Kitchen of the Week: Happy Vintage Style and a New Island
A designer found on Houzz helps a family open up a dated galley kitchen and add color, personality and storage
A few years ago, Gina Soberanez bought her childhood home from her father. While she had pleasant memories of growing up in the 1925 Spanish-style house in Alhambra, California, and loved some of its classic details, she knew it was time to freshen up the dated, low-energy galley kitchen and start making fun new memories with her own kids.
Soberanez was over the yellow walls, worn oak cabinets, laminate counters and beige tile floor. In search of a colorful vintage style that would fit the house and offer better flow and smarter storage, she looked for design ideas on Houzz, where she found and hired designer Julia Chasman. Working with contractor Alex Hernandez, they opened up a wall the kitchen shared with the living room to improve the rooms’ connection and create space for an island. Charcoal blue cabinets, a Spanish-style tile backsplash, a vintage range and colorful accents add loads of levity.
Soberanez was over the yellow walls, worn oak cabinets, laminate counters and beige tile floor. In search of a colorful vintage style that would fit the house and offer better flow and smarter storage, she looked for design ideas on Houzz, where she found and hired designer Julia Chasman. Working with contractor Alex Hernandez, they opened up a wall the kitchen shared with the living room to improve the rooms’ connection and create space for an island. Charcoal blue cabinets, a Spanish-style tile backsplash, a vintage range and colorful accents add loads of levity.
After: Chasman took the kitchen down to the studs and expanded the doorway to the living room by about 6 feet. The larger, gently arched opening improves the connection between the spaces, and it created room for an island that adds seating and storage. “We had a plan to take the whole wall down, but it didn’t go with the vintage style or give us enough wall space for what we needed to put on that wall,” Chasman says. “Gina was very protective of not wanting to make the kitchen something it wasn’t.”
The uncovered wood floor now adds warmth. The refrigerator and stove were moved to the sink wall. A crisp and clean white in a flat finish for the walls and ceiling (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) allows the colorful details of the vintage-style space to take center stage. A grayish green in a satin finish for the trim (Eucalyptus Tree by Glidden) helps the window and door frames pop.
Custom birch cabinets built by a local cabinetmaker have a custom charcoal blue stain and feature a mix of vintage and reproduction brass hardware. “My favorite colors are yellows, greens and blues,” Soberanez says. “I saw a lot of green kitchens when I looked at Julia’s work, but I didn’t want my kitchen to be like everyone else’s. I like a very eclectic, traveled look. I really love this blue, and Julia suggested the green for the windows and trim.”
The energetic backsplash is made of handcrafted 8-by-8-inch glazed ceramic tiles with a retro floral design and pale gray grout. “Once we decided to go all the way up the wall with the backsplash, these tiles with such an interesting mix of color and pattern were perfect,” Chasman says.
The designer’s dog, Jackie, poses for this photo on a vintage Persian runner rug.
Rug: Blue Parakeet Rugs
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The uncovered wood floor now adds warmth. The refrigerator and stove were moved to the sink wall. A crisp and clean white in a flat finish for the walls and ceiling (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) allows the colorful details of the vintage-style space to take center stage. A grayish green in a satin finish for the trim (Eucalyptus Tree by Glidden) helps the window and door frames pop.
Custom birch cabinets built by a local cabinetmaker have a custom charcoal blue stain and feature a mix of vintage and reproduction brass hardware. “My favorite colors are yellows, greens and blues,” Soberanez says. “I saw a lot of green kitchens when I looked at Julia’s work, but I didn’t want my kitchen to be like everyone else’s. I like a very eclectic, traveled look. I really love this blue, and Julia suggested the green for the windows and trim.”
The energetic backsplash is made of handcrafted 8-by-8-inch glazed ceramic tiles with a retro floral design and pale gray grout. “Once we decided to go all the way up the wall with the backsplash, these tiles with such an interesting mix of color and pattern were perfect,” Chasman says.
The designer’s dog, Jackie, poses for this photo on a vintage Persian runner rug.
Rug: Blue Parakeet Rugs
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The 1940s white Wedgewood stove with four burners, griddle, two ovens and two broilers was an online find for $400 and a perfect fit for the kitchen’s retro style. “I like to see things that are worn because they have a history to them,” Soberanez says. “Someone loved it and used it, and that’s what I wanted. I now cook pancakes on that griddle every weekend.”
