Before & After: A dated family kitchen gets a fresh new look

A family of six in need of a fresher, more cheerful family kitchen with more storage approached interior designer Zoe Feldman to help them transform their dark, cluttered kitchen.

Zoe and her team brightened up the kitchen with white metro tiles and powder blue cabinets, while also adding a walk-in pantry for further kitchen storage, and a handy boot room to keep shoes and accessories out of the way.

BEFORE

The former kitchen looked tired and drab, and was crying out for a fresher look. Worktops were a dark grey, pendant lights didn't give off enough light, and the tiles and cabinet door handles felt dated.

The sink area also felt dark and uninspiring, with a dark grey worktop and sink, and a chrome tap.

AFTER

Spearheaded by Zoe Feldman, the design team transformed the space with light and colour and storage, turning it into a cheerful, practical and family-friendly space.

White metro tiles across the walls instantly brighten the space and bounce light around, plus they're easy to clean – essential for a family with four kids.

While the layout of the kitchen didn’t change, nearly everything in it did. A deep grey paint was added to the base cabinets, grounding the kitchen, while a light blue shade on the upper cabinets in the kitchen makes the room feel larger. Details such as the hammered copper sink, oil-rubbed bronzed plumbing fixtures, and grey moon quartzite countertops elevate the bright and happy open kitchen.

Brass-and-glass globe pendants from Rejuvenation take centre stage over the kitchen island.

PANTRY BEFORE

Next to the kitchen there used to be a small closet area that linked to the garage – now it's become a generous, walk-in pantry for food storage.

PANTRY AFTER

Feldman and her team carved out this butler’s pantry, featuring additional storage, child-friendly open shelving and cool new appliances, including a wine fridge.

Inside, there's plenty of storage, as well as space for occasional appliances.

Open shelving lend an urban-inspired, industrial vibe.

BOOT ROOM

The pantry now flows down two steps to a boot room (formerly an unused, cluttered garage) with built-ins, hooks for backpacks and convenient seating. The boot room features a mix of concealed and exposed storage.

W.C. BEFORE

The kitchen loo was another unloved and dated space.

W.C. AFTER

It's been given a bold new hue that wraps around the whole wall – including below the dado – and right up onto the ceiling too, creating a modern and energetic atmosphere.

Photography:Stacy Zarin Goldberg, @stacyzaringoldberg