Together apart

Sometimes when remodeling a home, it's not what you add, but what you take away that makes all the difference.

Interior designer Jill Smith wanted a larger, brighter, more functional kitchen for her heritage home. Together with contractor John Sylvestre, she decided the best way to achieve this was to remove the wall separating the kitchen and dining room, and create a large open doorway.

"We didn't increase the space by much about 30in in length but we gained a lot in terms of efficiency and better work flow," says Smith.

Cabinetry, countertops and appliances are carefully positioned to allow two cooks to work in this compact kitchen at the same time.

A peninsula offers seating, additional countertop space and storage, and provides visual delineation between the kitchen and dining rooms. Together with the dark wooden wall cabinet, it presents a striking contrast to the white-painted kitchen cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.

The kitchen's wood floor has been chosen to match the floor in the dining room. Also providing continuity between both rooms are the addition of crown moldings around the dining room ceiling and above the expansive doorway.

Story by: Trendsideas