Often a kitchen remodel is the most direct way to make a big impact in the feeling of your home. That is just what the owners of this Eastmoreland kitchen wanted when they asked Cella Architecture for a new kitchen design. They needed a space that felt more appropriate to their classic Portland home – a kitchen that was brighter and more functional.

In analyzing their previous kitchen the issues were obvious. The space was segregated from the rest of the house and the small work areas limited the ability of the family to cook together. At the end of the galley kitchen the large mass of the refrigerator and wall ovens blocked off views into the nearby breakfast area which cut off the kitchen even more. Lastly, storage space was in short supply. Along with the list of desired features, the project budget meant that the kitchen could not open up to the adjacent dining room. The new kitchen had to go back in the exact same spot.

Erich was able to provide us with modern features, yet maintain the character and feel of the era in which the house was built

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One of the first design moves was to push the new refrigerator back into a void that was behind it. This meant that the front of the refrigerator was in line with the upper cabinets rather than the base cabinets as would be more common. This seemingly simple move helped the kitchen open up to the adjacent dining area and greatly improved its connection to the house. It also enabled the kitchen to share the east facing windows of the breakfast space which brought more natural light into the room.

The kitchen remodel’s second big change was to create a walk-in pantry where an unused built-in desk used to be. The pantry space provided much needed storage area that is easy to access and use. Behind the pantry a cozy breakfast area sits adjacent to a corner window. A new built-in shelf allows for display and nearby storage of favorite cook books.

The new kitchen cabinets were designed to make the small space feel larger. The upper cabinets are taller and integrate with new crown molding that was previously absent. Their height, and the elimination of a soffit above the door to the dining room, creates an illusion of space that was missing before.

Decorative touches such as the large corbels, were inspired by unique older details in the house and help the new kitchen feel better connected to the rest of the home. A bead running around the bottom of the upper cabinets helps to balance the details and visually tie the space together.

The result of many small changes done in the kitchen remodel is a galley kitchen that is high on style and function and that fits the home and the owners perfectly.