Affordable Designs by Kate / Portfolio

Kitchens and Bathrooms
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KITCHENS

BEFORE

Clients unhappy with "vanilla" kitchen and without budget for big changes.

AFTER

Used inexpensive laminate for new counter tops and back splash, cheery country wallpaper from a discount store, new black fridge to match wall oven, from a discount warehouse. Total cost abut $1,000 for a considerably brightened kitchen.

BEFORE

Unused mud room in a very small house was becoming a junk deposit.

AFTER

Removed closet and turned room into a kitchen with light cherry cabinets, black appliances and laminate counter tops. Two corner cabinets with glass doors and interior lights were added for interest and depth. View from sink window is of gardens and wood. A shame it had gone unused.

BEFORE

This had been the entrance to the house, an unsightly welcome.

AFTER

Closed up entrance door and window and continued cabinets and counters around room. Added skylights to replace light lost from the window and door removal. Low cost cabinets and laminate counter tops complete a new functional and attractive kitchen.

BEFORE

A Manhattan galley kitchen. All appliances cramped in one end of long, narrow room. Kitchen door opened to dining, living space so kitchen chaos was always visible. Cabinets thick with years of old paint and not closing tightly anymore.

AFTER

Added all new cabinets using ones of less depth for floor cabinets which added about 6" to floor space. Used granite counter tops that were longer and deeper than old tops.

BEFORE

Old stove was in an awkward location with no holding space for pots/pans etc. while cooking.

AFTER

Cleaned up back of galley kitchen by removing stove and continuing granite counter top around to kitchen window. Open counter top makes space seem larger and allowed for addition of 2 stools for in kitchen dining. A stove top was added to granite counter providing work space to the side.

BEFORE

Entrance to galley is crowded and tight with about 1/4 of the room space unused.

AFTER

Closed up existing kitchen door and opened an entrance to the left so that view of kitchen was hidden from public area except for an attractive and useful wine rack with counter and glass cabinet. A closet in an adjoining room was used to house a wall oven, two pantry closets and a side by side refrigerator.

A back splash of smoked glass helped to widen this narrow kitchen. Also, very easy to clean.

A completed country kitchen that had been a dated, dark and depressing work space. Chose light birch cabinets, two lighted corner glass cabinets, two tall, deep pantry closets with sliding shelves, three revolving cupboards under counters and four sliding drawers for easy access to pots/pans, etc. A deep cabinet was added over refrigerator for extra large items and the refrigerator framed in birch to unify the look. Added lots of under counter lighting and ceiling skylights to brighten room. Granite countertops replaced peeling laminate tops. The finished kitchen provides double the storage space of the old and is much more practical and functional.. besides being beautiful!

Breakfast area outside above kitchen. Used oak table clients had in another room as dining table. Replaced linoleum flooring with hard wood throughout the kitchen and breakfast area to unify entire space. Matched color of hanging lights over kitchen counter with light over dining table. Used dimmers on all to change the mood.

BATHROOMS

BEFORE

Pre war Manhattan bathroom - 5' wide by 8' long. Green tiles with black trim date and darken room making it seem smaller.

AFTER

Gutted bathroom. Replaced, floor to ceiling, with cream colored ceramic tiles resembling marble. I used no trim break in the shower or window wall in order to achieve a sense of height. In addition to a regular shower head, I added a hand held one for flexibility and ease of tub, and in this client's case, dog cleaning. The new tub is longer and deeper and has a more practical flat frame. Curtains and towels match the tiles providing a clean, serene monochrome look.

BEFORE

Same bathroom prior to renovation.

AFTER

Beautiful Roman scroll trim was used to frame the bottom of the wall to wall mirror. Window was tiled around and kept clear.

BEFORE

Original medicine cabinet was small providing very limited storage space.

AFTER

Added a deeper, taller medicine cabinet which when opened provided a triple mirror for side and back head views.

Mirrors perform miracles. In this small bathroom I used wall to wall mirrors and they appear to double the size of the room. Also removed a purposeless built in hamper and replaced it with a functional storage unit with cabinets above and below open shelving.

This was a new bathroom project for clients with a low budget. They wanted a cheery, clean look. Started by ragging a sunny honey color over a cream base for the walls. Chose bright white vanity, counter top and medicine cabinet with a little flair, Used all bright chrome faucets, fixtures and lights to accent the white. Home Depot provide all inexpensively. Result, a cheery clean bathroom without much fuss.

Same bathroom. Close up of small shelf added for interest and function by a happy print above and circular hand towel holder below. All very fresh looking and with some interest.

This client wanted a new master bathroom that was both classic and clean. Nothing more classic than black and white! Used ceramic tiles that mirrored marble on the lower walls and bathroom divide. Used inexpensive narrow black tiles for wall trim, to match the checkerboard floor. The vanity has a black and white formica top which supports the bowl sink. Shiny chrome fixtures and trim were used to enhance the bright feeling that the clients wanted.

Same bathroom. I mirrored the walls to the ceiling on three sides of room making it appear wonderfully huge. Tub is extra deep and extra long enabling a great soak in this jacuzzi type tub. Black and white wall print has a dab of yellow and red which I echoed in the candles to give the room a bit of a color punch.

Toilet has a tiled privacy wall above which I built two shelves. One to hold extra black and white towels and one for two whimisical harlequin figures who fit the tone of the room. A 5ft. double shower with clear glass doors faces the toilet (Not seen in this photo) A really great bathroom with wonderful visual impact.