Project Credits
Entrant/Architect
Carver + Schicketanz Architects, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.
Builder
McNamee Construction, Carmel-by-the-Sea
To remodel the kitchen in this small, beachside house, architect Mary Ann Schicketanz knew she had limitations. Space was tight. Walls could not be moved. “We needed to stay as true to the original design as possible, and any new design we did had to fit the original intention,” she says. “The house is a jewelbox, one of the few international-style homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea that has remained really pure over the years,” says Schicketanz.
The existing plan included a door between the dining area and the kitchen. The sink and stove were at opposite ends of the room. Choice space at the corner windows—which overlook the Monterey County coastline—wasn’t being used. By sealing off the dining area door, room was made for an eating nook, which is a great place to watch the surfers. An L-shaped counter that borders the nook offers relief from the straight-shot galley layout. Schicketanz set a small pantry with a pocket door at the other end.
This hard-working kitchen is as stylish as it is snug. Stainless counters offer cool contrast with pearwood cabinets and maple walls. A pass-through to the dining room allows views of the sea from the sink and makes serving and clearing easy. A mirrored backsplash catches light and gives the impression of expanded space. So does open space under the cooktop, on-demand storage that makes way for a rolling trash can or provides what Schicketanz calls “luxury space,” making a little room feel big.
