A contemporary kitchen with classic inspiration

A House Speaks

Oak Park, 2021

Oak Park, 2021, Interior Design

A Contemporary Kitchen Remodel in Oak Park, IL

How can the front door provide inspiration to a new kitchen inside? That was the question that fueled this project. As we walked up to the front door, we immediately loved the color and the softly curved arched window and thought, in some way we need to incorporate this door into the design of kitchen.

The house was built in the early 1900’s and had all the classic problems of this era. The kitchen was small, and located in the back corner, it was cut off from the rest of the house, lacking views and connection. It had also been poorly remodeled in the 1980’s and was inefficient and outdated. Our goal for the home was to bring a fresh vision for a modern kitchen that sat within a character-rich historic house in an appropriate way and would honor and extend the many beautiful old-home details that defined the house.

Modern Interior Architects in Illinois

We thoughtfully observed the old home, picking out some of the classic details which made it so timeless. We were listening and looking with an open mind, allowing the home to speak into the design of what the kitchen should be and inspire us.

To create more space in the kitchen, we relocated a powder room to an adjacent hallway closet. We then opened up a wall between what was the dining room and kitchen and relocated the dining room to a different part of the house to improve the connection and flow. We also created a new family gathering area to allow for an open, warm and welcoming kitchen/dining/great room space.
In the kitchen, we replaced three small windows with a large arched-top window to provide abundant daylight into the kitchen and views to the yard. A chef’s alcove was introduced to the project to increase function and give a nod back to the historic kitchen with a fireplace cooking nook, reimaged in a modern way. Inspired by the beautiful color of the front door, we created a matching custom-color for the cabinetry that provided a thread of continuity and settled this new kitchen into its historic home. It’s as if it’s always been there.