The kitchen is known as the “heart of the home.” It’s where family and friends gather to make meals and memories. Creating a warm and welcoming kitchen can breathe new life into a home. Just ask Alisa Popelka, Founder and Principal Interior Designer of Alisa Cristine Interiors.
“Home is the foundation of some of life’s most important experiences and memories, and the kitchen is typically a central gathering space where families share more than meals. It’s where they share joys, successes, disappointments and worries,” Alisa says. “I always want to create spaces around the way a family lives to elevate their everyday.”
Alisa recently transformed this kitchen space from dark and dreary to bright and timeless.
The Updates
Alisa says her clients requested a black-and-white color scheme – otherwise known as a “tuxedo” kitchen.
“Tuxedo kitchens have a timeless appeal and, if done correctly, can be a classic focal point and elevate any home,” she says.
“Using brighter colors on the wall cabinets allows additional light reflection in the kitchen, which makes it appear more open and spacious, while the dark base cabinets help visually ground the space,” Alisa says. “This high-contrast color palette provides the perfect balance.”
While white kitchens have long been a popular choice, Alisa advises, “Don’t be afraid to go bold! Paint can dramatically change a room, and it’s also one of the easiest and most budget friendly ways to transform a space.”
In addition to changing the color scheme of the kitchen, Alisa extended the wall cabinets to the ceiling to add visual appeal and storage. She also replaced the countertops, backsplash, lighting, hardware and flooring – completely transforming the space without changing the layout.
“The intention was to design my clients’ dream kitchen while keeping the existing footprint of the space to help balance the overall budget,” Alisa says. “Creating a more functional kitchen design was also key by incorporating better and more useful storage solutions.”
Before Vs. After
Feature 1: Existing dark cabinets were replaced with new cabinets in a tuxedo color pattern. Upper cabinets were extended to the ceiling.
Feature 2: The microwave above the stove was replaced with a stunning, wood-trimmed range hood, adding warmth and texture to the space.
Feature 3: New porcelain tile in a herringbone pattern replace the old ceramic tile floors.
Feature 4: New recycled glass pendant lights over the kitchen island balance the space and don’t compete with the range hood focal point.
Feature 5: New white marble-look quartz and polished ceramic tile backsplash brighten and update the kitchen.
Feature 6: New classic brushed nickel hardware is durable and timeless.
Feature 7: Accessories, like a red wool runner, a bowl of oranges and fresh greenery bring a pop of color to the neutral color palette.