Before and After: This Dated Kitchen’s Whole Remodel Is Great, But the Floors Are to Die For

Professional’s Name: Patrick Thompson
Company: Patrick Thompson Design
Location of Project: Pleasant Ridge, Michigan

Designed by Patrick Thompson—founder and principal of Patrick Thompson Design (PTD)—for his own home, this black and white, sleek kitchen mixes industrial-inspired design with a touch of biophilia. Previously a dark, dated, and just kind of “blah” kitchen, the after is a bold and modern new look.

New cabinetry and a mix of open shelving along with a fresh layout make the new kitchen feel much larger than it was before. White subway-tiled walls go all the way to the ceiling, making a clean and bright space. Black cabinets create a stark contrast against the white subway tile. But while black and white certainly dominate the color palette, this isn’t a boring/neutral space; Patrick also incorporated pops of orange and blue to bring in a bit of warmth to the space.

According to Patrick, the size of the kitchen was the largest challenge when trying to maximize usable square footage without changing the footprint. The home is a 1926 Craftsman bungalow and Patrick wanted the kitchen to complement that period of style while still being representative of PTD’s aesthetic. The house uses a boiler system for heating so to avoid a radiator taking up floor space he opted for an electric-heated floor beneath the custom mosaic tile pattern. The floor was custom designed based on an inspiration photo and created by Daltile.

Because the kitchen needed to be clean, and modern but still conducive to a family of four with lots of sticky fingers and muddy paws, there are high-quality materials for function balanced with some affordable finds. Black shaker door cabinets from IKEA, for instance, pair with COM hardware, a farmhouse sink, and a faucet by Kohler. The light fixtures are by commune in Los Angeles.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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