Kitchens of between 150 and 250 square feet hit a sweet spot — spacious enough for cooking and entertaining yet compact enough to eliminate wasted space. These midsize layouts maximize storage, streamline workflow and keep everything within reach. In these before-and-after projects, see how design and build experts helped homeowners transform their kitchens into organized, accessible and highly functional spaces.
1. Thoughtful Layout With Green Cabinets
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Wakefield, Massachusetts
Size: 159 square feet (15 square meters), plus a mudroom and bar area of 231 square feet (21 square meters)
Designer: Amanda Colosi Johnson of McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath
Before: This Wakefield, Massachusetts, family of five had grown weary of its U-shaped kitchen and its dark brown and cottage green cabinetry, vinyl tile flooring and standard appliances. A large refrigerator jutted awkwardly from the cabinetry, while a peninsula with two backless stools and hard-to-reach drawers separated the kitchen from the adjoining bar and mudroom.