#MyBLANCOUNIT – How to Maximize Space & Style in a Small Kitchen
Explore NYC Lifestyle Influencer Patrick Janelle’s Compact Kitchen Renovation and his Custom BLANCO UNIT
Making a Manhattan loft my own
During the height of the pandemic, I moved into a large, floor-through Manhattan loft with great bones. The space is open format, with large windows in the front that open onto a fire escape that I use as a balcony in the summer. The ceiling, at 11-feet tall, is hung with a long sheet of pressed tin that runs the length of the apartment, and the solid white oak floors–even if not exactly level—make for a sturdy foundation that brightens the entire space.
When I first moved in though, it was the kitchen that was in dire need of a redo. At one point during the apartment’s history, a tenant had erected a DIY island and set of cabinets out of black-painted plywood—a sort of oversized all-in-one kitchen—that was much too large for the narrow space they inhabit. The sink, flecked with old paint, was utilitarian, and the kitchen floor was covered in oversized, rust-colored tiles. I was excited to roll up my sleeves, ditch everything—including the kitchen sink—and get started making my dream kitchen come true.
Designing a beautiful, yet functional kitchen
During my daily Instagram browsing, where I do most of my inspo searching (well, that and Pinterest), I would often stop mid-scroll for kitchens that featured dramatic marble counters and backsplashes. I had recently learned about BAS Stone, a female-owned and operated stoneyard in New York’s Long Island City. After a trip to the BAS warehouse, where I roamed dozens of aisles looking at exotic stone in all striations and colors, I settled on a slab of Arabescato Violet that featured a dramatic, dark streak that cut through one corner. That piece eventually became the focal point of my kitchen.
Then it was time to find a kitchen sink, faucet and accessories that would complement the drama of the stone, while also bringing about more function for this critical living space. When it came to looking for a kitchen sink that was up to the job, I had three criteria in mind: maximizing my space, increasing functionality and making a classic but beautiful statement, which is how I arrived at selecting a BLANCO UNIT for my water space. With hundreds of combinations of sinks, faucets and accessories to customize, creating a BLANCO UNIT would allow me to maintain the style of my kitchen while also selecting a full water space system that felt harmonious.
#MyBLANCOUNIT selects
While BLANCO makes gorgeous modern farmhouse sinks, it didn’t take me long to land on the PRECIS 24 SILGRANIT sink in White that would sit within the beautiful marble and serve as the focal point of this area. While a black sink would have matched the dark oak veneer of my cabinets, I wanted something that blended harmoniously with my Arabescato.
The size feels like those old workstation sinks: surprisingly deep and spacious, and I instantly fell in love with the smooth, matte texture of the white Silgranit. Not only does it feel great, but its non-porous, smooth-stone surface is extremely durable and cleans in a snap.
I love that BLANCO’s Silgranit sinks comes in a variety of silhouettes and nature-inspired colors, allowing anyone the flexibility to maintain the personal style of their home while getting a high-performance sink for your space.
When it comes to ease-of-use, I was sold on BLANCO’s kitchen sink accessories to help boost the sink’s functionality. The stainless steel Bottom Sink Grid sits inside the sink and protects the surface when I toss dishes and silverware in during the middle of meal prep.
The drain cover or CapFlow is maybe my best kept secret: it covers the drain basket so as food and scraps get caught, they stay out of sight until I’m finished cleaning up and can empty the basket at the end of the meal.
Lastly, I can’t forget the gorgeous Polished Nickel EMPRESSA High Arc Faucet. This statement piece is as beautiful as it is functional—with a pull-down, insulated handspray for washing those food scraps under the drain cover—it was the finishing touch on the new kitchen of my dreams.
For those similarly looking to upgrade a smaller kitchen space yet make a big impact, a BLANCO UNIT could be the best solution for your design and function needs. The endless combinations of a BLANCO UNIT make it easy to find sizes that work for you and are the perfect complement to your unique design style. Explore the rest of my apartment renovation and follow along on Instagram.
ABOUT BLANCO
For over 95 years, BLANCO has served as passionate kitchen experts delivering premium products backed by industry-leading German engineering. Our niche is transforming how you use the water zone with the BLANCO UNIT, the seamless integration of our sinks, faucets, accessories and organization systems into one smart solution. Everything you need to drink, prep and clean is all in one place.
We are utterly obsessed with improving the heart of the home and want to impart our decades of residential kitchen knowledge to those embarking on their kitchen reno journey or considering an upgrade. Discover more valuable insight in our Ultimate Kitchen Remodel Guide.
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