Dream Kitchen: Bright White Face-Lift

Add a Dose of Southern Charm

When Cindy and Thomas Gallion's house hunt ended with a dull-looking rancher in a Montgomery, Alabama, neighborhood, they knew there was a bright side: room to romp for their two sons, plus a two-car garage with easy grocery-to-kitchen access. These benefits outweighed the dark panelling, low ceiling, and hollow-core-doors.

But with Thomas' building expertise and his decorator sister's, Tyler Colgan, eye for detail, they were able to make the house more spacious and more attractive with just a few tweaks.

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Interior decorator: Tyler Colgan; 404/273-1400

Before: Breakfast Room

The small, dark breakfast room where the family ate their meals lacked storage and color for such a lively space.

After: Breakfast Room

What They Did:

• Added an L-shaped banquette, plush with cheery pillows, under the windows.
• The customized seats lift for additional storage.
• Placed built-ins on either side of the banquette for easily accessible dishware.

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Table: For a similar look, try Avalon by Crate and Barrel.
Wicker chairs: Majby chair with armrests by IKEA
Assorted pillows: also from IKEA and World Market
Pendant light: Leran, also by IKEA

 

Before: Kitchen

The kitchen was cramped and isolated from the family and breakfast rooms. There also was not enough counter or storage space.

After: Kitchen

What They Did:

• Removed the window and added shelving for storage.
• Added a large, hardworking island for storage and function.

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Pendant lights: Fansta shade with Hemma ceiling cord set by IKEA
Barstools: Grayson from Pottery Barn
Barstool slipcover fabric: For a similar look, try Corazon in Seaglass from Calico Corners.

After: Kitchen and Family Room

What They Did:

• Tore out the walls that divided the kitchen from the breakfast and family rooms.

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Wall, trim, and door paint: Dover White (SW6385) by Sherwin-Williams

Before: Family Room

The family room, like the kitchen and breakfast room, was small, dark, and outdated.

After: Family Room

What They Did:

• Raised the ceiling into the attic to make the room feel more spacious.
• Flanked the hearth with an additional bookshelf designed to accomodate the television.
• Used white paint, fresh finishes, and light fabrics to update the dark space.
• Mixed furnishing they'd collected with less expensive finds.

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Coffee table: from Max and Company
Artwork above fireplace: For a similar look, try an abstract from Artaissance.

Before and After Floorplan

1 A new floating furniture arrangement keeps the family room cozy and conversational.
2 Two cased openings connect the space to the rest of the house.
3 Removing two nonbearing walls transformed the three tiny rooms into one spacious area.
4 A built-in banquette maximizes space and adds storage.