OUR WORK
Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel in Angell, Ann Arbor
A dark, cramped kitchen became a bright, clean space with room for two cooks.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
These Angell neighborhood homeowners needed a kitchen with room for two people to work. Theirs was dark, dated and short on storage. An old dumbwaiter took up a whole corner, and a split corner sink made daily tasks clumsy.
WHAT WE FOUND
An old dumbwaiter filled a large corner of the kitchen. It no longer met current fire safety codes, and it blocked counter and cabinet space. Deep soffits made the kitchen feel small and dark, and the split two-basin corner sink was clumsy to use.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We removed the old dumbwaiter and the deep soffits, freeing up space and light without moving a single appliance.
THE INSPIRATION
Less is more. Clean lines and flat-panel doors let the materials shine in this sleek mid-century kitchen. A green backsplash tile with lots of color variation is the one bold accent.
THE PLAN
Removing the dumbwaiter added counter space and cabinet storage. Taking out the soffits, adding recessed lighting and opening an interior wall brightened the whole room. The footprint and appliance layout stayed the same. New finishes and better light did the rest.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
Two cooks have room to work side by side. The kitchen is bright, with more counter space and storage than before. The green tile leads the eye around the room and makes the kitchen feel fresh.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
A Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Upgrade in the Angell Neighborhood
A kitchen remodel.
Angell neighborhood, Ann Arbor.
Old dumbwaiter removed, soffits removed, interior wall opened, recessed lighting, green backsplash tile.
THE FLOOR PLANS
What changed, and why.
We removed the old dumbwaiter and the deep soffits, freeing up space and light without moving a single appliance.
BEFORE
AFTER
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
A 3D model helped the homeowners make design choices. Colors, proportions, patterns and layouts could change on the spot, so they could compare options and picture the result.
FEATURE 02
The green backsplash tile has a lot of color variation, which adds depth and texture. Against a neutral palette, it runs across three sides of the kitchen and ties the room together.
FEATURE 03
Flat-panel doors, simple hardware and the tile pattern keep the look modern and minimal. With nothing fussy in the way, the materials do the talking.
THE PROJECT
A Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Upgrade in the Angell Neighborhood
AT A GLANCE
A kitchen remodel.
Angell neighborhood, Ann Arbor.
Old dumbwaiter removed, soffits removed, interior wall opened, recessed lighting, green backsplash tile.
THE STORY
These Angell neighborhood homeowners needed a kitchen with room for two people to work. Theirs was dark, dated and short on storage. An old dumbwaiter took up a whole corner, and a split corner sink made daily tasks clumsy.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
Removing the dumbwaiter added counter space and cabinet storage. Taking out the soffits, adding recessed lighting and opening an interior wall brightened the whole room. The footprint and appliance layout stayed the same. New finishes and better light did the rest.
