The Property Brothers help Zach Braff on “Celebrity IOU”

On “Celebrity IOU” Drew and Jonathan Scott reveal the best tricks to make a small kitchen work.

In the Season 8 episode “Zach Braff Masters a Custom Remodel.” Zach Braff wants to help his assistant and dear friend, Markrenovate his new house. Mark bought his house in View Park, California, just six weeks ago – but since he got the keys, many problems have cropped up and he fears the house is a flop.

So Braff asks the Scott brothers to make sure this home is safe and functional for Mark and his family – while also making some upgrades. The kitchen seems to be the biggest eyesore of this home, with an odd layout and limited square footage.

However, since Drew and Jonathan's team cannot remove the kitchen walls to expand it, they have to make do with what they have.

The renovation itself took much longer than expected, stretching out over five to nine weeks. But in the end, the kitchen is transformed. What was once a cramped, impractical space is now a beautiful, functional space that Mark's family will be happy to show off.

Read on to find out how the brothers make a small kitchen seem significantly larger, and learn how to add more functionality to your small space.

Choose a statement table if a kitchen island doesn’t fit

Drew and Jonathan know that a full kitchen island wouldn't fit in this small space, so they decide to salvage an antique table.

Braff and Drew find a beautiful old table with built-in stools, but they want to customize it to Mark's unique style, so they encase the legs in brass and add a sleek travertine countertop. And since it's custom, the brothers suggest rounding the corners of the countertop—a thoughtful detail for this small space.

“It's brilliant because when you walk into the room, you don't want a sharp corner staring at you,” says Braff. “And of course, you don't want the girls running into it and hurting themselves.”

Ultimately, it's a beautiful piece and a great alternative to a kitchen island. The custom table offers storage, seating and personality.

“It’s a topic of conversation,” says Braff across the table.

Let the worktop run all the way to the kitchen back wall for a seamless look

Drew and Jonathan know this kitchen isn't big, but they want it to look that way, so they chose white and gray porcelain countertops and ran them up the walls as a backsplash.

“In a smaller, tighter space like this, the seamless look gives the illusion of more space,” explains Jonathan.

The design actually makes the kitchen feel more open due to the light color and the smooth transition from the countertop to the backsplash. It's a great choice for a modestly sized kitchen.

With built-in appliances, the kitchen appears less crowded

Another method the brothers used to give this small kitchen a clean, seamless look is by installing panel-mounted appliances. While many appliances can make a kitchen feel crowded, these appliances create the illusion of long rows of cabinets on either side of the room, making the space appear larger.

“Everything is integrated – it just looks clean, the aesthetic is minimalist, which is nice,” explains Jonathan.

Differentiate rooms with different floor coverings

Although this kitchen is relatively small, there is a spacious living room right next to it. The brothers are also renovating this living space, adding a bench for dining and changing the flooring.

“We've gone to herringbone down here, Mark,” says Braff. “You know, it's nice to change the bottoms to show the change in the crotch.”

Jonathan adds: “There is something special about this room because it has higher ceilings, lots of space and lots of natural light.”

More personality doesn’t need much space

At the beginning of the project, Braff surprised the Scott brothers with an unusual request: a hidden laundry room behind a bookshelf door.

Braff explains that Mark's laundry is currently in the garage, which is impractical for a family of four with lots of clothes. He's keen to find a place to put the washer and dryer in there. And to make it even more attractive, he suggests adding a bookcase door in front of the appliances to create an interesting hidden element.

The brothers are able to create a space for laundry and fulfill Braff's wish for a bookcase door. Of course, this feature is one of the highlights of the renovation and makes sense in the small space. The stacked cabinet for the washer and dryer doesn't take up much space, while the bookcase is about the thickness of a regular door.

It shows that even in small houses there is plenty of room for fun and personal touches.