Dramatic Midcentury Kitchen Makeover Brings Warmth and Flow
A raised roof and the warmth of wood transform a now open kitchen that celebrates the beauty of the Pacific Northwest
On a hill overlooking Lake Washington, this 1961 midcentury-style home boasted sweeping views but a kitchen that felt dark and disconnected. A closed-off galley layout, standard-height ceilings and a flat roofline left the space cramped and isolated from the living room and an underused dining area.
To create a brighter, more open hub, the empty-nest homeowners turned to designer Kate Savitch and BH Contracting Services. Raising the roofline and removing a wall allowed the kitchen to expand and fill with natural light, while custom walnut cabinetry and warm wood details anchor the space. A glazed green ceramic tile backsplash adds a fresh pop of color, and a new island, bar cabinet and built-in banquette support easy flow and casual entertaining.
To create a brighter, more open hub, the empty-nest homeowners turned to designer Kate Savitch and BH Contracting Services. Raising the roofline and removing a wall allowed the kitchen to expand and fill with natural light, while custom walnut cabinetry and warm wood details anchor the space. A glazed green ceramic tile backsplash adds a fresh pop of color, and a new island, bar cabinet and built-in banquette support easy flow and casual entertaining.
After: Savitch raised and angled the roofline to 12 feet, removed a wall, added structural beams and introduced transom windows that bathe the kitchen and living area in natural light, giving them a bright, airy feel.
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Before: The 144-square-foot galley kitchen was tight and closed off, with basic white cabinets that were falling apart and dark black granite counters that quickly became cluttered. A sink with a stainless steel dishwasher on the right faced an electric cooktop just out of frame on the left, while a small dining nook filled the back. “It was so tight and there was barely any storage,” Savitch says. “There was no flow from their kitchen to their entertaining space outside. The kitchen was also just off the front entry, so you felt like you were walking right from the front door into the kitchen.”
The wall on the left cut the kitchen off from the living room. The unused dining room sat just past the doorway on the left.
The wall on the left cut the kitchen off from the living room. The unused dining room sat just past the doorway on the left.
After: Raising and angling the roof to 12 feet at its highest point and removing the wall between the kitchen and living room added 201 square feet and created an open, light-filled space. “The first thing the clients said was, ‘We need more natural light,’” Savitch says. “Their inspiration was always to somehow raise the roof. It made the most sense to keep the midcentury lines and vault it over the main living area. We basically left half of their house untouched.”
Custom walnut cabinetry, a kiln-dried cedar ceiling, stained fir window trim and wood structural beams bring warmth and anchor the space. “Our inspiration was really Pacific Northwest midcentury,” Savitch says.
The 36-inch induction range now grounds the former dining nook. A custom wood hood with slatted detail houses a powerful fan that keeps smoke and odors from drifting into surrounding areas. “The clients and I went back and forth with the inspiration for the hood,” Savitch says. “We wanted this wall and a wall in the living room with slatted wood detail to work together. We had our contractor build mockups in different sizes and decided on what looked best.”
The backsplash consists of 2½-by-10-inch matte green glazed ceramic tiles set vertically with soft gray grout. “[The homeowners] are Northwesterners through and through, and you can’t think of the Seattle area without thinking about green,” Savitch says. “I just love the way the green feels cohesive with the walnut and a midcentury color scheme.”
A 24-inch microwave drawer sits discreetly in the island. “I didn’t want the microwave visible from the rest of the room,” Savitch says. “It’s functional, but we didn’t want to have to look at it.”
Backsplash tile: Makoto in Midori Green, 2½ by 10 inches, Bedrosians
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Custom walnut cabinetry, a kiln-dried cedar ceiling, stained fir window trim and wood structural beams bring warmth and anchor the space. “Our inspiration was really Pacific Northwest midcentury,” Savitch says.
The 36-inch induction range now grounds the former dining nook. A custom wood hood with slatted detail houses a powerful fan that keeps smoke and odors from drifting into surrounding areas. “The clients and I went back and forth with the inspiration for the hood,” Savitch says. “We wanted this wall and a wall in the living room with slatted wood detail to work together. We had our contractor build mockups in different sizes and decided on what looked best.”
The backsplash consists of 2½-by-10-inch matte green glazed ceramic tiles set vertically with soft gray grout. “[The homeowners] are Northwesterners through and through, and you can’t think of the Seattle area without thinking about green,” Savitch says. “I just love the way the green feels cohesive with the walnut and a midcentury color scheme.”
A 24-inch microwave drawer sits discreetly in the island. “I didn’t want the microwave visible from the rest of the room,” Savitch says. “It’s functional, but we didn’t want to have to look at it.”
Backsplash tile: Makoto in Midori Green, 2½ by 10 inches, Bedrosians
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The expanded footprint made room for an island with seating for three. “They’re big entertainers and wanted a place for people to sit but be out of the way,” Savitch says.
An upgraded stainless steel French door refrigerator lines a partition wall that now separates the kitchen from the front entry (back right). “There was a tight opening right at the entry side of the kitchen before,” Savitch says. “So if you were in the kitchen, you couldn’t really see the rest of the house.”
LED can lights on dimmers in the wood ceiling provide general illumination, complemented by undercabinet LED strips, a wall sconce to the left of the fridge and sconces over the banquette. “You can really create a mood with your lighting,” Savitch says.
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An upgraded stainless steel French door refrigerator lines a partition wall that now separates the kitchen from the front entry (back right). “There was a tight opening right at the entry side of the kitchen before,” Savitch says. “So if you were in the kitchen, you couldn’t really see the rest of the house.”
