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
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Before: Breakfast Room
The small, dark breakfast room where the family ate their meals lacked storage and color for such a lively space.
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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.
- Love It? Get It!
- 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
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Before: Kitchen
The kitchen was cramped and isolated from the family and breakfast rooms. There also was not enough counter or storage space.
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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 byIKEA
- Barstools: Grayson from Pottery Barn
- Barstool slipcover fabric: For a similar look, try Corazon in Seaglass from Calico Corners.
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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
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Before: Family Room
The family room, like the kitchen and breakfast room, was small, dark, and outdated.
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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 fromArtaissance.
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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.