Steal This Look: A Remodelista’s Minimalist Galley Kitchen in Brooklyn Heights

When my husband, Josh, and I moved to Brooklyn Heights a few years ago, we were lucky enough to find a parlor floor flat that hadn’t been updated for a couple of decades, so it was a blank slate. The kitchen in particular needed work, so we called on our friend Malachi Connolly, a New York/Cape Cod-based architect, preservationist, and longtime board member of the Cape Cod Modern House Trust to oversee the renovation. Here’s how to get the look:

Photography by Matthew Williams, with styling by Alexa Hotz, for Remodelista.

Above: My inspiration for the kitchen was English couturier Anna Valentine’s London apartment, which we featured on Remodelista a couple of years ago (see Kitchen of the Week: A Culinary Space Inspired by a Painting). Above: We turned to Brooklyn-based Jeremy Pickett of Pickett Furniture (one of our earliest Remodelista advertisers, back in the late aughts) for the minimally detailed cabinets. The countertops are Carrara marble. (For countertop guidance, see our post Remodeling 101: The Difference Between Carrara, Calacatta, and Statuary Marble.) A repurposed florist vase holds stalks of garlic from the farmer’s market (I was inspired by David Tanis’ kitchen storage ideas). Above: I dithered on the kitchen pendant decision, so as a placeholder, we went with hardware store porcelain fixtures and decorative oversized Nostalgic Collection lightbulbs from Bulbrite, discovered at John Derian’s West Village shop. Above: The wall-mounted Chicago Kitchen Faucet with articulated spout is a model we’ve used before; it’s well priced, American made, and incredibly durable. We installed a dowel in the cabinet above the sink to hold paper towels. (See Aha! Hack: Tension Rod as Paper Towel Holder.) Above: We tucked a stacked Bosch washer/dryer behind a full-height door; instant laundry room. Above: We chose a Bertazzoni PRO304GASX Range for its good looks and relatively slim profile (compared to a Wolf or a Viking).

Appliances

Above: We scored our SubZero on Craigslist (price: $2,000). A new Sub-Zero BI-36U 36-Inch Built-In Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator is $13,700. (See 10 Easy Pieces: Best 36-Inch Counter-Depth Refrigerators.) Above: Our Bertazzoni 30-inch gas range model (pictured) is discontinued; its newer version, the Bertazzoni Professional Series 30-Inch Counter-Depth Gas Range, is $5,139 at AJ Madison. Above: The Bosch 300 Series Compact Condensation Dryer and Washer are each $1,349. (See 10 Easy Pieces: Stackable Washer/Dryers.) Above: Our espresso machine is currently out of stock, but you can buy refurbished Pasquini Livia 90 MN Espresso Machines online.

Fixtures

Above: The Chicago Faucets Wall-Mounted Adjustable Center Kitchen Faucet has an articulated spout, is well-priced, well-engineered, and offers a classic lab aesthetic; $265.82 at Consumers Plumbing. For more ideas, see 10 Easy Pieces: Wall-Mounted Industrial Faucets. Above: The Bulbrite Vintage Ceiling Pendant Light Bulb ($37.26 from Nostalgic Bulbs) adds a note of drama. Above: A Remodelista favorite for its budget price and classic looks, Leviton’s Porcelain 600-Watt 250-Volt White Outlet Box Lampholder from Home Depot is just $2.68.(See Object Lessons: The Hardware Store Porcelain Light Socket.)

Accessories

Above: Noda Horo’s White Series Enamel Nestable Meal Prep Baking Trays come in multiple sizes; from $8 at Globalkitchen Japan. Above: The Riess Enamel Measuring Cup is £46.90 at Manufactum. (See our post on Riess Enamel Accessories at Ancient Industries.) Above: The AGA Hard Anodized Kettle, made in the UK, is £170 at AGA Cookshop. (See 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Teakettles.) Above: We use a Ben Wolff flower pot to hold our wooden utensils. This #6 Flower Pot in Light Brown/Beige Clay is nearly 8 inches tall and similar to ours; $60. Above: Borosil’s Classic Glass Tumblers start at $30 for a set of 6 small tumblers. Above: The David Mellor Birch Plywood Knife Block is $108 at Heath Ceramics. (See The New British Wave: 12 Kitchen and Dining Essentials.) Above: We bought our ceramic canisters from the very first Martha Stewart catalog! These Stoneware Storage Jars from the Freight Store are similar; from £44. Above: I bought our Frisbee Trash Bin, designed by French industrial designer Frédéric Perigot, at ABC Home (it’s also available from Perigot; from €259.

For a full tour, go to Before/After: A Remodelista Editor’s Refreshed Parlor Floor Flat in Brooklyn Heights, NY.

For more Steal This Look stories, see:

• Steal This Look: An Interior Designer’s High/Low Scandi Living Room, Ikea Sofa included
• Steal This Look: A Swedish Bathroom with Retro Pink Tiles
• Steal This Look: A Los Angeles Architect’s Casual but Elegant Kitchen

N.B.: This story first appeared on Feb. 2, 2021 and has been updated.