Caroline Hwang and Joel Speasmaker knew the moment they stepped inside their new Pasadena home that the existing kitchen was not going to cut it. “It was too boxed in,” recalls Caroline. “It was what some people call a one-butt kitchen.” Meaning: no counter space and just enough room for one person to maneuver at a time. The room was also plopped in the middle of the plan between the living and dining areas, with peekaboo windows on three walls that did little to connect the spaces.

Both Caroline and Joel like to cook—for their family of three, or friends and family—and in Caroline’s case, it’s a longtime passion. Joel, a graphic designer, is currently into making pasta, while Caroline, a food and beverage stylist who started as a line and prep cook in NYC kitchens, is “always in the kitchen doing something,” she says. “Food and cooking are very important to me.”

Before: Kitchen

In 2021, shortly after moving in, the couple called their friend, architect Brad Engelsman, who founded the New York firm Beda. They wanted to make the kitchen more of a centerpiece in their new home, so Engelsman flew out to survey the space in person, take measurements, and discuss their ideas.

They decided to enlarge the kitchen and improve its functionality while keeping the sink in situ to save on expensive plumbing relocation costs. “How do you design a kitchen that’s also a workshop?” says Engelsman. “That’s how we started, figuring out how to bridge the dining and living room with a kitchen workspace that unites all three.”

After: Kitchen

The challenge involved working within the home’s existing footprint, as zoning rules did not permit additions. In the kitchen, Engelsman painted the ceiling and enlarged the interior wall opening to connect the space with the dining room while maintaining structural support.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

In the dining room, Engelsman replaced the windows and door with glazing and installed a long, built-in banquette. Now, the couple can stand at the sink and easily converse with nearby diners, with a view straight out to the backyard.

Engelsman borrowed space from the adjacent garage for a much-needed pantry and a nook that sets the refrigerator flush with the interior wall. The layout provides more clearance for the main walkway, and space for a generously sized island in the middle of the room.

A new skylight brings in sunshine, and storage abounds—from the island cubbies and cabinets to the floating shelves on the stove wall, which display thrifted ceramics and handmade pieces by Phill Kim and Caroline’s own line, Sohn Maht.

Having known the couple for so many years and seen their previous homes, Engelsman says: “They have a lot of cool stuff…so it was about finding these little moments, like the corners of the island or the small wood shelves to display those things.”

The couple differed a bit in their aesthetic leanings, with Joel gravitating toward minimal lines and no clutter, and Caroline checking out the trends. “One of the biggest discrepancies we had was, like, [Joel] didn’t want any terrazzo in our house,” says Caroline. “I leaned more toward having a little fun, and he definitely wanted to keep a minimal look to everything.”

The elements they eventually agreed on—like the handmade backsplash tile on the stove wall and the custom island inspired by Donald Judd—all come with personal stories. Caroline found the tile on a scouting road trip in Mexico, while the island was inspired by the couple’s trip to Marfa years before.

The custom wood furniture (like the dining room banquette and table by friend and woodworker Felipe Lopez) and built-ins all riff off the island to create consistency between rooms. A den adjacent to the dining room now holds Joel’s extensive vinyl collection and provide a place to watch TV that’s away from the main room.

The project wrapped in 2023 after many Zoom meetings that were mostly fun catch-up sessions between the friends, and the redesign is a far cry from the “box” that was there before. “It is really gratifying just to have the space now,” says Joel. “And it’s something that we made into our own.”

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

Before: Den

After: Den

More Before & After stories:

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Beda / @bedastudio

Builder: Dischman Construction Inc.

Cabinetry: Reform

Custom Millwork: Felipe Lopez

Stylist: Nidia Cueva

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Before & After: They Gave Their Tiny Kitchen a Donald Judd–Inspired Upgrade