Kitchen Design
Bathroom Design
Fresh Makeover for a Designer’s Own Kitchen and Master Bath
Donna McMahon creates inviting spaces with contemporary style and smart storage
Designer Donna McMahon of KE Interior Solutions and her wife became the first owners of this home in Denver when they purchased it nearly 15 years ago. Over time, the location and layout of the house continued to fit their needs, but the style of the original kitchen and master bathroom started to feel outdated. Staying mostly within the original footprint of each space, McMahon renovated both rooms with a goal of creating more function and storage while achieving a fresh, clean style that complements the rest of the home.
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Before: The original kitchen was functional, but the pine cabinets, black appliances and laminate countertops created a look that the couple had grown tired of.
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After: Flat-panel walnut cabinetry contributes to the kitchen’s warm, contemporary style. On the left, McMahon took wall cabinets to the ceiling to maximize storage and free up space around the window. Large-format (16 by 32 inches) gray porcelain tiles around the window have fewer grout lines, reinforcing the openness. Marble-look quartz countertops offer contrast to the rich wood tones.
McMahon created multiple cooking zones by adding an induction cooktop to the peninsula and replacing the former black gas range with a large stainless steel convection oven. She inset a small “speed” oven into the cabinet wall, which she uses instead of a microwave. A paneled refrigerator stands to the left of the speed oven.
McMahon installed LED tape lights in the kick space beneath the cabinets for a floating effect. The lights are on their own switch and are dimmable.
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McMahon created multiple cooking zones by adding an induction cooktop to the peninsula and replacing the former black gas range with a large stainless steel convection oven. She inset a small “speed” oven into the cabinet wall, which she uses instead of a microwave. A paneled refrigerator stands to the left of the speed oven.
McMahon installed LED tape lights in the kick space beneath the cabinets for a floating effect. The lights are on their own switch and are dimmable.
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Square porcelain tiles in nine subtle patterns accent the wall above the oven, including behind the open shelving. “I played around with the layout of the tiles to get it just right,” McMahon says. “It reminds me of a quilt.” Undercabinet electrical outlets keep the tile backsplash uncluttered.
A pair of cabinets with lift-up green-tinted glass doors lighten up the room and house dishes and glassware. Above the cabinets, the open shelves offer display space for ceramic dishware. LED tape lights illuminate items on the shelves.
“A full wall of cabinets there would’ve felt overpowering,” McMahon says. “The open shelves provide some breathing room.”
A pair of cabinets with lift-up green-tinted glass doors lighten up the room and house dishes and glassware. Above the cabinets, the open shelves offer display space for ceramic dishware. LED tape lights illuminate items on the shelves.
“A full wall of cabinets there would’ve felt overpowering,” McMahon says. “The open shelves provide some breathing room.”
Before: McMahon felt the original peninsula and its cabinets and two wide drawers didn’t offer practical storage and organization. A trio of frosted-glass upper cabinets to the left crowded a corner.
After: McMahon designed drawer storage with a combination of deep boxes for large pans and shallow interior rollouts in the middle for spices. A waterfall-edge countertop wraps the peninsula for a clean, contemporary look.
After much consideration, McMahon chose to install a barely there contemporary light fixture over the cooktop instead of a vent hood. But she left options open. “We have explored the ventilation issue in depth,” McMahon says. “The goal of this space was to maintain a very open feel. I searched American and European resources for a solution, but had no luck. Wiring is in place should we decide it is necessary. Our climate is almost three seasons of mild temperatures, so the home’s cross ventilation works for us. Also our cooking style is vegan. Therefore we do not have concerns.”
In the corner, a new walnut cabinet tower features an appliance garage at counter level.
The family room is beyond the peninsula.
Watch now: See more of this kitchen on Houzz TV
After much consideration, McMahon chose to install a barely there contemporary light fixture over the cooktop instead of a vent hood. But she left options open. “We have explored the ventilation issue in depth,” McMahon says. “The goal of this space was to maintain a very open feel. I searched American and European resources for a solution, but had no luck. Wiring is in place should we decide it is necessary. Our climate is almost three seasons of mild temperatures, so the home’s cross ventilation works for us. Also our cooking style is vegan. Therefore we do not have concerns.”
In the corner, a new walnut cabinet tower features an appliance garage at counter level.
