The “What the Architect Might Have Done Today” Kitchen Makeover

Makeover by: David (check out David’s bathroom makeover, too)
Location: Glendale, CA

We purchased our mid-century ranch house in 2012. We were only the 3rd owners. The first owners commissioned Robert L Earl architecture to build the house and it was complete in 1962. They lived in it for ten years, the second owners for 40 years. Other than some changes to two of the bathrooms, the installation of some hideous pumpkin orange shag carpet in the great room, and 1970’s appliances the house was pretty much in original condition. When it came to the kitchen we wanted to considerately update it in keeping with the homes era and architecture.

The kitchen’s existing floor plan was efficient and we didn’t want to change it or open it up completely to the rest of the house. Instead we removed a small pocket door and enlarged the doorway for better flow.

Job one was to remove the Luminescent ceiling. The panels were yellowed with age and the look was really dated. Removing it added 8” to the ceiling height.

The original kitchen cabinets were flat-panel wood grain Formica. They were replaced with custom flat panel book-matched walnut cabinets built by a local workshop. The hanging cabinets above the peninsula were removed, which immediately made the kitchen feel larger. Under cabinets is LED strip lighting and electrical power strips. Moving the electrical plugs under the cabinets created seamless look for the glass and marble mosaic tile backsplash.

For counters we decided to go with natural quartzite which has the look of Calcatta marble but has the durability of granite. Since we cook we wanted durability as well as beauty.

For flooring we decided to extend the Acacia floors we installed in the rest of the house right into the kitchen. Using the same flooring throughout rooms gives a good sense of flow since there’s no sightline break where one type of floor meets another.

The kitchen’s look is very similar, but better. I like to think it’s what the home’s Architect would have done were it being built today.

Be sure to check out David’s bathroom makeover, too: The “Egg Yolk Yellow & Brown Carpeted Bathroom” Makeover

Thanks, David!

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