LED can lights on dimmers in the wood ceiling provide general illumination, complemented by undercabinet LED strips, a wall sconce to the left of the fridge and sconces over the banquette. “You can really create a mood with your lighting,” Savitch says.
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The countertops are engineered quartz with a crisp white background, soft gray veining and a polished finish that mimics Italian marble. “We wanted to keep the warmth of all the wood details but make sure the countertops would be lighter and brighter with veining that captures the wood tones of the walnut cabinets,” Savitch says.
New oversize picture windows frame views of the front yard. A stainless steel sink with a spacious basin pairs with a sleek pull-down faucet. An energy-efficient, quiet stainless dishwasher sits to the right.
Sink: Elkay; faucet: Odin in stainless, Brizo; wall paint: Spare White, Sherwin-Williams
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New oversize picture windows frame views of the front yard. A stainless steel sink with a spacious basin pairs with a sleek pull-down faucet. An energy-efficient, quiet stainless dishwasher sits to the right.
Sink: Elkay; faucet: Odin in stainless, Brizo; wall paint: Spare White, Sherwin-Williams
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A pullout to the left of the range keeps spices organized, while stainless steel canisters corral utensils. “They had an overflowing jar on their countertop with utensils before,” Savitch says.
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A large pantry cabinet to the left of the range has fixed shelves and interior pullouts for easy access. “I wanted something you can easily reach when you’re cooking or prepping on the island,” Savitch says. Additional rollouts in the lower cabinet maximize storage, while the upper double doors conceal seasonal and infrequently used items.
A countertop storage tower to the right of the range functions as a baking center, concealing a stand mixer, toaster and supplies behind bifold doors. “They cook a lot and didn’t want to see anything on their countertops,” Savitch says. “Every inch of their counters were crammed before. Now everything is hidden and they don’t have to look at all the items.”
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A two-tier lazy Susan in the corner cabinet below the baking center makes pots and baking dishes easy to access.
Just off the kitchen, Savitch designed a bespoke bar cabinet that transitions to a new dining nook with a built-in banquette. The custom maple cabinetry is painted a muted organic green with subtle gray undertones (Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams) and has fluted detailing. Dove gray hexagonal ceramic backsplash tiles — faintly visible — provide a soft counterpoint to the green kitchen tile.
“We wanted to make the bar area stand out separate from the kitchen,” Savitch says. “I chose to not only do a paint color instead of the walnut but use these unique tiles that would contrast from the green tiles in the kitchen.”
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“We wanted to make the bar area stand out separate from the kitchen,” Savitch says. “I chose to not only do a paint color instead of the walnut but use these unique tiles that would contrast from the green tiles in the kitchen.”
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In the dining nook, an abstract oil painting titled Canyon by Washington state artist Harry Bonath helped inspire the kitchen’s updated color palette and aesthetic. “We had that before we even had a set of floor plans,” Savitch says.
A custom banquette transforms the once-unused dining room into a stylish spot for family gatherings. The built-in bench features acrylic-backed velvet upholstery in a rich rust hue, with storage drawers below for entertaining supplies and placemats. “I knew it was going to be a focal point in the space but also knew I wanted it to feel cozy and functional and easily accessed,” Savitch says.
The solid wood dining table has a sleek midcentury style, while dark walnut chairs echo the island stools. Open cabinets above coordinate with the bar and provide space for decorative accessories and books. Handcrafted matte black ceramic wall sconces, perforated to let light escape, add a warm, decorative glow.
Table: Kapok elliptical oval pedestal table, Nathan Hunter Design; sconces: Cactus cylinder wall sconce in Carbon, Justice Design Group, Lumens
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A custom banquette transforms the once-unused dining room into a stylish spot for family gatherings. The built-in bench features acrylic-backed velvet upholstery in a rich rust hue, with storage drawers below for entertaining supplies and placemats. “I knew it was going to be a focal point in the space but also knew I wanted it to feel cozy and functional and easily accessed,” Savitch says.
The solid wood dining table has a sleek midcentury style, while dark walnut chairs echo the island stools. Open cabinets above coordinate with the bar and provide space for decorative accessories and books. Handcrafted matte black ceramic wall sconces, perforated to let light escape, add a warm, decorative glow.
Table: Kapok elliptical oval pedestal table, Nathan Hunter Design; sconces: Cactus cylinder wall sconce in Carbon, Justice Design Group, Lumens
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Before: The living room (front) and unused dining room (back) had standard-height ceilings. “It felt so cramped and dark,” Savitch says. “It wasn’t functional. There were also smaller windows that didn’t capture the natural light we have now.” The closed-off galley kitchen was just beyond the wall to the right.
After: Shot from a slightly different angle, this view shows the updated living room and the built-in banquette occupying the former dining area. The now-open kitchen sits just out of frame to the right, with a glimpse of an island stool visible.
New sliding glass doors open to an expansive, multilevel entertaining deck, flooding the kitchen and great room with natural light. “It’s probably my most dramatic before-and-after remodel,” Savitch says. “I wanted it to stay true to midcentury architecture but also make sense for Pacific Northwest living.”
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New sliding glass doors open to an expansive, multilevel entertaining deck, flooding the kitchen and great room with natural light. “It’s probably my most dramatic before-and-after remodel,” Savitch says. “I wanted it to stay true to midcentury architecture but also make sense for Pacific Northwest living.”
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Kirkland, Washington
Size: 345 square feet (32 square meters), including the dining nook
Designer: Kate Savitch Design
Builder: BH Contracting Services
Before: Beyond the weathered arbor, the home’s flat, low-slung 8-foot roofline felt closed in and uninspiring.