The color palette in this kitchen ensures the space feels bright and warm, while glass details and glossy finishes help to bounce light.
(Image credit: Mazzarini & Co/Adam Kane Macchia)
When designing a galley kitchen, it’s usually just the narrower proportions you have to contend with. But in this 1920s New York apartment, the kitchen is small in both directions, so a more intuitive design was required to ensure the scheme felt as elevated as the rest of the home, yet still offered enough storage.
‘The kitchen was designed as an intimate but refined galley, balancing historic character and modern functionality,’ recalls Dan Mazzarini, founder and creative director at Mazzarini & Co., who was tasked with redesigning the space.
When you’re already low on surface space in a small galley kitchen, it might seem controversial to fill half of one side with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, but it’s a decision that is key to the functionality of this scheme. It’s the real workhorse when it comes to storage here, and painted white with glazed doors, it brightens and bounces light around the room. And it’s not the only hardworking kitchen cabinetry in the design.
The large upper cabinets are just as important as the full-length ones for maximizing storage in a stylish way.
(Image credit: Mazzarini & Co/Adam Kane Macchia)
‘Nestled inside a dark brown, lacquered alcove, the space features two-tone custom panel front cabinetry in rich mahogany paired with warm grey upper cabinets. Juxtaposed against the darker wood tone, this creates depth within the narrow footprint without overwhelming,’ he explains.
‘An extended Calacatta Arabescato marble countertop and backsplash offer continuity while nickel fixtures and oversized food pulls add a layer of shine,’ he continues, noting a striking design feature which also helps to make a small kitchen look bigger.
Every inch of space has been maximized in this kitchen, from the full-length cabinetry at the far end to the upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling. But it’s been done in a way that ensures the whole room still feels bright and open, filled with elevated materials that make the small kitchen look more luxurious.
‘Overall, the space was created to feel streamlined enough for daily use, but with an intentional approach to craftsmanship and material richness.’
There are so many small kitchen storage ideas that don’t require you to sacrifice your favorite design details, and these 3 spaces from the Homes & Gardens archives are all the proof you need. And if Cynthia Ferguson’s design proves anything, the best colors for small kitchens reach far beyond neutrals, even in a tiny scheme.
