about the room

With considerable experience remodeling D.C. condos, this project was a natural for Debby Saling.

The sink and cooking range were in the right place, but the refrigerator needed to move -- a fairly simple change that only requires an outlet and water line installation. By moving the refrigerator to the other end of the kitchen, the view now shows two glass cabinets. Saling selected a clean, flat natural birch door and drawer front to keep the area light and compliment the stainless steel appliances.

Meantime, Saling noticed that the raised area around the sink had become a dumping ground for junk. Since White is a single-mother-turned-empty-nester, Saling decided it was time for her to invite friends over for good food and conversation. To facilitate this, the area around the sink was lowered to allow for seating, eating and use as a buffet while creating more counter space for preparing meals.

There's a base cabinet to the left of the sink that could easily be exchanged for a dishwasher. (Most singles in small condos are more concerned with storage than a dishwasher, according to Saling, who recommends an 18-inch unit if a dishwasher is selected.) To the right of the sink is a pull-out trash unit.

For lighting, Saling suggests removing the recessed light from the ceiling and replacing it with several small, low-voltage "hockey puck" recessed lights. To light the sink area, she recommends using two wall sconces on the side wall by the pantry. Using flooring consistent with the rest of the condo can make a small room look larger than it is.

By using a slide-in range with no backguard, says Saling, White can use decorative tile for the backsplash between the countertop and the bottom of her wall cabinets. Saling also suggested trying color -- perhaps a shade of green, a neutral color that adds character -- on the granite countertops. A single stainless under-mount sink with a decorative faucet completes the scene.

Depending on a number of variables such as the designer, products and timeframe, says Saling, a condo renovation such as this can range from $50,000 to $80,000.

audio from the designer

Kitchen Designer Debby Saling discusses how going with a contemporary look can open up a small room.

Editor: Andrea N. Browne / washingtonpost.com

chat with the designer

Debby Saling of D.G. Liu Contractors discusses her design concept and answers your decorating questions. Read the transcript.