See the magic that happens when clients trust their designer

I was brought in to give a serious makeover to a kitchen that had seen... a lot. Tucked inside a turn-of-the-century building full of charm (and quirks), the space came with its fair share of headaches—uneven floors and walls, a ridiculously oversized radiator in the worst possible spot, and a bulky chase cutting through one corner like it owned the place. And that was just the welcome party.

Like always, I kicked things off with my design discovery process—basically a deep dive into what makes my clients tick, style-wise. Most people feel like their tastes are “all over the place,” but I always find the common threads. This time, I was working with Chris, an all-around awesome guy who loves to cook. The problem? His kitchen—dated, dysfunctional, and totally uninspiring—had slowly drained the fun out of something he genuinely enjoyed. I couldn’t wait to help turn that around.

Using Chris’s inspirations as a jumping-off point (plus a few creative nuances of my own), I got to work. We tackled that tricky chase, dealt with not one but two awkwardly placed windows, leveled the floors, and carved out tons of prep space. We added open shelving and display moments for his favorite collectibles, and made sure the whole space felt welcoming, functional, and totally him.

Now, it’s the kind of kitchen that makes you want to pour a glass of wine, put on some music, and actually enjoy being in it. And, yes—like any smart kitchen reno, it added some serious value to his home.

So without further ado, here are the before-and-afters of this sweet little transformation—definitely one of my favorite projects to date.

Before: note the oversized radiator, the maze of water pipes, and that dramatic window. Oh—and the cat, clearly ready for her close-up.

That pesky chase? Now seamlessly tucked behind the upper cabinets. Functional and beautiful—just how we like it.

A colleague of mine once counted that there are over 400 decisions to be made in kitchen design. It pays to have a professional on your side during all of that so that it can be the best

outcome and so that it is fun! Chris and I worked very collaboratively. He was one more of my "perfect clients". Not only did we do this as a team effort, he trusted me on every turn making it

a great experience for me as well.

A kitchen that works beautifully and feels even better. Happy client, happy designer!