The family room is beyond the peninsula.
Watch now: See more of this kitchen on Houzz TV
McMahon covered the back of the peninsula with new porcelain tiles that mimic the look of reclaimed wood. “The original maple floors have lots of dark swirls in them, so I selected the tiles to tie in the floors and the new walnut cabinets,” she says.
Browse wood-look tile on Houzz
Browse wood-look tile on Houzz
Master Bathroom
McMahon also stayed within the existing footprint when renovating the master bathroom, but she removed a separate shower and tub in favor of a single oversize low-curb shower. The space also features new floor tiles, a floating double vanity and a fresh coat of gray paint for the walls.
McMahon would have liked to have relocated the toilet, but space and budget constraints made that impossible. She did add a Toto Washlet system to the toilet, giving it additional function and a more sculptural appearance. “Somehow that makes its presence a bit easier to accept,” she says.
Wall paint: Ellie Gray, Sherwin-Williams
McMahon also stayed within the existing footprint when renovating the master bathroom, but she removed a separate shower and tub in favor of a single oversize low-curb shower. The space also features new floor tiles, a floating double vanity and a fresh coat of gray paint for the walls.
McMahon would have liked to have relocated the toilet, but space and budget constraints made that impossible. She did add a Toto Washlet system to the toilet, giving it additional function and a more sculptural appearance. “Somehow that makes its presence a bit easier to accept,” she says.
Wall paint: Ellie Gray, Sherwin-Williams
Before: The original bathroom closely resembled the original kitchen, with the same laminate countertop, backsplash tile and pine cabinets. A large inset mirror hung above the vanity, with a medicine cabinet on the wall to the right.
After: McMahon added a new floating vanity in an ebony stain. Wide polished chrome pulls give the vanity contemporary style and provide a place to hang hand towels. The same marble-look quartz used in the kitchen tops the vanity.
Mosaic glass tile that recalls a fish-scale pattern covers the wall surrounding two recessed medicine cabinets. The LED lights above the mirrors are adjustable. “We wanted the master bathroom to feel like a relaxing spa-like space, so we kept the palette cool, crisp and refreshing,” McMahon says.
Mosaic glass tile that recalls a fish-scale pattern covers the wall surrounding two recessed medicine cabinets. The LED lights above the mirrors are adjustable. “We wanted the master bathroom to feel like a relaxing spa-like space, so we kept the palette cool, crisp and refreshing,” McMahon says.
Before: A wall originally separated a cramped standalone shower from a built-in bathtub.
Before: The built-in tub took up a lot of square footage in the room. “We never really used the tub, so getting rid of it wasn’t a hard decision for us,” McMahon says.
After: McMahon removed the original shower stall and built-in tub, freeing up space for a large walk-in shower where the tub used to be and a floor-to-ceilng linen cabinet where the old shower had been.
Concrete-color porcelain floor tile (18 by 32 inches), similar to what was used in the kitchen, has radiant heating, making Denver’s cold winters more manageable.
Concrete-color porcelain floor tile (18 by 32 inches), similar to what was used in the kitchen, has radiant heating, making Denver’s cold winters more manageable.
The new shower features shower heads on either side and an accent wall covered in the same patterned tiles as above the vanity.
Stacked shower niches provide easy access to bathing products. The patterned glass mosaic tile backs the niches.
Watch now: Tour this designer’s contemporary kitchen and bathroom
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Watch now: Tour this designer’s contemporary kitchen and bathroom
More on Houzz
Before and After: 6 Bathrooms That Said Goodbye to the Tub
5 Reasons to Choose a Walk-In Shower
Find a bathroom designer near you
Shop for essential kitchen products
Watch now: Go inside this designer’s contemporary kitchen and bathroom
Kitchen and Master Bath at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Donna McMahon, her wife and their three dogs
Location: Denver
Size: The kitchen is 113 square feet (11 square meters); the master bathroom is 81 square feet (7.5 square meters)
Designer: KE Interior Solutions
Kitchen
McMahon’s main objective for the kitchen remodel was to get a space that felt more streamlined and functional without sacrificing storage space. “The U-shape layout works well for the space because it opens up to the living area,” McMahon says. “Instead of changing the layout, I switched the location of cabinets and appliances to create a cleaner look.”