A Small Kitchen with Big L.A. Flair

Small Los Angeles kitchen with bright accents — The existing kitchen was dark and enclosed, with two small windows and a wall separating it from the dining room. Caitlin replaced one of the small windows with glass French doors that lead to the backyard, allowing natural light to enter and help brighten the kitchen. The black-and-white Mediterranean cement tile is bold and balances the solid-colored kitchen with pattern.

This 1940s Spanish home in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles was the winner of a House Hunters Renovation episode on HGTV. The young homeowner was granted a paid renovation to one of the rooms in her new house, and she chose the kitchen. That’s where Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design stepped in.

Maximize Space

“The kitchen was in a pretty bad state,” says Caitlin. “It hadn’t been updated since the ’80s.” They did a complete remodel of the space that spanned four months and included major changes like knocking out walls and moving doors and windows. “The client is a young woman, and she wanted something open, airy and eclectic—nothing specific to one style,” says Caitlin. “The original kitchen was tiny and cramped with a strange layout.” A wall separated the kitchen from the dining room, and there was a washer and dryer in the corner. “It was a big waste of space, because there wasn’t any storage,” says Caitlin.

Sitting area in bright LA Kitchen — Caitlin added a work desk to the other side of the kitchen. “I love to create zones, even in a small space,” she says. Instead of a floor-to-ceiling pantry, this extra counter space is perfect for computer work, meal prep and even folding laundry. The cabinets are used for storing food and other household items.

Small nook with cabinetry in LA kitchen — This alcove sits right next to the kitchen and stores the washer and dryer. The cabinet doors hide the machines and provide pullout drawers for laundry supplies. With the flat countertop, this space doubles as a buffet area during friends’ and family visits, as it’s next to the dining room.

Small to Spacious

To improve the use of space, she moved the washer and dryer to the wet bar area right outside the kitchen and replaced them with a desk area.

“Due to the limited space in the house, every area has to serve multiple functions.”

The desk is great for work, but can also be used for prepping food. The new washer/dryer area is a miniature laundry room and can double as a buffet area when friends visit. To open up the kitchen, they replaced a small window with French doors that allow light to shine through the glass. They also knocked down one of the walls, but were cautious to not create too a layout that was too modern. “We needed a balance between opening up the floor plan and keeping the integrity of the small vintage house,” says Caitlin.

Open space kitchen — This kitchen has an unusual backsplash that doesn’t span the entire wall. “I eliminated uppers along the wall where the range was,” says Caitlin. “I didn’t want it to be heavy and closed in. The compromise is modern and clean and doesn’t distract from the floor tile.” They went “chunkier” with the strip to make it look purposeful and protect the wall from oil splashes. A farmhouse sink balances modern and traditional, softening the space.

Style Mix

To complement the vintage feel of the rest of the house, Caitlin worked with a soft color palette. “I didn’t want anything to be too shiny or new, so we stayed away from gold and went with brushed copper accents,” she says. “The basic Shaker style is always the answer to in between styles.” When trying to achieve a fresh and eclectic style, it can be difficult to know where to begin. “Every element depends on every other element, so I have to design it all at the same time,” Caitlin says. When choosing the materials, it’s best to pick patterns that don’t distract from one another. “You have to pick what you want to be the star and the supporting cast,” she says. “The tile was the statement piece, and we went from there.” Caitlin also made sure to create a balance with the color palette. The walls, counters and cabinets are bright, so she added matte black plumbing fixtures, a chair, stools and black-and-white tile to balance the look and make the bright colors stand out.

Use Caitlin’s tips to achieve your dream kitchen

Island and sitting area in bright LA kitchen — The wall that previously separated the kitchen from the rest of the house spanned the length of the peninsula. With the wall gone and the counter expanded, the homeowner now has extra seating and a dining area for guests. The quartz countertops have gray veining that emulates a more expensive option: Carrara marble. Bar stools are ideal for small spaces, as they can easily fit under a counter space when not being used.

1. Cohesive Contributions. Before you make any renovation decisions, look at what you already have. “Consider the style of your home. It’s important to make things cohesive before you start,” says Caitlin.

2. House Bones. “Kitchens have architectural details, so start there,” says Caitlin. You’ll want to make sure the style you’re planning complements the existing details.

3. Black and White. Don’t forget to add some dark tones, even if you want a bright kitchen. “Fresh doesn’t need to be all light,” says Caitlin. “What’s fresh is the contrast of elements, so black will make the whites feel fresher.”

4. White Walls. “You can never go wrong with white paint,” she says. Not only will white walls make your kitchen feel clean and bright, it will allow you more creativity with your décor colors.

5. Function, Not Future. Don’t stress about choosing a design that will still look new in 30 years. “Everything changes, and everything is always going to look dated eventually,” says Caitlin. “Cater to your present life and what makes you happy now. Make it a reflection of who you are and how you want to spend your time.”