SELF-CONTAINED

A YOUNG FAMILY IN MELROSE SACRIFICES A CLOSET AND WALK-IN PANTRY TO CREATE A COZY KITCHEN WHERE THEY CAN COOK, GATHER, AND EAT.

- Marni Elyse Katz

HAVING GROWN UP IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA, respectively, Jenni and T.J. Fanning were used to homes with expansive interiors. That said, historical New England houses really appeal to them.

When they moved out of Boston for more space for their young family, they chose a shingled, side-entrance Colonial in Melrose built in the early-to-mid 1900s. "We enjoy the charm and flow of a house with walls," Jenni says.

The kitchen, however, was a bit too charming, so to speak. The bulky, painted wood cabinets, Formica countertops, vinyl flooring, and floral wallpaper hadn't been touched in decades. (The old-timey ironing board cupboard was endearing but didn't make the cut.) The layout was also less than ideal, with the range stuck on a wall by itself and the fridge shoved in the walk-in pantry next to it.

When the Fannings moved in, they relocated the fridge to solve another problem. "Without anything on either side of the stove, we were afraid that the kids would reach up and try to grab things while we were cooking," T.J. explains. "Putting the fridge next to the stove provided a barrier on one side of it and freed up the pantry."