Our Favorite Room
WHERE IT BEGAN: When Denver homeowners Rachel and Brent Temmer called designer Mindy Sunday to help them remodel their kitchen, they had one primary goal in mind: more counter space. Rachel's Swedish background had led her to study traditional Swedish baking, and now, she needed more room to set down her trays of treats.
“They didn't want to go up or out,” says Sunday, who specializes in kitchen and bath design. “We didn't add square footage; we just made the space brighter, more functional and a lot more beautiful.” Sunday's strategy included lowering the height of three walls to give the room an airier feel and raising the windows slightly, so that the counters underneath could be standard height. “That's a tip for anyone who wants to remodel: changing the placement of windows and doors gives you a whole new floor plan. It's not expensive, and it can dramatically improve a room's flow and function.”
PERFECT TOUCHES: The kitchen's red Silestone countertops add just the right amount of color to the small space. “Rachel wanted a low-maintenance kitchen, so Silestone was our best bet,” Sunday says.
And how did the Temmers choose the color? “We wanted to brighten the space and add something to catch your eye,” Rachel says. “A long time ago, I lived in a home that had red countertops, and I liked that the color gives the space a kind of retro feel.”
The countertops are the perfect complement to the off-white Kraftmaid cabinets and tiny, clear glass subway tiles (which give off a slightly green shimmer, thanks to the grout color).
STYLE GUIDE: Sunday's favorite elements are the natural light—“it just makes the room sparkle”—and the double-stacked cabinets. In a small kitchen, she advises, choose to stack cabinets rather than opting for one tall unit that will overwhelm the space.
GET THE LOOK:
CUSTOM-COLORED CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS Get a hue tailor-made just for your kitchen with these countertops, by Colorado-based Estilo Concrete.
ROHL INTEGRATED FAUCET FILTRATION SOLUTION Get hot, cold and filtered water all from a single, good-looking faucet. Available in two styles—traditional or contemporary—and in four finishes to suit your taste. Hutter Wholesale Hardware, Denver.
FRANKE SINK, MYTHOS SERIES This stainless-steel beauty includes a removable sink insert—perfect for rinsing, draining or thawing foods—and the flexible preparation board slides right over the sink. Hutter Wholesale Hardware.
TANTRUM MOSUPREMA GLASS TILE BY SONOMA TILEMAKERS “Glass with Attitude” is this company's tagline, and we couldn't agree more: These 1-inch-by-2-inch tiles are made of crackled glass encapsulated in a stoneware body. The Arch line (shown here) has an arched shape that gives added texture to the typical subway-tile look. Decorative Materials, Denver Design District.
