Small and Mighty White Kitchen

When Danielle Balanis, a part-time designer, and her husband, Nic, remodeled their Birmingham, AL, kitchen, they had about 80 square feet to work with. This meant using smart design moves like a U-shaped layout, open shelves, and an almost-all-white color scheme to create a hyperfunctional cook space. “It may not be a huge area,” says Danielle, “but it’s so efficient that we never feel short on space.”

"A U-shaped layout was the only one that made sense for our space,” says Danielle of her kitchen redesign. Because there are cabinets and counters on all three sides, Danielle never has to reach far when she’s cooking or doing the dishes.

Five roomy cabinets and three deep drawers were all the Balanises needed to store kitchen essentials. Danielle decided on under-counter cabinets only and used the space above the counters for floating shelves to give the room an airy look. The knobs and pulls are from HGH Hardware Supply

Classic white subway tiles, outlined in gray grout, go from countertop to ceiling, making the room feel bigger. They also turn most of the kitchen’s walls into one giant easy-to-clean backsplash. “It’s low-maintenance but also has a clean, industrial look,” says Danielle.