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Photographer Susannah Howe has been dreaming of a new kitchen layout for nearly six years. When she and her family moved into her New Rochelle, New York, home in 2013, they were greeted by a kitchen filled with flat slab cabinets and pinkish-purple laminate countertops. But Howe's biggest problem was with the unnecessarily deep refrigerators. ” feng shui It was terrible,'' Howe recalled.
Not to mention, I could feel the cold winter air coming in through the drafty door leading outside. Howe and her family patiently saved up money for the renovation and were finally able to get to work in 2019. Howe is currently preparing to let go of the home he's owned for over a decade (it's officially on the market), so he gave us a look behind the scenes. Her clever reno scene full of IKEA.
Stylish IKEA cabinet
Howe is no stranger to IKEA's kitchen line, having previously used cabinets from the Swedish retailer in her Brooklyn home. This cabinet is easy to assemble and famous for its affordable price (approximate cost for a 10 x 10 foot space is $3,000). So she decided to go for a second round, and this time she chose her Nogsta drawer fronts in stainless steel, which retail for $45 per door. $390 for 2 drawer arrangement including all frameworks.
When you hear “stainless steel kitchen,” you probably think of a restaurant, but Howe's space is a reminder that metal cabinetry can look surprisingly homey. To further enhance the door, she purchased brass hardware from her House of Antique Hardware (trash can handles on the top drawer and regular handles on the bottom). The new 24-inch wide by 30-inch deep setup completely eliminates the need for upper cabinet storage. Additionally, Mr. Howe was hanging onto an existing potluck. Convenient for storing very bulky cooking utensils.
clever dishwasher hacks
When undertaking a gut renovation effort, the last thing you want is a shiny black or mixed metal dishwasher to ruin your hard work. To achieve a seamless look, Howe called a couple who specialize in IKEA hacking to cover the appliance with custom stainless steel panels that perfectly match the base cabinetry. They also made doors to fit awkward corner cabinets.
A move to change the flow
Plumbing, gas and electrical changes weren't originally included in Howe's budget, but he made an exception to replace the refrigerator and sill placement. Now conveniently located near the shooting range, her new 42-inch cafe refrigerator is covered on one side with beadboard, further concealing the work.
classic backsplash
Just as the steel cabinet lets you know that Severe Cooking takes place in this space, as well as square subway tiles. Stretching to the ceiling, it looks like something you'd see in a cool restaurant or his iconic 20th-century home. “There was a Bauhaus kitchen that I saw once at the Museum of Modern Art with white tiles all the way to the ceiling, and I've never forgotten it,” says Howe. Home he depot he runs once is not enough. She was very specific about the shade of white she wanted, so Howe went out of her way to buy tiles from all over the place and finished off the background with paintings sourced in the Alps.
An island where anything is possible
To make the most of walking space, Howe stuck to a narrow island and built a hub using more IKEA Nogsta cabinets. The countertops around the room are Howe marble found in Vermont, while the island is topped with greenish soapstone that extends to a small overhang so he can place one of his shaker stools. .
On the outside, the sides of the island are clad in beadboard (painted in Farrow & Ball's Studio Green). Internal drawers house all your plates, silverware, and bowls, and also incorporates exposed storage space for your cutting board. Even better? “The drawers open right across from the dishwasher, so there's plenty of room to unload everything without moving your feet,” she says. It's the ultimate convenience.
