Not too clean but not too precious, this 150-square-foot kitchen for a couple in Austin, Texas, feels just right. Daniela Johnston of UB Kitchens reorganized the layout, incorporating plenty of storage and counter space while maintaining the clients' love of French country style. Custom and ready-made pieces add warmth and patina.
The kitchen's original layout and lack of storage made cooking a drag. Despite the limited square footage, the couple wanted to expand the counter space and space for dishes. "Everything was a tight fit," says Johnston.
Perimeter countertops, open shelving and tons of new drawers give the new layout an open feel while packing in plenty of function.
Cabinetry: Mid Continent Signature Series in Maple, Celadon and Antique White; countertop: Eco, SilestoneThe plate rack above the sink displays a collection of colorful plates while storing them safely. "It adds an element of interest and uniqueness," says Johnston.
The custom clay tile backsplash brings in French country style. Darker grout highlights the tile shape and makes for easy cleaning. Custom copper drawer pulls tie in with the copper farmhouse sink.
Backsplash: custom, Clay Imports Artesanal; sink: Handcrafted Metal; sink fixture: DeltaOpen shelving and glass cabinet doors prevent the kitchen from feeling closed off. A custom hood was designed to blend in with the antique-style cabinetry.
Hood: custom, UB Kitchens; range: American RangeThe bottom cabinetry is made up of drawers. A lazy Susan in the corner cabinet helps the clients keep even more dishes or pantry items out of sight. "Using drawers almost exclusively allowed the customers the ability to organize more efficiently and access items easier," Johnston says.Maintaining a functional kitchen work triangle proved difficult when trying to maximize counter space, but the U-shape format helps keep the sink, stovetop and refrigerator in a layout that works. Wrought iron chairs on casters add to the French country vibe and can be easily moved away to turn the table into additional workspace. Table: Pottery Barn; chairs: Wayfair; flooring: hickory, The Tile Guy; refrigerator, dishwasher: KitchenAid