Remodeling
From Cute to Contemporary
A cramped, outdated Port Orchard kitchen is transformed into an efficient, streamlined space after a floor-to-counter top remodel.

Design Details
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Christine Suzuki, Christine Suzuki & Associates,
3513 N.E. 45th St., Ste. M, (206) 517-4424
Suzuki added restaurant touches throughout—stainless-steel counter tops, a pot-filler faucet and a double sink.

Eliminating a built-in wall oven created extra counter space, and a new pull-out pantry houses small appliances.

A continuous outlet strip at the top of the stainless-steel backsplash provides easy access to electricity but is hidden from view.

Removing a small desk and bookshelf made room for additional cabinets, an espresso maker and a television.
Before

The Challenge: Mark and Aracelly Friedman's outdated kitchen in Port Orchard was cramped and poorly designed. Built in 1987, the room had an angled peninsula with a protruding soffit that crowded the work area, minimal counter space, inadequate lighting and an inefficient workspace. In addition, the layout obstructed the path from the adjacent dining area. “It was a dead-end kitchen,” says interior designer Christine Suzuki.

The Solution: To create a sleek, contemporary space with no visual clutter, Suzuki approached the project from two different angles. “First, we designed storage that used space efficiently so that everything had a home,” Suzuki says. Second, she hid or eliminated certain features. The designer installed custom cabinets and pull-out pantry shelves. “The challenge that was the most fun was to design cabinets and drawers without pulls or handles, which adds to the streamlined aesthetic,” Suzuki says. To open up the space, she extended the wood flooring from the dining area into the kitchen for a seamless transition between rooms, and she replaced the peninsula and soffit with an island claimed from part of the adjacent eating area. The stainless-steel counter tops, sink and appliances form a continuous, smooth surface. With its easy accessibility, the new kitchen is open to the flow of life.