Above, a 36-inch wall-mount stainless hood with LED lights sits in a custom drywall surround with a wood trim detail that displays artwork. Three drawers at the left of the stove store utensils and cooking supplies. To the right, a pullout with decorative fronts holds spices, bottles of oil and vinegar and condiments.
Upper cabinets flanking the hood hold everyday cups and dishes and have vintage glass fronts with a green tint and chicken wire. “Having the glass makes it feel more open, and the chicken wire adds to the vintage feel,” Soberanez says. “It makes me happy when I see it.”
Above, a 36-inch wall-mount stainless hood with LED lights sits in a custom drywall surround with a wood trim detail that displays artwork. Three drawers at the left of the stove store utensils and cooking supplies. To the right, a pullout with decorative fronts holds spices, bottles of oil and vinegar and condiments.
Upper cabinets flanking the hood hold everyday cups and dishes and have vintage glass fronts with a green tint and chicken wire. “Having the glass makes it feel more open, and the chicken wire adds to the vintage feel,” Soberanez says. “It makes me happy when I see it.”
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A matte white counter-depth French door refrigerator has brushed bronze hardware and built-in Wi-Fi. “It’s not your mom’s white fridge,” Chasman says. “It’s very custom-looking, with handsome hardware that works with all the brass in this kitchen.”
A cabinet above the refrigerator holds casserole dishes, seasonal items and small, infrequently used appliances such as an air fryer.
A cabinet above the refrigerator holds casserole dishes, seasonal items and small, infrequently used appliances such as an air fryer.
Before: Here’s a closer look at the garden window over the sink during the demolition of the previous kitchen. “I just didn’t like it,” Soberanez says. “It collected dust and wasn’t pretty.”
After: The now retro-style window has a stationary panel in the middle with leaded glass. “I was lucky they kept the original casings of the windows,” Chasman says. “I pieced them together with vintage sashes from Pasadena Architectural Salvage and re-created what I imagine would have been there with my contractor and builder.”
A white 18-by-24-inch fluted apron-front fireclay farmhouse sink has a polished brass bridge-style faucet with cross handles. “The vintage style was key,” Chasman says. “The sink that was there before was a divided double-bowl sink. We wanted to use a farm sink, and the bridge faucet gives you the height and old-fashioned look, and it was available in brass.”
A 24-inch panel-ready dishwasher sits to the right of the sink. Chasman added a handle from the refrigerator manufacturer for a cohesive look. Honed Carrara marble countertops offer a classic look.
A vintage pendant light with frosted glass shade and brass chain hangs over the sink. The kitchen also has recessed 4-inch LED lights in the ceiling (not shown).
Backsplash tiles: Covent Gardens, 8 by 8 inches, Retrospectives collection, Lungarno Ceramics, Floorzz; sink and faucet: fluted fireclay reversible apron farmhouse sink in white, 18 by 24 inches, and bridge-style faucet with cross handles in polished brass, Vintage Tub & Bath
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
A white 18-by-24-inch fluted apron-front fireclay farmhouse sink has a polished brass bridge-style faucet with cross handles. “The vintage style was key,” Chasman says. “The sink that was there before was a divided double-bowl sink. We wanted to use a farm sink, and the bridge faucet gives you the height and old-fashioned look, and it was available in brass.”
A 24-inch panel-ready dishwasher sits to the right of the sink. Chasman added a handle from the refrigerator manufacturer for a cohesive look. Honed Carrara marble countertops offer a classic look.
A vintage pendant light with frosted glass shade and brass chain hangs over the sink. The kitchen also has recessed 4-inch LED lights in the ceiling (not shown).
Backsplash tiles: Covent Gardens, 8 by 8 inches, Retrospectives collection, Lungarno Ceramics, Floorzz; sink and faucet: fluted fireclay reversible apron farmhouse sink in white, 18 by 24 inches, and bridge-style faucet with cross handles in polished brass, Vintage Tub & Bath
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
A tall custom cabinet above the counter to the left of the sink holds a coffee station. Drawers below store cutlery and utensils, small bowls and food prep items such as a salad spinner.
