Before + After: Fells Kitchen

This Fells Point Kitchen gets the makeover it deserves.

There is something deeply romantic about a Baltimore row house — the intimacy, the history, the sense that life unfolds in layers rather than in open expanses. When our clients, a young, newly married, professional couple moved into their Castle Street home from Chicago, they weren’t looking for something flashy or trend-driven. They wanted warmth. A kitchen that felt rooted. A space that felt personal and quietly classic.

This 1900 row house had seen a renovation before the turn of this century (weird, right?) and the layout was functional but disconnected and very 90's—1990's. Builder-grade cabinetry, cool finishes, and an indirect relationship to the backyard left the kitchen feeling more transitional than intentional. The side entry disrupted cabinetry flow, and the powder room footprint and the tall cabinets at the kitchen entry from the living room limited how open the kitchen could feel. Together, with my contractor partner Victor Sanchez at The Boxwood Company, we saw what could be and created what should be.

The Before

Rather than expanding the home physically, the design focused on rethinking movement. One of the most transformative decisions was relocating the exterior door from the side wall to the back of the kitchen, creating a direct and intuitive connection to the small backyard — what we lovingly call a “postage stamp” yard. This shift brought natural light deeper into the space and immediately made the kitchen feel more generous.

The After

To support this move, the powder room was carefully reconfigured and we added a pocket door for maximum efficiency— politely taking up less space in layout while still embracing personality and charm. By tightening the footprint, we were able to widen the kitchen opening and create better sight lines, allowing the home to feel more cohesive without sacrificing function. The powder room, in turn, became a jewel box moment rather than simply a necessity.

From there, the design leaned into quiet permanence. A galley kitchen with cabinetry running along both sides maximizes storage and creates rhythm within the narrow footprint. Stone cabinetry, new warm stained hardwood flooring, creamy handmade tile, delicious unlacquered brass, and aged wood accents introduce an Old World softness that feels collected rather than installed. My client requested a Dutch door to prevent her cat from escaping, and I love that little hit of whimsy that feels right for the age of the house.

The powder room offers a tonal counterpoint — saturated, intimate, and layered with heritage-inspired wallpaper, painted millwork, and warm brass details that feel both timeless and unexpected. Nothing feels overly polished or overly new. Instead, the home now carries a sense of evolution — as if these choices have always been part of the house’s story.

The result is a kitchen and adjoining spaces that reflect their owners perfectly: busy, thoughtful, and drawn to spaces that feel calm, grounded, and quietly beautiful. A small footprint that now holds far more than function — it holds ritual, connection, and the quiet luxury of everyday living.

Juniper House is a full service interior design studio helping clients realize their best life begins at home. If you have a project you'd like to discuss, tell us more here.