From '90s Eyesore to Timeless White Wonderland: Watch This Kitchen's Stunning Transformation

Designer Sarah Storms of Styled by Storms enjoys taking on challenges, and the renovation of this 1933 New Jersey Colonial Revival kitchen surely fits that description. The area, according to Storms, was dim and outdated. Measuring merely 100 square feet, it can be considered rather small (especially compared to modern suburban standards). However, size wasn’t the sole problem; the floor plan also suffered from inadequate movement between spaces—with four door entries disrupting each section of the room.

A 1990s-style Reno also failed to improve the room. The outdated honey-brown wooden cabinets paired with dark red terracotta floor tiles gave the area an old-fashioned appearance, whereas certain design elements did not focus on functionality. "Despite having tall ceilings, the cabinets were unusually low," remarks Storms. "This resulted in minimal storage space."

Initially meeting with her clients, Storms notes that their design brief was straightforward: they desired "an attractive area for cooking as well as a lovely spot where folks could congregate around an island."

Through lightening, brightening, and enhancing the functionality of the space, she aimed to craft her family’s ideal kitchen—within the confines of the existing compact area. This undertaking would necessitate meticulous planning alongside a touch of ingenuity.

After finishing the demonstration, Storms accelerated her design strategy. She instructed her contractor to reconstruct the room entirely, focusing on a layout that emphasized ample cabinetry and preparation areas along with a streamlined workflow.

Regarding the cabinetry, a substantial floor-to-ceiling cabinet was included for storing countertops appliances, and a sliding spice rack along with an oil storage section was integrated within one of the cupboard doors. "Extending the cabinets up to the nine-foot ceilings proved to be an excellent enhancement," remarks Storms.

She focused on eliminating the uneven stairs and doorways that cluttered the area. She explains, "One major alteration involved taking away the staircase leading to the kitchen." According to her, sealing off this doorway significantly increased the functional space available, enabling an 'L'-shaped design in one corner. Additionally, this adjustment permitted relocating the stove to another part of the room and redesigning the cabinet arrangement to accommodate extra storage units. As a result of these changes, they were able to incorporate both a mudroom and a closet—features previously unfeasible due to spatial constraints.

However, this wasn’t everything when considering the overall flow. Storms explains, “We also shifted the entrance to the dining room further along the wall towards the basement door, allowing us to fit in both a pantry and fridge.” He adds, “Both modifications significantly improved the layout and movement throughout the whole ground level.”

Now that the layout issues were resolved, it was time to focus on appliances, finishes, and fixtures. The walls and cabinets received a new layer of paint. Benjamin Moore's White (​​OC-151 ), complemented by a WOW Tile backsplash. “Although the color is white, it possesses a subtle cool undertone that adds intrigue and prevents it from being just another plain white kitchen,” explains Storms about the backsplash. The quartz countertops complete the elegant monochrome aesthetic.

The household opted for entirely new stainless-steel appliances. Drawing inspiration from that gleaming finish, Storms recommended using chrome. Top Knobs hardware and a Kohler faucet The pendants are by Hudson Valley Lighting , and the sink is installed underneath. Z Line To seamlessly integrate the walnut herringbone wood flooring with the overall design, Storms incorporated some open shelving into the layout.

Although we discarded all items from the previous kitchen, I made sure to create a dedicated area for my client’s grandmother's blue and white antique canisters," explains Storms. "These hold great emotional value for her, thus we installed walnut floating shelves beside the sink to prominently showcase them.

One of the standout solutions is undoubtedly the "console" island, measuring merely 14 inches deep. The family desired an island in their compact kitchen for both additional cooking space and a spot where they could gather and socialize. To achieve this, we designed a bespoke island featuring the identical quartz countertops paired with a specially crafted powder-coated metal framework to bear the load of the stone.

The twenty-year-old countertop stools were salvaged from an old Upper West Side apartment belonging to her clients. According to Storms, "These stools received a new lease on life with a fresh layer of paint and were reupholstered using Kristy Stafford fabric."

The design process and decision-making spanned roughly two months, followed by a four-month construction period. The entire project proceeded smoothly, making the overall duration for the kitchen renovation around six months from beginning to end (though other parts of the house, such as an adjacent half-bath, saw some work too). Undoubtedly, it was worthwhile since the designer expressed great satisfaction with the final outcome.

Storms expresses his admiration for the kitchen’s ambiance—it exudes brightness, openness, and depth. He notes that the luxurious walnut herringbone flooring establishes a sophisticated atmosphere against the backdrop of pristine white cabinetry. Additionally, he finds the enduring elegance embodied in the gleaming chrome hardware and lighting fixtures to be classic.

Her clientele also appreciate the space immensely. "For the initial week, she messaged me daily with texts taken from various perspectives, expressing her enthusiasm about the kitchen and all its little touches," remarks Storms. Isn’t this a compelling indication of conquering a design obstacle?

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