Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
April 2007
Indoors Real-Life Rescue

The kitchen in Carolyn and Tom Marieb’s Portland, Oregon house was so small that the couple dubbed it their “Manhattan apartment kitchen.” It didn’t match the gracious style of their 1916 home, and it certainly didn’t provide enough room for a family with energetic 8-year-old triplets and their equally active 10-year-old brother.

The Challenge: The former U-shape layout was claustrophobic, with a peninsula taking up much of the room. Because the Mariebs were concerned about the cost of an addition, architect Brian White suggested they reconfigure the existing space.

The Solution: Two small adjacent areas – an unheated laundry room and a breakfast room – were combined for a 270 square foot floor plan. Removing walls between these spaces (and moving the laundry room upstairs) widened the kitchen and gave it a southern exposure with abundant light.