Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel | Kitchen Design
When I received a call from this wonderful family about their move from our beloved old neighborhood in Houston, The Heights, to a suburb, I wasnโt sure what to expect. Architectural details are a key element of great interior design, yet many suburban homes often lack characterโat least in the neighborhoods I grew up in. But the moment I saw this mid-century modern gem in Littleton, I was smitten. A true diamond in the rough, this home had incredible potential. Nestled in a lush, spacious neighborhood filled with unique homes, it was anything but cookie-cutter. (And if your home is a cookie-cutter design, donโt worryโwe can infuse it with personality and style! Just hit that inquire link.)
This mid-century modern home in Littleton boasts a fantastic floor plan, natural flow, and striking architectural detailsโfeatures that Jamie House Design thoughtfully enhanced. Without moving walls or altering the layout, we focused on maximizing its potential, preserving the original charm while elevating the design. This sprawling, rambling home has a dreamy qualityโespecially for me, imagining all this space from Berlin. LOL.
Iโll start by sharing the "before" stage and walk you through the transformation, leading up to the final rug installation on Friday. WARNING: un-styled progress pictures ahead!
The original kitchen layout feels scrunched up into one end of the room. Presumably the space can be used for a breakfast space plus a possible storage console. Either way, our client did not want space for a table in the kitchen as the dining table is literally steps from the kitchen. Plus we all dream of a spacious open kitchen. Jamie House Design will always design your kitchen to maximize counter space, prioritize the best appliances for you, and create efficient storage.
Our clientโs priority was to preserve as much of the original home as possible. Keeping that in mind, I still sketched out a completely reworked mid-century modern kitchen design to show the best possible layout. I always prioritize my clients' wishes while also offering expert recommendations based on how I envision them living in and using the space. In this caseโlike in most projectsโthe client agreed with my vision, and we moved forward while keeping as many of the original cabinets as possible. (We kept those globe flush-mount light fixtures and reused them in other rooms in the house. Theyโre very high quality and currently on trend.)
That said, those closets had to go. They were a massive waste of spaceโone likely a pantry, the other a coat closet. Eliminating them allowed us to create a more open, functional flow. The island was also far too small; while we couldnโt make it deeper, we extended it for better usability.
Here are the plans:
The first thing to go in this mid-century modern kitchen remodel was the bulky pantry closets. The original island couldn't be extended because the pantry doors cut into the space, limiting functionality. While we initially considered swapping the ovens and refrigerator for better kitchen flow, keeping the appliances in their original locations allowed us to preserve more of the existing cabinetryโhonoring the homeโs original design while enhancing efficiency.
To improve both storage and entertaining, I added a secondary area with open shelving, perfect for a beverage and serving station. Since our clients love to host, this space is ideal for setting up drinks and appetizers while keeping guests out of the busy kitchen workspace.
Extending the island created a casual dining spot and a place for someone to sit and chat while another person cooks. Kitchen design should always account for how people naturally gatherโbecause no matter how big a home is, everyone ends up in the kitchen!
The new custom pantry cabinets provide far more storage than the original pantry closet, plus we added electrical outlets for a hidden built-in coffee stationโa must-have for streamlined functionality.
To open up the space, I removed all upper cabinets above the cooktop and designed a sleek, minimalist range hood. This creates a natural focal point in the kitchen and allows the space to breathe. Any time I can eliminate upper cabinets, I doโbeing intentional with kitchen storage creates a more open, inviting atmosphere.
Hereโs the progress :
The transformation reveals so much beautiful space. At this point, the new flat-front cabinet doors are in place, the range wall features all-new cabinetry, Jamie House Design preserved the original cabinet boxes throughout the rest of the kitchen for a seamless blend of old and new.
On the other side, you can see the newly added beverage and serving center, designed for both style and functionality. One of my favorite design choices is opting for drawers over cabinets in kitchens. Thereโs nothing chic about crawling on your knees to dig through the back of a cabinet. Drawers are a mustโtheyโre more efficient and accessible. I always design kitchenโs for ease of use, aiming to make meal prep and entertaining smoother for our clients. After all, your kitchen should make your life easier, whether youโre preparing daily meals or hosting dinner parties.
The new pantry set up functions 100% better than before while taking up less space. Thereโs room for storing large kitchen items and plenty of space for food. Jamie House Design designed the interior organization of the pantry to be extra functional and easy to maintain.
Adding only the simple custom range hood on the range wall highlights the spaciousness of the new kitchen design. Sure, we could have filled it with upper cabinets, but there was no needโthereโs already plenty of storage. Making space for beauty is just as important as function.
Below the cooktop, you'll see cabinet doors instead of drawers, even though I usually prefer drawers. In this case, I matched the existing design elementsโsometimes, there are exceptions to the rule. This is exactly why it's so important to hire an experienced interior designer for the process. Small design details make all of the difference.
I will always recommend that your refrigerator be built-in or at minimum LOOK built-in. One of the biggest regrets in kitchen design is designing a beautiful new kitchen but seeing the refrigerator simply sitting next to the cabinets as if no one planned for it at all. A built-in refrigerator keeps the space cohesive and polished, adding to the overall luxury and functionality of your kitchen.
The extra depth in the corner was always there. I honestly didnโt know how to make it better so I let it remain as a place to slide in small appliances. Adding a โgarage doorโ would draw attention to it and I donโt want that. The counter material is also the backsplash so it wraps completely around and makes it feel spacious.
The island is finally in place! Due to space constraints, the island could only be 24โ deep, which is the standard depth for lower cabinets in kitchens. This means the functional storage is limited to just one side of the island, which houses basic storage and the garbage receptacles. To keep the back of the island from looking too plain, I added a simple yet striking ribbing detail. Itโs an easy treatment that delivers big visual impact. (Spoiler alert: the pendant light over the island mirrors the ribbing, and the homeโs paneling throughout echoes the same motif, creating a cohesive design.)
Look at that thoughtfully designed pantry! Jamie House Design incorporates built-in organization to make it easy for you to keep your home maintained and functioning.
The green accent paint is finally in place! This is the stage where you can start to see Jamie House Designโs vision for this mid-century modern kitchen remodel truly coming to life.
With the warm tones of the Saltillo tile floors, the original wood stain was overwhelming. The green we chose is the perfect complement, but we knew that an all-green kitchen would be too much. By opting for white upper cabinets, weโve created a space that feels open and brightโbalancing color with light for a more inviting atmosphere.
When selecting paint colors for your own kitchen design, itโs essential to consider how theyโll look from other rooms in the house. Colors donโt have to match exactly, but they should coordinate. A thoughtfully chosen palette can create a seamless flow from room to room, tying your space together.
One piece of advice I always give my clients: Donโt paint the insides of your cabinets. Instead, leave them stained or lightly stained. Stained wood wears far better than paint, especially in high-use areas like the inside of kitchen cabinets. Yes, Iโve painted the inside of cabinets before and it turned out beautifully, but that was the exceptionโdone with a special hard-wearing finish in a cool accent color and applied by a professional.
If you're inspired by this mid-century modern kitchen remodel and want to create a space thatโs both functional and beautiful, message me today. Letโs discuss how Jamie House Design can help bring your kitchen vision to life!
