In the details

Help

This remodel combines a contemporary aesthetic with subtle nods to an Arts and Crafts vernacular

View of a kitchen which features white quartz cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, real estate, gray, brown — View of a kitchen which features white quartz countertops, dark-stained timber cabinetry, oak floors, lighting fixtures, tiled backsplash, white shelving, appliances.

View of a kitchen which features white quartz bookcase, furniture, interior design, kitchen, shelving, brown

View of a kitchen which features white quartz countertop, furniture, interior design, kitchen, living room, room, gray, black

View of a kitchen which features white quartz cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, major appliance, room, gray, brown

View of a kitchen which features white quartz countertop, furniture, interior design, kitchen, room, shelf, gray, brown

View of a kitchen which features white quartz furniture, interior design, living room, gray, black

Introducing a modern kitchen into a classic home unobtrusively can be aided by choosing period fixtures with a contemporary twist.

This reinvented space, by kitchen designer Christine Julian, replaces an earlier outdated remodel. The previous kitchen had reached right along the outer wall of the room, which has been expanded to include a family living area. A 21st-century air and improved kitchen proportions were two requests of the owner.

"We shortened and squared up the kitchen, ending it with the new peninsula providing a break between the working and living spaces," says Julian. "A hall access door was closed off on the other side of the kitchen, and on the resulting new wall space we introduced a stainless steel refrigerator, flanked by cabinetry with zebrawood countertops. Other stainless steel appliances further the modern aesthetic."

However, as well as creating an up-to-date workspace, the designer wanted the kitchen to reference the home's Arts and Crafts character.

"To find a balance between the old and the new I chose classic Prairie features but with a twist," says Julian. "For example, the pendant lamps look like Shaker pieces, except they are finished in white frosted glass rather than art glass, and framed in nickel instead of bronze. Similarly, the cabinet doors are Shaker style, but have wider, more modern frames.

"The cabinet handles also contribute these are in brushed nickel, whereas in Frank Lloyd Wright's day they would have been brass."

Open shelves chosen to display a pottery collection are in a more modern vernacular. However, the backsplash behind them is in limestone squares with inset ceramic chips in bright colors. Not only a talking point, this adds another artisanal touch.