1. Vintage for Two

Designers: Adam Smith and Tana Powers of PowerSmith Design
Location: Chicago
Size: 100 square feet (9.2 square meters); about 14 by 7 feet (4.2 by 2.1 meters)

Homeowners’ request: Turn an outdated, dark kitchen in which only one person could work into a better-functioning space for two people. Expanding into the adjacent dining room wasn’t possible due to structural restrictions, so the designers turned their attention to rethinking the L-shaped layout. “We realized that a well-planned galley would create the various workspaces the homeowners wanted, and with the right design, could create the interest and style the homeowners would love,” designer Tana Powers says.

Special features: Hidden appliances, cool midcentury style with wall-mounted faucet, retro fridge and diner-inspired knobs and pulls.

Cabinet paint: Metro Gray, Benjamin Moore; cabinets: Dynamic Group; countertops: Virginia Mist granite, Illinois Granite & Marble

Why the design works: “A small kitchen can seem even smaller when appliances are stacked on top of each other,” Powers says. “We were able to maximize visual appeal in this kitchen by limiting the number of appliances that you can see.” Only two appliances — the range and fridge — are visible. Cabinets surrounding the fridge and wired with electricity keep the microwave, coffeemaker and other small appliances out of sight.

Who uses it: A pair of professional actors and their preteen son.

Designer secret: “We love using dark colors and tones in small spaces,” Powers says. “Contrary to what many people think, dark colors can actually make small spaces seem bigger, not smaller.” Deep gray cabinets, a dark countertop and a rich brown stain on the open shelving against white subway tile give the space the appearance of being larger and brighter than the original lighter-tone design did.

Another counterintuitive design decision: making the open space smaller by adding lower cabinets on the right side. Powers says this created enough workspace for two people to use the kitchen at the same time, making it feel larger.

Backsplash: white subway tile; grout: Shadow, Bostik; sink: Precis 36-inch super single bowl BL440150 in white, Blanco; wall-mounted faucet: Delilah, Signature Hardware

“Uh-oh” moment: “The very first day of the project, we sat down with the homeowners to review the project and to reassure them that, while there were sure to be surprises and stressful moments, they would be thrilled with the outcome.

“Given their high-stress professional environment, the homeowners assured us that they were prepared to handle whatever bumps we might run into,” Powers says. “Not even four hours later, when the original cabinets were removed during the very first part of demo, a stream of water started spurting into the kitchen. The homeowners and our team were running around to turn the main water valve off for the building. Of course, it took a minute for us to figure out where the water was coming from.

“One of the original cabinets had been nailed to a water pipe behind the kitchen wall. For something like 20 years, the nail had been preventing a leak but when we pulled the nail out, water went everywhere. Suddenly the homeowners realized there really could be surprises. We always include a line item in our budgets that we call ‘Oh Snap, I Hadn’t Thought of That,’ for unexpected things like this.”

Splurges and savings: The homeowners saved by keeping the existing floor and range. They splurged on moving around plumbing and electrical to make the layout more efficient for two people to work at the same time. They also splurged on the wall-mounted faucet and 36-inch white granite sink.

Also on the team: Michal Wisniewski and team, MWW Painting (contractor); Tom Waclawski, Illinois Granite & Marble (countertops); Tomasz Warek, XL Visions (photographer)

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Refrigerator: Artistry 20.3-cubic-foot bottom freezer in white, GE; hardware: Lexa series, Jeffrey Alexander

2. Open and Upbeat

Designer: April Case Underwood and Elena Eskandari of Case Design/Remodeling
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Size: About 136 square feet (12.6 square meters); 12 feet by 11 feet, 3 inches (3.6 by 3.4 meters)

Homeowners’ request: Open the kitchen to the dining and living room spaces. Update all of the materials.

Special features: Floating shelves made from reclaimed railroad materials. Textured lower cabinets with glossy upper cabinets. Polished quartz countertops. Porcelain floors.

Upper cabinets: Current line, Crystal Cabinetry; lower cabinets: Shiloh line, WW Wood Products

Why the design works: Prior to the remodel, the kitchen was essentially closed off to the rest of the home. The new open concept allows the homeowners to better interact with family and friends. “I think the grouping of materials the client selected with us are unique, definitely not cookie cutter, and these make the space really interesting,” designer April Case says.

Who uses it: A young professional couple in their 30s — she works at the Smithsonian; he works at the Environmental Protection Agency

Designer secret: “I think in general the perfect combination of the various materials, from smooth and glossy to rough and textured, is simple but interesting, and shows beautifully,” Case says.

Countertops: 3-centimeter Bianco Drift Caesarstone in polished finish, Norwood Marble & Granite; backsplash tile: 3-by-6-inch Roca matte ceramic in Tender Gray, Mosaic Tile Co.; floor tile: 8-by-32-inch Bianco Epokal matte porcelain, Mosaic Tile Co.; sink: Proflo undermount PFUC907, Ferguson Enterprises; faucet and soap dispenser: Blanco Alto single-lever pullout in chrome and truffle finish, Ferguson Enterprises

3. Glorious Galley

Designer: Wanda Ely
Location: Toronto
Size: 140 square feet (13 square meters); about 14 by 10 feet (4.2 by 3 meters)

Homeowners’ request: Bring in more natural light and create a more efficient layout in a dark, poorly insulated kitchen that felt closed-off from the living areas and the backyard.

Special feature: A bold black basalt backsplash that folds up onto the ceiling.

Cabinets: Ikea; countertops: Caesarstone; tile: basalt, Ciot; rear window and door: Alumilex; wine storage, shelving and wood screens: custom-designed by Wanda Ely Architect, fabricated by Bellsmith Carpentry and Renovation

Why the design works: Removing a rear addition opened the space and brought in more light. The backsplash helps delineate the kitchen within an open-concept floor plan. Providing a sense of partial enclosure with the black tile makes the kitchen feel larger than it is, as the tile contrasts the bright white walls elsewhere in the home. Three walnut boxes hung on the tile provide easily accessible space for storing frequently used items in the kitchen, while keeping the countertops clutter-free for food preparation.

Who uses it: A photo-based artist on the faculty of fine arts at York University and a medical anthropologist, and their two children.

Designer secret: “Finding ways to use an Ikea kitchen with carefully considered custom portions allowed us to use the basic components and transform them into a kitchen that appears bold, unique and tailored to the family,” architect Wanda Ely says. “In particular, the angled wine storage unit at the end of the island makes a statement in the home and relates to angles elsewhere in the project, including the bold black basalt tile.”

“Uh-oh” moment: “Because of the density of housing in downtown Toronto and a lack of [lane] access for this particular property, one issue that was an ongoing headache for the general contractor throughout the construction process was the requirement to bring everything in and out of the house through the front door,” Ely says.

“This complex site condition boiled to the surface when the huge rear window and door was ordered. We realized that it would either have to be brought into the back through someone else’s property, or would have to be lifted with a crane over the entire house from the street. Luckily, a neighbor granted permission for the window to be delivered over their property, avoiding the huge expense of craning the window into the landlocked backyard.”

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Also on the team: Bellsmith Carpentry and Renovation (general contractor)