Custom white oak shelves in the corner between the sink and coffee station include heavy-duty steel shelf brackets in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. The shelves hold colorful bowls and pitchers. A smaller version of the same shelves and brackets are to the right of the sink. “I’m a big fan of open shelving replacing uppers,” Chasman says. “The open shelving makes a small kitchen, especially a galley, seem so much bigger.”
The vintage Persian runner adds a touch of pattern and softness to the kitchen floor and picks up the blue of the cabinets.
The arched doorway connects the kitchen to the laundry room, which was also updated during the renovation.
The arched doorway connects the kitchen to the laundry room, which was also updated during the renovation.
Vintage stools with woven seats and green frames offer casual seating at the island. The green coordinates with the gray-green paint used for the trim, closet door and open island shelves. “These just happened to match,” Chasman says. “We needed counter stools, and I remembered I had them in my storage unit.”
The island shelves hold vintage ceramic canisters and cookbooks. A pair of sculptural milk glass globe pendants hang above.
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The island shelves hold vintage ceramic canisters and cookbooks. A pair of sculptural milk glass globe pendants hang above.
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Before: A wall with a doorway separated the previous kitchen from the breakfast nook, where a window overlooks the front yard. “The fact that a narrow galley kitchen was divided in half with this wall with the opening was a problem,” Chasman says. “The homeowners were concerned about having a breakfast nook without a wall, but with the wall coming down, it would almost double the size of the kitchen.”
After: Removing the wall between kitchen and breakfast nook improved flow. The nook now sits fully open to the kitchen and includes a built-in banquette that matches the kitchen cabinetry and has storage for seasonal and oversize items. “The kids love it,” Soberanez says. “They say it feels like a cafe, so that’s where they like to sit.”
The banquette cushions are upholstered in a durable ochre-colored, velvet-like performance fabric. The round 36-inch dining table has a Carrara marble top on a powder-coated cast-iron base.
A large open-weave rattan bell pendant light above the banquette adds texture. A cream-colored sheer curtain with light green stripes allows light to come in but offers a bit of privacy.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The banquette cushions are upholstered in a durable ochre-colored, velvet-like performance fabric. The round 36-inch dining table has a Carrara marble top on a powder-coated cast-iron base.
A large open-weave rattan bell pendant light above the banquette adds texture. A cream-colored sheer curtain with light green stripes allows light to come in but offers a bit of privacy.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Polka-dot throw pillows and custom pillows in a linen-cotton fabric with a Ming vase motif add more color and pattern to the banquette.
The U.S. map above the banquette is a vintage find.
Fabric for custom pillows: Ming Vase in Jade, Schumacher
The U.S. map above the banquette is a vintage find.
Fabric for custom pillows: Ming Vase in Jade, Schumacher
Before: This floor plan of the home’s previous first-floor layout shows how the refrigerator and stove (center right) sat on a wall with a tight doorway that cut the kitchen off from the living room. Another wall with a doorway separated the kitchen from the breakfast nook (lower right). An additional doorway sat between the kitchen and laundry room (upper right).
After: By widening the opening between the kitchen and living room and removing other walls, Chasman was able to create a more open layout with an island. (Note these plans originally had the refrigerator in the breakfast nook, but it was moved to the right of the stove.)
“There’s more room so we’re not so cramped,” Soberanez says. “We have a big family, and it would feel very tight in there before. The traffic flow is a lot better, and it’s really my happy place.”
More on Houzz
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“There’s more room so we’re not so cramped,” Soberanez says. “We have a big family, and it would feel very tight in there before. The traffic flow is a lot better, and it’s really my happy place.”
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Gina Soberanez; her partner, Andrew; and their two kids
Location: Alhambra, California
Size: 182 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Julia Chasman Design
Before: This view of the previous kitchen shows the narrow doorway that separated the galley kitchen and living room. (See floor plans below.) Soberanez’s father, Rosendo, is seen here at the sink in front of a generic garden window that overlooked a side yard with driveway.
You can see part of the white refrigerator sticking out on the right just inside the doorway. That, and the stove right next to it, impeded traffic flow. The beige ceramic floor tile hid the home’s original Douglas fir sub floor.