Before & After: Small change, big improvement - kitchen renovation - Brief Article

Sunset, Jan, 2002 by Mary Jo Bowling

The assets of this kitchen--including well-made cabinets, vintage tile countertops, and a generous layout--were hidden by layers of aged grout, worn paint, scuffed linoleum, and cutesy detailing. According to interior designer Jeffrey Marks, "The kitchen had not been touched since 1948."

Kitchen alterations

* White marine paint makes the cabinetry look new Normally used for boats, it is very durable and has a high-gloss finish. For a lacquerlike finish free of brush strokes, Marks used a paint sprayer to apply it both to the doors--removing them first--and the insides of the cabinets.

* Small touches can make a big difference. Marks eliminated some of the dated look just by removing the wooden window scallop and replacing the knobs with metal handles.

* The new refrigerator and dishwasher were disguised with wood fronts painted to match the cabinets. "Because the kitchen is open to the living room and dining room, I wanted to minimize the industrial appearance of appliances," Marks says.

* Pristine new white grout replaced the dingy old grout, and the tile was cleaned, buffed, and sealed to show its lively colors to best effect.

* A new multipurpose island solved a problem with the old layout: The stove was too far from the sink and blocked the door. The island, which incorporates cooktop, oven, preparation space, and buffet counter, brings the appliances closer to the sink and opens a clear passage to the door.

To give it a contemporary look, Marks topped the island with stainless steel and covered its wood sides with orange auto body paint. The high-gloss, high-sheen paint turns the island into a contemporary focal point. "It would have been impossible to match the old counter tile, so I picked stainless steel," says Marks. "And I wanted the island to really punch, so I chose orange for contrast."

DESIGN: Jeffrey Alan Marks Inc., La Jolla and Los Angeles (310/207-2222 or www.jam-design.com)