Sustainable Interior Design
Sustainable Kitchen Design
New York, NY
Design and Photography: Lili Trenkova
A cool-tone redesign of a generic NYC kitchen, maximizing storage and utilizing sustainable countertops, tiles, cabinets, and Energy Star appliances.
The Design Process
Site Visit, Inspiration, and Goal Setting
The starting point was a generic NYC kitchen design: golden oak cabinets, laminate countertop, old appliances, and (of course) insufficient storage.
A few years into living at the apartment, the clients had already completed renovating the living areas and were saving the most impactful redesign for last. As avid cooks and environmentalists, their top priorities were optimizing storage, and using as many sustainable features as possible.
Having already done some research into materials, the clients even had a sample of an IceStone countertop. While we eventually veered off the color scheme of the sample, it served us well in the process of determining the color palette.
Design
The design process was thorough and collaborative. We did not relocate any plumbing or major electrical, so the general layout stayed the same. We went through two rounds of revisions regarding finishes, arriving at a soothing, cool-tone palette.
The final design deliverable included:
- a design intent document with sketches, dimensioned drawings, and finish specification
- a list of specifications for all finishes, including cabinets
- a list of specifications for all new appliances (all Energy Star rated)
- coordination with suppliers and client’s contractor.
The End Result
The fully transformed space went above and beyond the client’s initial requests. We nearly doubled the storage by:
- using taller upper cabinets that extended to the ceiling
- adding more lower cabinets to the left of the sink
- replacing the existing pantry with wider cabinets that wrap over the refrigerator
The sustainability features in the space are:
- Energy Star appliances (which noticeably reduced the client’s electrical bill even just one month after the renovation)
- Recycled glass countertop
- Climate-Neutral certified floor and backsplash tile
- Recycled PET bottle foil laminated cabinets
- LED ceiling and under-cabinet light fixtures
The client was elated with the end result. Not only do they now have a better-functioning kitchen, they have also increased the value of their property. Sustainable design is always a smart investment for both the present and the future.
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