Kitchen
Coffee and tea station. The kitchen needed to include a broom closet, a bar for liquor and glassware and a coffee station. Because none of those things require full-depth cabinetry, Popov placed them all against one wall. A 14-inch-deep “tea box” is lined in the same dark quartz used on the perimeter countertops. (The quartz lining ensures that steam from coffee makers and electric kettles doesn’t damage cabinets.) The rich brown in the coffee station and opposing counters “brings the whole thing together,” Popov says.Hot Ideas and Tips for Coffee and Tea Stations
Mixer lift. The heaviest small appliance in the kitchen is the stand mixer, which the couple uses frequently. A clever hydraulic lift system allows them to easily pull it up and put it away as needed. A plug inside the cabinet means it’s always ready to go. Popov positioned the mixer and lift at the end of the island, so there’s a large prep area next to it yet it doesn’t block access to the stove, sink or fridge when baking.Kitchen Fix: Where to Stash the Stand Mixer
Cabinet doors fold up and out of the way. Because the ceiling height is standard on this side of the kitchen, the lower two shelves are accessed through the bifold lifting door, and the top shelf is accessed through standard, side-hinge cabinet doors. That way, there’s clearance space for the bifold door when it’s open. Cabinet doors: Blum Hardware Aventos HF
Popov relocated the new range and vent hood along the sink wall to gain much-needed prep space on either side of the stove. Large, wide upper cabinets of white acrylic lend an airy feel, anchored by cabinets of quarter-sawn white oak under the counter. Drawers for pots and pans around the stove and spice pullouts maximize storage space and make for ease of use when cooking. Cabinets: Smith & Vallee; cabinet hardware: Omnia; dishwasher: Futura Lumen, Miele
Storage. Cabinets of quarter-sawn white oak provide space for storing everything from small appliances to dry goods. Upper cabinets hold large holiday platters, big stock pots and a bread-making container; the cabinet above the fridge has seven vertical tray dividers for baking sheets, trays and platters. Hanging light: SonnemanSee where to carve out more pantry storage
Laundry. One of the biggest challenges was trying to fit a full-size washer and dryer into the kitchen as unobtrusively as possible. “We had to make sure it didn’t look like a laundry suite but that it looked like part of the kitchen,” Popov says. The solution: Put the laundry in the corner to the right of the kitchen entrance, and put tall pantries and a full-depth refrigerator along the same wall. “It made sense to have it in as obscure a location as possible,” Popov says. “When you enter the kitchen it’s hidden and it looks like beautiful, built-in wall storage.” Another challenge: venting for the dryer. The solution there was a “fake” wall above the fridge cabinetry built out to accommodate the washer and dryer venting. Fridge: Samsung; washer and dryer: LGWhere should you put the laundry room?
After. A waterfall countertop makes the long, narrow island look wider and more substantial. The knee opening provides a spot for sitting and sharing a meal together. A power strip along the island on the opposite side provides a place to plug in appliances and charge devices.Island surface: Teltos Bianco, Supremo, Caesarstone; perimeter countertops: Emperadoro 5380, Caesarstone; wall paint: Pearly White in eggshell finish, Sherwin-Williams; trim: Extra White in semi-gloss, Sherwin-Williams
After. Tall pantries and a full-depth refrigerator help camouflage the extra-deep laundry suite to the right of the fridge. Popov dramatically increased the size of the island (to 102 by 27 inches) and added seating for two, a built-in microwave, a mixer lift and more storage. The slim design allowed for a good 36 inches of walkway space between the island and the countertop to the left for comfortable traffic flow.See how much room you need for a kitchen island
Before. The existing kitchen was in good shape but lacked countertop and storage space for the way the homeowners live. The stove was squeezed into a tight spot, with little counter space on either side and a vent system built into the microwave that left little overhead space above the stove. The island was a bit small (70 by 26 inches) for the homeowners’ needs, and they thought the oak cabinets and plastic laminate counters could use an update.
Photos by 06PlaceKitchen at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple with one young child Location: Mercer Island, WashingtonSize: 187 square feet (18 square meters); 11 by 17 feet Designer: Anna Popov of Interiors by PopovYear built: 1967The homeowners wanted to update the kitchen in their 1960s home to include better storage, a laundry area, more prep space and a small desk for a laptop — all without changing the footprint.
Lights
Wooden counters, cabinet style
Lighting. LED strip lights under the upper cabinets provide a third lighting source for the kitchen. Popov likes the strip lights because they provide consistent, even illumination. “They can work as a task light, and if all the other lights in the kitchen are off they can be decorative lights as well,” the designer says.MoreHow to Refresh Your Kitchen on Any BudgetStash It All: Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen StorageBrowse kitchen products
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