Waste Not, Want Not

Written by Carla Jordan • Styled by Ingrid Leess
Photographed by Evan Joseph

"How are we going to do all that?" Not the most inspiring of words, but designer Lois Horan, of Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont, New Hampshire, admits that it's just what she wondered while standing in the tiny kitchen of Gina and Ian Smith's 1920s cottage-style home with their extensive storage wish list in hand. At just 8514 feet, the space was more aptly sized for a walk-in closet than luxe gourmet kitchen with all the organizational bells and whistles. A classic galley, it consisted of two parallel walls of cabinetry and appliances separated by a walkway to an outdated bathroom on one end and an outdoor deck on the other. Over the sink was the room's only window, which directly faced the kitchen doorway, shining light into the adjacent dining room instead of keeping it where it was needed most. Over the years, updates had been limited to faux-wood flooring, paint and stainless appliances. Storage was confined to generic utilitarian cabinets with limited shelving and narrow drawers. With one 3-year-old son (and a second child on the way) and two lively dachshunds, the kitchen was overflowing with everything from sippy cups to dog-food bags. A change was long overdue.

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