The Updated Traditional Kitchen

When Caroline and Andy Roeser purchased their Houston home, it was done with a love of the neighborhood and a lot of vision. Its windowless galley kitchen felt cold and dated, so the couple wasted no time renovating it to become a sunny, open space. Tour how they made the transformation.

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Pops of ColorPatterned fabrics in a vibrant ginger red enliven the white palette (and also coordinate with the Wolf range's knobs!), while two large-scale lanterns in a verdigris finish grab attention over the island.

Scene-Stealer Accent
Because of the hood's central location in the kitchen, Allison and Erika wanted it to be a focal point. The cabinetmaker built the handsome white wood hood, adding custom metal straps.

Functional Layout
A new U-shaped plan allowed the appliances to be repositioned, with the refrigerator now on an end wall. Newly added windows flanking the range flood the room with natural light.

Double-Duty Island
The room's size didn't allow for a freestanding dining table. A lower, custom-built extension of the island in a dark natural wood provides the ideal solution.

Tucked-Away Storage
Open shelves keep cookbooks handy at one end of the island, while the microwave is housed at the other.

Timeless Materials
White cabinets, polished nickel hardware, a subway tile backsplash, and honed-marble countertops with curved ogee edges all give the kitchen an upscale look that won't become dated.

Efficient Pantry
A walk-through butler's pantry now connects the kitchen and dining room, offering glassware storage, a wine refrigerator, a dishwasher drawer, and enough counterspace for staging during parties.

Combined Function & Style
With its dark wood finish and tapered legs, the built-in desk mimics the island's table and looks like furniture.