My goal for this project was to create a modern, minimalist kitchen that isn’t cold or
industrial. The original kitchen was very dark and enclosed, so the first step to
enhancing this kitchen was to open it up and create a sense of light and space in the
room. By raising the soffit, removing the built-in cabinets, and changing the position of
the ovens, microwave, and refrigerator, I was able to create a better layout that
maximizes every inch of the kitchen as useful space. I removed the divider wall, tripling
the size of the opening from the dining room to the kitchen, and I added natural clear
Alder cabinets. My client envisioned a kitchen with two-toned cabinets, so I paired the
locally crafted Alder with grey upper cabinets and grey Shaker style cabinets on the
island to make it stand out more. I also added wood-look LVT for a stylish yet highly
durable kitchen floor. The countertops are Della Terra quartz with a matte finish for a
more natural feeling texture that cuts down on glare, and I paired the counters with a
grey porcelain subway tile backsplash for easy-cleaning. A unique feature of this kitchen
is that the outlets are barely visible, as I hid them underneath the cabinets. I added
under-cabinet lighting, and converted the kitchen lights to LED, aside from the Edison
lightbulbs in the hanging pendants. The biggest challenge for this project was devising a
way to heat and cool the kitchen while working with minimal structural elements.
However, by moving the HVAC above the refrigerator the kitchen now has more cooling
than it did previously, while having a more modern aesthetic. With natural lighting and
abundant storage options, this kitchen is now bright, clean, and de-cluttered.