Crank Up Your Kitchen's Style

From the second designer Liz Caan and her husband, Geoff, purchased their 1920s Colonial in Chestnut Hill, MA, 11 years ago, she plotted to tear out the kitchen’s plastic cabinets, rip up the dated pine floor, and increase the square footage. But a total reno would come at a budget-busting price, so she instead decided to boost the personality of the 10-foot-by-15-foot space with colors and patterns.

“I used attention-diverting tricks to disguise the flaws,” says Liz. Without enlarging the footprint or changing the layout, she created a cheerful dining and hangout spot for sons Henry, 19, and Leo, 7, and daughter Lilly, 14. “While it’s not the huge Pinterest kitchen everyone salivates over, it works for our family—and our bank account.”

The breakfast nook was outfitted with built-in banquettes upholstered in wipe-clean vinyl. Deep drawers below stash bulky kitchen items. The custom walnut-topped table, coated with commercial-grade matte varnish, is impervious to stains and spills.

Black-and-white striped wallpaper by First Editions—hung horizontally and covering part of the ceiling—brings sophistication to the kitchen. “My hope is that the lines are so eye-catching, you don’t notice how small the room is,” says Liz.