Relocating from San Francisco, this young family immediately zeroed in on the wonderful historic homes around downtown Chicago. Most of the properties they saw checked a lot of wish list boxes, but none of them checked every box. The house they landed on had beautiful curb appeal, a dramatic entry with a welcoming porch and front hall, and a really nice yard. Unfortunately, it did not have a kitchen that was well set-up for cooking and entertaining. Reworking the kitchen area was the top priority. The family had met with a few other designers and even had an architect take a crack at the space, but they were not able to come up with a viable solution. Here’s how Senior Designer Diana Burton approached the project… Design Objectives: Respect the home’s vintage feel while bringing the kitchen up to date Open up the kitchen area to create an open space for gathering and entertaining Upgrade appliances to top-of-the-line models Include a large island with seating Include seating for casual family meals in a space that won’t be a replacement for the adjacent formal dining room THE REMODEL Design Challenges: Remove a load-bearing wall and combine smaller rooms to create one big kitchen A powder room in the back corner of the existing kitchen was a huge obstacle to updating the layout Maintain large windows with views of the yard while still providing ample storage Design Solutions: Relocating the powder room to another part of the first floor (a large closet under the stairs) opened up the space dramatically Create space for a larger island by recessing the fridge/freezer and shifting the pantry to a space adjacent to the kitchen A banquette saves space and offers a perfect solution for casual dining The walnut banquette table beautifully complements the fridge/freezer armoire Utilize a gap created by the new fridge location to create a tall shallow cabinet for liquor storage w/ a wine cubby Closing off one doorway into the dining room and using the “between the studs” space for a tall storage cabinet Dish organizing drawers offer handy storage for plates, bowls, and serving dishes right by main sink and dishwasher Cabinetry backing up to the dining room offers ample storage for glassware and functions both as a coffee station and cocktail bar Open shelves flanking the hood add storage without blocking views and daylight A beam was required where the wall was removed. Additional beams added architectural interest and helped integrate the beams into the space Statement lighting adds drama and personality to the space THE RENEWED SPACE This project exemplifies the transformative power of good design. Simply put, good design allows you to live life artfully. The newly remodeled kitchen effortlessly combines functionality and aesthetic appeal, providing a delightful space for cooking and spending quality time together. It’s comfy for regular meals but ultimately outfitted for those special gatherings. Infused with classic finishes and a timeless charm, the kitchen emanates an enduring atmosphere that will never go out of style.