No shortage of storage in this kitchen remodel

Sunset, Feb, 1988

No shortage of storage in this kitchen remodel

Chock-full of storage, this generous kitchen addition was annexed to the rear of the house. Among its space-expanding amenities are a 5 1/2-foot-long appliance garage, an eating and storage island, and a built-in desk for menu planning.

Jammed against a small dining room, the old kitchen imprisoned the owners in a cramped, U-shaped space with a single window overlooking a back-yard basketball court. Totaling about 500 square feet, the addition--with space for the kitchen, a walk-in pantry, and a laundry room-- was built out over part of the seldom-used concrete court.

Heart of the kitchen is a six-sided 9 1/2-foot-long island that provides storage for dishes, knives, and spices, as well as a cooktop and a snack counter serving four. For convenience, dishes are stored in the side of the island facing the sink and dishwasher. A U-shaped drawer for pots and pans pulls out under the cooktop.

Overhead, soffits and beams house lighting fixtures, while the ceiling slopes up to the roof peak and a pair of skylights. The open section of ceiling gives the room welcome vertical volume.

In the now-enlarged dining room, new French doors lead to an added deck and relandscaped garden. Casement windows behind the kitchen sink open to a buffet counter serving the adjacent deck.

The pictures below show four of the many storage areas that make the kitchen so easy to use.

Design was by architect Kenneth Hertel for Dorothy and Bill Haener of Walnut Creek, California.

Photo: Posse of grandchildren rounds up lunch at tiled island. Beams cross below high ceiling, join with wraparound soffit. Skylights, down lights, and three shaded pendants brighten the room

Photo: Lower gray tone shows where house ended before kitchen expansion

Photo: Appliance garage behind bifold doors has plug strip along back wall

Photo: Linen rack consists of three closet poles mounted on glide-out drawer panels

Photo: Tilt drawer in front of sink keeps washing aids at hand; aluminum liners protect wood

Photo: U-shaped drawer fits under down-venting cooktop. Heavy-duty glides support pots

Photo: Slotted top of knife drawer was cut with table saw; oak strips form the rows