Small Kitchen: Bright and Open Kitchen Makeover

This once-dark kitchen had drywall soffits and a pantry in the middle of the room, making the space feel closed off and difficult to maneuver. The soffits were removed along with a partial wall, creating space for a more useful layout. Plus, a new glass back door brings in lots of natural light.

The sink was relocated to the half-wall between the kitchen and the living room, so the chef can chat with guests while doing prep and cleanup. The stainless-steel apron-front sink adds character that's in line with the modern look of the flat-front cabinets.

A raised counter behind the sink protects guests from splashes and hides kitchen clutter from the adjoining living room. Using the same marble on the countertop and backsplash creates a seamless and high-end look, and prevents too many patterns and colors from overwhelming the small space. Limiting materials also simplifies care and cleanup.

The combination of green and chocolate brown in the veining of the Perola Bonita marble inspired the rest of the room's color palette.

A cabinet next to the refrigerator takes advantage of the missing soffit by extending nearly to the ceiling. Every cabinet needs to be as efficient as possible, so a combination of shelves and deep drawers fills different needs for maximum storage space.

Deep drawers with removable pegs can hold various-size dishes and be easily customized and rearranged. Dishes are also easier to reach in a drawer than high inside a closed cabinet. The efficient dish pantry holds more dishes than two or three traditional upper cabinets.

To complement the home's midcentury-modern furnishings, the homeowner mixed materials such as granite and stainless steel for a transitional look. Moving the range to the main kitchen wall allowed for plenty of prep space on the adjacent granite countertops.

An existing coat closet was turned into a kitchen pantry. It was the key to eliminating most of the upper cabinets.