Neutral Modern Kitchen
Our clients found and purchased their dream mid-century abode, knowing the kitchen would need work. It was a snapshot of the wrong design moment — it had been remodeled in the Frasurbane style of the late ’90s and early 2000s. Its palette was a relic of dial-up days and Y2K anxieties. It clashed with natural light, refracting a dated orangey haze throughout the space. The cooktop and hood, along with a towering backsplash, stifled the island’s convivial essence, while an extraneous perimeter peninsula acted more as a barricade than a bridge, segmenting the kitchen into a limited role.
Our goal: design a transitional kitchen with modern flair — a functional space for present-day living and entertaining that harmonizes with the home’s mid-century essence.
The objectives were:
Redesign layout for better functionality
Remove multiple levels on island and move range out of island
Create ample seating at island
Bar area for entertaining
Design challenges:
Relocating hood ventilation
Existing corner sink/peninsula limited design possibilities
Existing two-tiered island with rangetop/oven limited design possibilities
Incorporating existing wine cooler
Improving bar area while allowing it to feel like a separate space
Upgrading overall kitchen aesthetic in balance with the rest of the home
Design solutions:
Airflow retooling: We engineered a new ventilation pathway for the hood, optimizing airflow and aesthetic integration
New configuration: We eliminated the peninsula and moved the sink to the island
New zones: We moved the cooking function to the perimeter and improved island seating and space functionality by eliminating the upper tier
New cold zone: We moved the refrigerator to the opposite wall, creating a cold storage area with the wine cooler
New wet bar: We created a new wet bar with different style cabinetry/top
Mid-century cues: This new design uses fresh, modern neutral colors and a few Bauhaus-ish elements (boxy non-ornate cabinets and hood, concrete-looking porcelain backsplash) that harmonize nicely with the mid-century home
Embracing both the home’s mid-century charm and the needs of contemporary living, this kitchen now flourishes as a harmonious space where design and functionality converge gracefully.