OUR WORK
Tudor Kitchen Remodel in Burns Park, Ann Arbor
A beautiful 1920s kitchen that didn't work became a two-cook hub that looks like it has always been there.
THE STORY
What the homeowners wanted, and what we found.
WHAT THEY WANTED
These homeowners loved their 1920s Tudor revival home, with its large rooms, natural light and charming details. What they lacked was a kitchen that worked for a modern family. Traffic from the garage cut right through the kitchen work area, and a central wall split the kitchen from the butler's pantry.
WHAT WE FOUND
The kitchen and butler's pantry had beautiful details but didn't work like a modern kitchen. The path from the garage ran right through the work triangle. The butler's pantry held great storage but left the breakfast nook cramped, and a central load-bearing wall forced a zigzag path between the spaces.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We removed the load-bearing wall between the butler's pantry and kitchen, making room for a central island.
THE INSPIRATION
A 1920s Tudor revival with charm to spare. The homeowners loved its large rooms, natural light and details, so the new kitchen had to look original. Black and white cabinets and a touch of art deco in the island pendants keep it classic.
THE PLAN
We captured 16 square feet of space under the existing roofline, which let us gather the entry paths and keep traffic out of the work area. A custom arch window fits inside an existing brick arch, so the outside looks unchanged. Removing the load-bearing wall between the pantry and kitchen created a direct path. That opened room for the central island that now defines the space.
THE OUTCOME
How it turned out
Two cooks share a kitchen built around a central island. Family coming in from the garage no longer cuts through the cooking area. The kitchen feels like it has always been part of the house.
FINAL PHOTOS
The finished space.
AT A GLANCE
New and Traditional, Blended in a Tudor Kitchen
A kitchen and butler's pantry remodel.
Burns Park, Ann Arbor.
Central island, two-cook layout, custom arch window in the original brick arch, 16 square feet captured under the roof, art deco pendants.
THE FLOOR PLANS
What changed, and why.
We removed the load-bearing wall between the butler's pantry and kitchen, making room for a central island.
KITCHEN PLAN
FIRST LEVEL
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Three details that carry the design.
FEATURE 01
Finishes keep the classic 1920s Tudor revival look, with a touch of art deco in the island pendants. Contrasting white and black cabinets give the room a crisp, timeless feel.
FEATURE 02
Removing a structural wall and parts of an exterior wall is usually a big job. Here, every first-floor wall already sat on a full foundation wall, which made the change possible.
FEATURE 03
Many custom features make the kitchen work better while keeping its charm.
THE PROJECT
New and Traditional, Blended in a Tudor Kitchen
AT A GLANCE
A kitchen and butler's pantry remodel.
Burns Park, Ann Arbor.
Central island, two-cook layout, custom arch window in the original brick arch, 16 square feet captured under the roof, art deco pendants.
THE STORY
These homeowners loved their 1920s Tudor revival home, with its large rooms, natural light and charming details. What they lacked was a kitchen that worked for a modern family. Traffic from the garage cut right through the kitchen work area, and a central wall split the kitchen from the butler's pantry.
HOW WE DESIGNED IT
We captured 16 square feet of space under the existing roofline, which let us gather the entry paths and keep traffic out of the work area. A custom arch window fits inside an existing brick arch, so the outside looks unchanged. Removing the load-bearing wall between the pantry and kitchen created a direct path. That opened room for the central island that now defines the space.
