Sandy Springs kitchen gets a total makeover

There isn’t much elbow room in Anita Beyer’s two-story duplex. With about 1,400 square feet, it’s compact, with a living room, dining room, powder room and kitchen downstairs and two bedrooms and baths up.

But after living in the Sandy Springs unit for more than 13 years, the kitchen was making her crazy. It’s a tight fit, with a French door, an L-shaped work counter and just enough space for a table and two chairs.

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Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com

Anita Beyer gave the small kitchen in her Sandy Springs duplex a total makeover. Now it seems larger because she uses the space more efficiently.

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Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com

Custom designed cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and pull-out drawers were part of the facelift.

Beyer, an interior decorator, drew on years of reconfiguring other people’s rooms to come up with an efficient design with several surprising elements.

“I left only the walls and the ceiling,” she said. “Even the floor had to go — it was a horrible linoleum.”

Last April, Beyer finished the kitchen makeover that included a new floor of big-block, beige porcelain tile that resembles natural stone. Around the stainless steel appliances and black granite counters are white cabinets she custom designed for the small area. Mixed in with the raised panels are three sets of lattice-work doors back-lit to reveal the teapots or platters on display inside. All of the drawers close softly and are outfitted with rubbed bronze hardware.

But look closely: That skinny cabinet next to the fridge — a hidden broom closet. The narrow panel slides out to reveal hooks for mops, brooms, a step stool and cleaning items.

“With such limited space, I had to find a place for my brooms,” Beyer said. “And there was this empty space next to the fridge that was perfect for a cabinet.”

Another surprise is hidden in the corner cabinet. The double-drawer shelf pulls out and moves completely to the left, providing access to another double drawer that slides back into that dead space of the corner when not in use. “I can use the space all the way to the back, and I don’t have to dig for what I want,” she said.

Those hard-to-reach cabinets above the refrigerator were turned into useable space as well. Beyer added double pullout drawers to each cabinet and filled them with items she can stretch to reach easily.

There’s little room for seating, so Beyer added a built-in, red-cushioned bench along one wall. The two seats eliminated the need for more chairs at the glass-topped table. But the bench isn’t just a place to recline: it’s a well-disguised storage container. From the side, a knob pulls out a deep drawer where Beyer has stashed some of her deep pots and serving pieces. Below that drawer is a skinny one that slides out to reveal a bevy of flat serving platters and trays.

Even the mini-blinds on the French doors don’t take up added space. They’re built into the glass panes of the doors. Control knobs let Beyer open, close, raise and lower the slats inside. She made room for a wine rack by putting it over the sink

Beyer also saved money on the makeover by recruiting her father to help her install the under-the-counter lighting, dimmer switches and round fluorescent light overhead.

“My goal was to use every bit of space,” said Beyer. “And I did.”

• Photos: See more of this kitchen

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