A Mid-Century Layout for Modern Family Living
After spending several years in their 1970s ranch-style home in a Houston suburb, a couple with three children was ready for a kitchen that worked as hard as they did. But their desire for achieving modern standards of functionality did not supersede their requirement to stay true to the architecture of the home.
Knowing they needed professional help, the couple contacted Nikole Starr at Houston-based Nikole Starr Interiors LLC, after noting her renovation of another house on their street. From a sink in a curved corner and a cabinet wall that did not reach the ceiling, Starr was tasked with maximizing the space and creating a layout that would provide plenty of storage for a mom who loves to bake.
“When you walked into the kitchen, you couldn’t get your bearings,” said the designer. “There were a lot of mirrors – it was almost like a fun house. A lot of planning was involved to make a larger footprint.”
And that was only one of the dilemmas presented by this project that had to meld mid-century style with a 21st-century kitchen island, dedicated smoothie bar and modern appliances.
CHALLENGE #1 – Making it Bigger
In this long, narrow house, the only option to increase the square footage of the kitchen was to push it back and take over the hallway delineated by a closet behind the kitchen. The non-supporting closet was located along the back of the existing kitchen cabinets, and neither reached the ceiling, so getting rid of them was not a structural issue.
Removing the floating cabinets and closet increased the kitchen by 100 square feet and allowed the new cabinets to sit along a true wall and extend to the ceiling, maximizing storage. The added storage was important after the loss of the closet, and other organizational space was planned with built-in cabinetry in the living room and by adjusting the laundry room cabinets.
The increased footprint enabled Starr to incorporate a 16-foot island, perfect for baking and offering the added benefit of even more storage with drawers and doors on both sides. The new layout provided smoother transitions between rooms, too.
“Previously, moving between the main areas required navigating a dark, narrow hallway,” said the designer. “Now, with the new open layout, the main spaces connect easily and can be enjoyed from the upgraded central kitchen.”
CHALLENGE #2 – Fixing the Floor
Creating a more seamless flow through the home was a positive, but it necessitated consistent flooring throughout. As part of their interest in maintaining the home’s style and in consideration of the budget, Starr’s clients decided to keep the original 1970s slate floors in the adjacent rooms. That meant she was tasked with matching the tile with a product currently available.
“We went to a lot of distributors,” she said. “Our contractor has a great eye and found several samples of true black slate tile.”
Once the matching tile was selected, it was cut to the size of the existing flooring. Some areas of the floor, such as where new plumbing had been installed for the sink and bar sink, were leveled. Finally, a seal was put on the new and original tile to enhance consistency.
“The black floors ground the space and give it some texture,” said Starr.
CHALLENGE #3 – Convincing Clients
Because the homeowners knew they wanted to preserve the architectural style of the home and its mid-century modern style, Starr specified walnut cabinets for the kitchen. But walnut is pricey, and her clients asked to switch to a less expensive wood species.
“It was one element I stood firm about,” she said. “There was not another wood that would provide the same level of warmth, and walnut is a staple of mid-century modern design.”
Understanding the client’s goals and the importance of the aesthetic outcome, she pushed for the walnut cabinets and sought ways to cut costs in other areas.
Part of the original project scope, renovation of the laundry room was taken off the list, although it is planned for a later date. There had been some initial talk about replacing the floor throughout the kitchen and adjoining rooms, but the choice to salvage the original and source the matching tile saved some money, too.
Before completing this project, Starr had not typically worked in mid-century modern design. To prepare, she conducted research and immersed herself in the historic style, gaining knowledge about the richness of the period and developing a new appreciation for it.
Starr’s willingness to dive into the foundations of mid-century design enabled her to uphold the integrity of the style even when difficulties arose. This attention to detail is apparent in each selection she made from material to color choice.
“This project came with a lot of challenges, but there is always a solution,” she said. “By keeping the goal in mind, you can find the outcome you are looking for.”
SOURCES:
DESIGNER: Nikole Starr, Nikole Starr Interiors, LLC; PHOTOGRAPHER: Ellen Renee Photography; CONTRACTOR: Nadine Logue, L2 Property Group; HOMEOWNER: Jorden Maljovec
KITCHEN
BACKSPLASH IN KITCHEN: Daltile; BAR STOOLS: Dovetail Furniture; COUNTERTOP: Silestone; CABINET HARDWARE: CB2; CABINET PAINT: Sherwin-Williams; DINING TABLE & CHAIRS: Four Hands; FAUCET & SINK: Kohler; FLOOR TILE: Tile Shop; LIGHTING: Hudson Valley & Trans Globe; RANGE: ILVE; REFRIGERATOR: JennAir; RUGS: Loloi; SHELF RAILING: Paxton Hardware
SMOOTHIE BAR
BACKSPLASH: Bedrosians Tile & Stone; FAUCET & SINK: Elkay; HARDWARE: Top Knobs; ICE MAKER: Hoshizaki; REFRIGERATOR DRAWERS: Summit
