Tour a Glam Kitchen That Screams Girl-Power

Sarah Boardman may be a designer, but she got 24/7 advice when she redid her kitchen … and it was totally free. The consultants were 10 and 11 years old at the time — her daughters. Their collaboration began after Sarah’s divorce in 2018, when they moved into a three-bedroom duplex in the Milwaukee area. The kitchen needed a serious overhaul. “It was an awkward L shape and it had a beat-up linoleum floor,” Sarah says. “The girls were very focused on how we’d use the space — where to put the mixer? And we needed a good-size island.” After knocking down walls, she added new cabinetry, lighting and flooring. Then she infused it with fun, feminine, Grace-and-Gladys-approved touches. “Sometimes the girls kick me out when they’re baking or making grilled cheese,” Sarah says. “Their roles as consultants are done — now they act like the bosses!”

Kitchen Details

Backsplash + Windows

Sarah loved this navy blue fish-scale tile from Floor & Decor so much that she stockpiled it months before she even bought her new place. Windows framed in fuchsia (painted Can Can by Hallman Lindsay) totally pop against it. Bamboo Roman shades from The Home Depot bring in a nice hit of natural texture.

Island

Gladys and Grace often sit here to make slime, watch YouTube or chop garlic for dinner. The pretty Carrara marble countertop was a unanimous choice. “It will show dings and stains over the years, and that’s great because it’ll look well-loved,” says Sarah. Green metal Wayfair counter stools are durable and especially cute next to pink legs that are painted the same color as the window trim.

Lighting

“Layers of light add real warmth to a space,” says Sarah. She surrounded a gray Robert Abbey drum shade pendant lined in baby blue with pink flush mount lights by Mitzi (Grace calls them “ramen bowls"); their Edison bulbs cast a soft glow. There’s even a li’l lamp on the counter.

Cabinets

Yes, you can live without upper ones. Sarah went for dish drawer storage after a run-in with a stack of falling plates (it makes the kitchen feel larger, too). Floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets keep ingredients and small appliances tucked away — more room for accents on the counters. The pulls with a polished-nickel finish are by Schaub.