Modernizing the kitchen at a #dwelloctoberstudio mid-century modern fixer-upper

#dwelloctoberstudio
Written By Elizabeth Fair

The original kitchen at this mid-century modern fixer-upper had a great layout, but was in dire need of a refresh. Our goal was to honor the original design, while breathing new life into this tired kitchen.

Before photo of the kitchen

Before photo of the kitchen layout

Inspired by the original cabinets, we opted for woodtone slab cabinets. We kept the original layout around the perimeter, but swapped out the upper cabinets along the sink wall for a tall appliance garage and open shelving. Floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets flank the refrigerator on the adjacent wall. We also added a small coffee bar in a corner that had previously been occupied by a china cabinet. For cabinet hardware, we chose sleek black edge pulls for the drawers and modern cone-shaped knobs for the doors. Simple white quartz counters provided a bit of contrast and brightened up the space. For the backsplash, we chose a bold terrazzo-inspired porcelain tile that had flecks of the brown, white, and black tones found in the cabinets.

After photo of the kitchen

Two design challenges presented themselves when reworking this space. The first was the flooring. The original hardwood floor found throughout the rest of the house did not carry through to this space. We were wary of extending the hardwood floors into the kitchen as the light wood tone would compete with the warm tone of the cabinets. So instead, we chose to pour a gray epoxy to serve as the floor in both the kitchen and adjacent sunroom.

The second challenge involved the interior window positioned over the sink. Interior windows and cutouts in kitchens can have a tendency to look dated, but we didn't want to sacrifice the beautiful natural light streaming in through the sunroom windows. We decided to remove the interior window, but keep the opening, finishing the edges with plaster for a clean look.

The original kitchen featured a cute retro banquette designed for casual dining. As the original was beyond repair, we swapped it out for a modern floating version with custom-made rust colored corduroy cushions. A custom-built pedestal dining table with a fluted base fits in the space perfectly, while an arched brass chandelier serves as both overhead lighting and artwork.

Before photo of the banquette

After photo of the banquette

When we first saw the house, we knew the sunroom had so much potential, but it felt like a dark and dingy porch that no one ever used. Vaulting the ceiling had a dramatic impact and made this space feel so much larger. We also replaced the windows with a combination of casement and picture windows. We loved the horizontal detailing of the original windows, but had to balance budget and functionality. This combination fit the bill and matched the modern black windows added throughout the rest of the house. This room transformed from a forgotten corner into the best spot in the house to sit and relax!

Before photo of the sunroom

Elizabeth Fair
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A divided entry at a #dwelloctoberstudio mid-century modern fixer-upper