“Don’t mess with a good thing.”It's a mantra savvy homeowners stick to. So when Bob Calvert and Mary Rydell sought to renovate their cottage kitchen, they knew exactly who to consult.
"There was no question that JohnCookKitchens would do it," says Calvert. Shelley Tanner, company president Mark Olson and the team at John Cook had already done one successful kitchen renovation at the couple's previous home. They were looking forward to rekindling the partnership.

Measuring just 140 square feet, the space was small, but mighty, and full of history. Some of its most defining features were still intact, including crown molding and narrow tongue-and-groove paneling, reminiscent of  1930s bungalow style.

In keeping with the original look of the home, the couple opted to salvage the paneling and molding on the ceiling. In places where old wall cabinets were removed, Tanner’s team matched and patched the molding and added a fresh coat of paint.

They kept the existing Australian mahogany wood flooring for the new design as well. But the appliances and cabinetry had to go. “It had one of those apartment stoves,” says Calvert. “It was so small you couldn’t even get a Safeway pizza in there.” Additionally, the cabinetry was falling apart and the sink and refrigerator were outdated.

To add more storage, JohnCookKitchens enclosed a protruding bumpout, created by a built-in display niche in the adjacent living room, with plywood. Now, sienna-color cabinetry and a full-height granite backsplash hide the bumpout completely, while the new countertop, refrigerator, microwave, vent hood and range wrap around the L-shaped structure.

On the opposite wall, Tanner incorporated a large pantry and a built-in dining table. The nook seats three people and boasts a view of downtown Honolulu. Two hand-blown, trumpet-style pendant lights in coral illuminate the dining area.

On the third wall, Tanner designed a sink area just under an existing window. Calvert, the family cook, loves to take in the view of the yard while prepping.  “There’s a beautiful orange hibiscus plant right outside that window,” he says. Below, more sea-foam green granite countertops cap off additional cabinetry and an 18" stainless-steel dishwasher. Smaller than average, this one suits the couple just fine.

Ask Tanner what her favorite part of this kitchen is, and she’s hard-pressed to pick one feature. “It’s just a tiny little kitchen, yet it has all of these functional, cool little areas,” she says.

Calvert is happy too. He says, “it’s the most convenient kitchen I’ve ever cooked in.”