morris Lare faced when these homeowners tasked them with enlarging their U-shaped 1990s kitchen. The couple wanted more room for entertaining and a timeless look that highlighted their love of natural materials.
To solve the puzzle, the designers relocated a laundry area butting up against the kitchen to a previously unfinished utility room, where they also added a boot room and created a new back door that conveniently flows through the boot room into the kitchen. They took down the former walls of the laundry room and a short hallway to add 2.3 sq m to the kitchen layout, which gave them space to add a hardworking square island with seating on two sides.
Meanwhile, deep green perimeter cabinets, a white oak island base, white oak flooring and marble-look quartz worktops embody the classic look the owners were going for.
To solve the puzzle, the designers relocated a laundry area butting up against the kitchen to a previously unfinished utility room, where they also added a boot room and created a new back door that conveniently flows through the boot room into the kitchen. They took down the former walls of the laundry room and a short hallway to add 2.3 sq m to the kitchen layout, which gave them space to add a hardworking square island with seating on two sides.
Meanwhile, deep green perimeter cabinets, a white oak island base, white oak flooring and marble-look quartz worktops embody the classic look the owners were going for.
The designers stripped back the kitchen and took down the wall between the kitchen, laundry room and hallway to expand the kitchen footprint by 2.3 sq m to 29 sq m.
The new white door on the far wall leads to the relocated laundry room and new boot room that took the place of the workshop. “They have a large property and are going to build another workshop someday,” Jillian says.
Despite the major expansion, the designers kept the new components in roughly the same locations. “We maintained a similar overall plan,” Jillian says. “We wanted the range to be a focal point and the sink to look out the windows.”
But the extra space allowed the designers to fit in a square island with seating on two sides, as well as a pantry wall on the right that includes the new refrigerator and 30-inch double wall ovens. “That’s where they have the bulk of their food storage,” Jillian says.
New bespoke paint-grade maple cabinetry that goes all the way to the ceiling on the perimeter is a deep green with a touch of blue (Mountain Pass by Sherwin-Williams), with flat black knobs and pulls. “The homeowners really love colour, the wife in particular,” Jillian says. “She was really open to incorporating colour.”
The kitchen also includes a new solid oak extendable dining table with Windsor-style chairs. Glass double doors on the right connect the kitchen to an updated home office.
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The new white door on the far wall leads to the relocated laundry room and new boot room that took the place of the workshop. “They have a large property and are going to build another workshop someday,” Jillian says.
Despite the major expansion, the designers kept the new components in roughly the same locations. “We maintained a similar overall plan,” Jillian says. “We wanted the range to be a focal point and the sink to look out the windows.”
But the extra space allowed the designers to fit in a square island with seating on two sides, as well as a pantry wall on the right that includes the new refrigerator and 30-inch double wall ovens. “That’s where they have the bulk of their food storage,” Jillian says.
New bespoke paint-grade maple cabinetry that goes all the way to the ceiling on the perimeter is a deep green with a touch of blue (Mountain Pass by Sherwin-Williams), with flat black knobs and pulls. “The homeowners really love colour, the wife in particular,” Jillian says. “She was really open to incorporating colour.”
The kitchen also includes a new solid oak extendable dining table with Windsor-style chairs. Glass double doors on the right connect the kitchen to an updated home office.
Find kitchen designers near you.
The custom-made natural white oak island has two hefty posts. “We didn’t put a light over it because we didn’t want to compete with the dining fixture light,” Jillian says.
White oak flooring featuring wire-brushed planks coordinates with the island base. The island and perimeter worktops are durable and heat-resistant marble-look quartz. “That particular quartz has blue-green veining, so it really complements the green cabinetry,” Jillian says.
Three new windows – one fixed, two casement – above the sink suffuse the kitchen with natural light. A glass-front cabinet to the left of the windows lightens the look of the upper cabinetry. “We didn’t want open shelving, but we wanted that side of the kitchen to feel a bit lighter and give [the owner] a spot to display her collectibles,” Jillian says.
Aged-brass wall sconces have a timeless look and provide task lighting over the sink area. The kitchen also has new LED ceiling lights.
White oak flooring featuring wire-brushed planks coordinates with the island base. The island and perimeter worktops are durable and heat-resistant marble-look quartz. “That particular quartz has blue-green veining, so it really complements the green cabinetry,” Jillian says.
Three new windows – one fixed, two casement – above the sink suffuse the kitchen with natural light. A glass-front cabinet to the left of the windows lightens the look of the upper cabinetry. “We didn’t want open shelving, but we wanted that side of the kitchen to feel a bit lighter and give [the owner] a spot to display her collectibles,” Jillian says.
Aged-brass wall sconces have a timeless look and provide task lighting over the sink area. The kitchen also has new LED ceiling lights.
