Tour a Calm, Cool and Clutterproof Kitchen

Cooking used to be cramped in Tricia and William Page’s old place. Their kitchen had hardly any counter space and few places to stash stuff away. “The whole apartment was only 450 square feet,” says Tricia. So when the couple bought a home in San Francisco, California, with a short-on-storage kitchen (déjà vu!), they couldn’t wait to renovate. Designer Gina Gutierrez helped them open it to the living and dining rooms and put in a pantry with a barn door. A mix of soft shades was made chic with touches of wood and brass. The new island has been especially amazing for bake-athons with their niece, Alexis, since they can really spread out cookie sheets. “We’ve always loved to cook but now we really love it,” says Tricia.

Very Calm

It all started with a breezy palette. “Our colors are soothing and remind me of water,” says Tricia. The backsplash (by Fireclay Tile), barn door and island are awash in shades of gray and blue, and the custom hood vent and fridge cover by Special Design Cabinet blend into the cabinetry.

Very Cool

A barn door and brass track, both from Artisan Hardware, bring a hit of hipness. “It looks like art with the diagonal stripes and brass,” says Tricia. Designer Gina played off its shine with brass cabinet pulls by Schoolhouse and pendants by Worley’s Lighting.

Very Clutterproof

Former space stealers now live in a walk-in pantry, leaving counters gloriously clear. “Our coffeemaker and toaster are plugged in and ready to go — it’s like having our own coffee shop in there,” says Tricia. Just outside the pantry, everyday dishes are tidily stored on the lower open shelf.