Space is always at a premium in small kitchens, so it’s critical that the layout makes the most of every valuable square inch.  This Oak Park kitchen hadn’t been updated since the 1950′s and was in desperate need of a remodel. The homeowners loved their little bungalow that was built in 1939, but the 200 square foot kitchen was lacking storage and had a layout that was not meeting their needs. They began working with Normandy Designer Karen Chanan to create a truly functional kitchen with a design that was a perfect fit for the style of their home.

“The bold decision they made to choose green for their kitchen cabinets has really paid off in terms of giving this kitchen a unique character,” says Karen.  ”This green kitchen is really grounded in tradition with the Shaker style cabinet doors and heartwood pine floors.  The subway tile ties in the green without overwhelming the space, and the combination of materials and textures makes the green cabinetry seem less daring; the look fits in very well with their Craftsman style home.”  New, larger windows enhanced the view of the backyard garden and brought an ample amount of natural light to the kitchen, making it feel open and bright, which is exactly what these Oak Park homeowners had hoped to achieve.

The true challenge was to make this small kitchen seem spacious and greatly improve its function for the family.  “We were able to completely transform the space  and create a practical solution for their, rather small, kitchen table.” These homeowners were able to incorporate an improved peninsula in the kitchen, which gave them the additional seating, storage and countertop space. Karen was also able to include cubby storage at the back entry to hold everyday items such as shoes, coats and cleaning supplies.

This small kitchen packs a lot of punch, and recently received a Remodeling Excellence Award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) of Greater Chicagoland.  If your kitchen is need of a creative solution, schedule a complementary in-home consultation with Karen to discuss the potential of your kitchen!