The new 80cm undermounted double-basin stainless-steel workstation sink features racks, a cutting board, a colander and a pair of basket strainers. “They wanted the added functionality and flexibility of the workstation sink,” Jillian says.
The pull-down tap has a rich champagne bronze finish and touch technology to start or stop the flow of water. A white dishwasher to the lower right of the sink coordinates with other white appliances from the same GE Cafe series. An appliance garage sits in the corner above the dishwasher.
A panelled pullout rubbish and recycling centre is to the lower left of the sink. Long and deep drawers to the left of that hold items such as serving bowls and plastic storage containers.
The pull-down tap has a rich champagne bronze finish and touch technology to start or stop the flow of water. A white dishwasher to the lower right of the sink coordinates with other white appliances from the same GE Cafe series. An appliance garage sits in the corner above the dishwasher.
A panelled pullout rubbish and recycling centre is to the lower left of the sink. Long and deep drawers to the left of that hold items such as serving bowls and plastic storage containers.
A 90cm smart induction hob offers precise temperature control and Wi-Fi connectivity. A custom-designed hood blends in with surrounding cabinetry.
“The kitchen isn’t that big and the ceiling isn’t that tall, so we wanted to maximise storage space,” Jillian says. “To do that, we needed the cabinets to butt up against the hood. We wanted a nice hood, but to not sacrifice any storage.”
The splashback consists of white ceramic tiles with a glossy crackled finish and light grey grout. “We just liked the finish and contrast in texture with the crackle,” Jillian says. “Their uneven edges makes them look handmade.”
“The kitchen isn’t that big and the ceiling isn’t that tall, so we wanted to maximise storage space,” Jillian says. “To do that, we needed the cabinets to butt up against the hood. We wanted a nice hood, but to not sacrifice any storage.”
The splashback consists of white ceramic tiles with a glossy crackled finish and light grey grout. “We just liked the finish and contrast in texture with the crackle,” Jillian says. “Their uneven edges makes them look handmade.”
Six soft-close drawers on the interior side of the island offer easy-access storage for kitchen essentials.
Here’s another look at the former kitchen with its disjointed cabinetry surrounding the fridge on the wall that once divided the space from the laundry room and hallway. “They wanted more food storage and a better pantry cabinet that would optimise storage,” Jillian says.
Now, a custom built-in coffee bar cabinet with a pullout shelf and a wall-mount pot filler sits to the right of the new white fridge. “They drink a lot of coffee and tea, so they can fill the pots right there and not have to walk across the kitchen to the sink for water,” Jillian says. Wide drawers below hold beverage supplies.
A white pocket door now connects the kitchen to the relocated laundry room and new boot room. “We wanted them to be able to have it open most of the time, but also close it off if guests come over,” Jillian says. “Also, because they have two dogs, they can close the dogs off in that space.”
The boot room includes an oak bench with storage drawers below and durable grey ceramic tile flooring. A combination of hooks and open shelves keeps grab-and-go items easily accessible and organised in this new back entrance to the home.
The light-filled boot room shares space with the relocated laundry room, which also acts as a butler’s pantry. “They use the sink and counter space in there for putting out small appliances if they’re having a party,” Jillian says. “They can also use it for canning and preserving.”
The light-filled boot room shares space with the relocated laundry room, which also acts as a butler’s pantry. “They use the sink and counter space in there for putting out small appliances if they’re having a party,” Jillian says. “They can also use it for canning and preserving.”
This floor plan shows the former kitchen (upper centre) and its closed-off relationship to the laundry room (centre) and short hallway. On the other side of the range wall is the separate unfinished utility room (right) that was being used as a workshop.
By relocating the laundry room and adding a boot room to the former utility room (right), the designers were able to expand the kitchen to fit a square island and more storage. New openings create better traffic flow between the spaces. “It feels lighter and brighter and easier for entertaining,” Jillian says. “It’s much more functional.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this kitchen transformation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A doctor, a stay-at-home dad, their two primary-school-age daughters, two dogs and a cat
Location Winterset, Iowa, USA
Size 29 sq m
Designers Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare of Morris Lare
Photos by Lauren Konrad
This photo taken from the living room shows the U-shaped layout and basic style of the former 27 sq m kitchen. The fridge on the right protrudes from a wall that divided the kitchen from a hallway and laundry room.
“They really wanted an island,” Jillian says. “They have a big family and like to entertain and wanted a space where they could host. The only way to do that was to take out that wall [on the right] and make the kitchen wider.”
Behind the wall containing the cooker there was an unfinished utility room that the husband was using as a workshop.
A pair of nonstructural decorative columns, one of which is seen here in the foreground, flanked the dining table. “They weren’t necessary and impeded the flow of the space,” Jillian says. “They also didn’t match the style we were going for.”