This 1950s Kitchen’s Makeover Features One of the Top Design Trends of 2024
When designer Harry Young Parmenter moved into a mid-century modern home in Atlanta’s Chamblee neighborhood, he was excited to make his mark on the space. At the time, he worked in real estate at his family’s business but wanted to make the move into interior design. When he showed this home to a client, and they passed it up, he knew it was meant to be.
“I knew the house needed a lot of work, but I was eager to learn and thought this would be the perfect project for me to learn the ropes of interior design,” Parmenter said. “I had spent the better half of 2020 scrolling through interior design accounts on Instagram with my ample downtime and was ready to get my hands on a fixer-upper myself like this ASAP.” So, he went for it.
The kitchen was part of a larger renovation.
In August 2020, when Parmenter started on the project, he wanted to go all-in. He worked with contractors to transform several rooms in the house; among the changes were three bathrooms, installing new lighting, creating an office with built-ins, and reimagining the kitchen.
Like most of the home, the kitchen hadn’t been “altered much from its original design in the ‘50s.” Through his research, Parmenter gravitated toward actress Dakota Johnson’s kitchen, which features rich green cabinetry (one of this year’s hottest design trends).
The cabinets’ soft green paint color acts as a timeless neutral.
“I knew from the beginning I wanted a green kitchen. I think [green cabinets] will be ultimately timeless, or at least I hope so,” Parmenter said. “I tried to push it toward timelessness, anyway, by choosing a soft, gray-green that could feel almost neutral (Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray).”
Parmenter selected Shaker-style cabinets, and added new hardware from Schoolhouse, Bertazzoni appliances, Calacatta Belgia countertops, and Regts Delft tile backsplash to the space. To complete the look, he added unique decor, like an Arteriors vase (holding branches from the magnolia tree in the front yard), an Annie Selke runner, and Arhaus stools for a full refresh.
“I like a subtly quirky or surprising element thrown in here and there, like the vintage equestrian trophy plates in the kitchen or the pottery display shelf above the sink,” he explained.
Opening up the layout made the space more practical.
The contractors also removed a wall that once separated the kitchen from the living and dining areas. Now, the space has better flow, with plenty of room for hosts and guests to mingle. The renovations were finished in April 2021, and Parmenter started decorating slowly. As fate would have it, he received his first design client while working on the home.
If Parmenter’s kitchen inspires you, you’ll want to see the rest of the home. Visit the full home tour on Apartment Therapy to see his mid-century modern home.
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Before & After: Gorgeous Green-Gray Cabinets Breathe New Life into This Dull ‘50s Kitchen