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opposite: When this galley kitchen grew by claiming space from other rooms, the range was moved from a corner to the opposite end of an extended run of countertop. left: A high-arc bridge-style faucet in brushed nickel mixes traditional style with the undermount sink and the sleek black granite countertop.

Creating a larger kitchen in a small house makes a big difference for this Atlantic Coast couple. before

maineinterestwriter jacqueline devine • photographer james salomon • field editor susan salomon

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this photo: Homeowners David Allen and Kati Gaulkin debated buying a ready-made sideboard and hutch, but opted for the narrower silhouette of a built-in custom cabinet. opposite: Pottery, pussy willows, and one of David’s paintings add individuality to the expanded space.

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down to a delicious meal gives the kitchen star billing in David Allen and Kati Gaulkin’s Cape Cod-style home in Kennebunk, Maine.By removing two walls that squeezed their galley kitchen, the creative couple turned three small rooms into one great space measuring 18×13 feet. For a house that is 20×40 feet, that’s a lot of kitchen! A week after finishing the remodel, Kati and David seated a dozen guests in their room-to-live-in kitchen, where previously there was barely space for their yellow Lab, Tillie, to wag her tail.

To minimize costly changes during construction, David and Kati invested 18 months in research and design. David, an artist, sketched and resketched ideas, while Kati compiled magazine clippings and ideas from the Internet.

The centerpiece of the kitchen began as a budget compromise. To afford an upgrade of appliances, the couple decided to skip purchasing a custom island. Instead, David converted Kati’s vintage cherry-top desk into a counter-height table by adding longer legs. Giving a new purpose to the piece produced savings that covered the cost of a dual-fuel range.

Kati is a by-the-book cook known for her crispy and chewy chocolate chip cookies. David is more of a produce and protein improviser. The couple’s decorating styles differ, too. She is a traditionalist, and he is a modernist. Interior designer Krista Stokes helped marry their styles. The pleasing result is a blend of traditional cabinets painted a modern gray taupe, stainless-steel appliances resting on oak floors, and classic mullioned glass doors complementing contemporary open shelves. This clean, casual, and comfortable blend of styles serves as a showcase for David’s paintings and Kati’s pottery collection.

Homeowners often wish they had done things differently after a remodel. Not this couple. “We wouldn’t change a doorknob,” Kati says. And Tillie has room to wag her tail in agreement. ResouRces begin on page 108.

room to roam or to sit

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AppliancesDishwasher 912Range 2,198Refrigerator 1,690Vent hood 585

CabinetryCabinets 9,950Hardware 208Island 690

plumbingFaucet 1,002Sink 845

surfacesCountertops 3,850Flooring 1,500Paint for cabinets, includes labor 900Pantry doors 560

MiscellaneousCrown molding 385Lights (recessed, fixture over island) 500Window 530

total $26,305Costs do not include labor unless noted.

budget

DW

R/F

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18x13

Small rooms were the signature style of this 1980s house, but removing walls and eliminating a bathroom, hallway, and separate dining room netted a smarter-working kitchen.

opposite: Beaded board backs open shelving, which balances the range hood on the opposite side of the window (shown on page 83). Above: Glass-panel French doors on the pantry further expand the kitchen visually. right: Purchased on the Internet, white turned legs and ball feet add classic beauty to the island worktable David fashioned from an old cherry desktop.

about this makeover

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