We are thrilled to introduce our first project design blog, featuring a beautifully updated home in Houston’s thriving center. Keep reading for our take on a home update!
When working with older homes, maintaining the integrity of the original design aesthetic is of the utmost importance. At the Bentwood of Houston showroom, we had the opportunity to be a part of a remodel on this stunning mid-century ranch style home alongside the talented Laura U Interior Design team and Adam Josef of Crossroads Construction.
Texas Meets London in the Middle for this Home Update
The 1957 home had been previously remodeled in 1990 and was most recently purchased by a young couple– a Brit and a Texan, who sought to update their home to reflect their personalities and lifestyle. The challenge was to create a design that integrated a whimsical 1960’s London feel while honoring their native Texas roots.
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The home and surrounding space provide an abundance of greenery and nature. Large generous windows in the rear of the house provide sweeping views overlooking Buffalo Bayou. This tranquil setting makes you feel like you’ve left the city behind and entered to a completely new space.
At the start of this project, the design team assessed the existing kitchen layout and looked for ways to open up the space. They wanted to offer a more spacious feel with the use of light and bold pops of accent colors.
For this young family, who loves to cook, entertain and spend time together in the kitchen, the original space lacked efficient preparation areas such as an island or adequate countertops. The L-shaped design of the old kitchen and dated dropped ceiling felt gloomy and confined — not anything like the lifestyle or personalities of our clients!
Playful Colors with Serious Functionality
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Working with the client’s vision and inspiration, the team quickly settled on the composite Zebrano material for the perimeter cabinetry. This material has a similar visual texture traditionally used in mid-century homes.
In the adjacent utility room, a Smeg refrigerator with a Union Jack design nicely complemented the red color used on the kitchen island. Borrowing further from kitchen designs of that era, full height end panels were used at the end of the cabinet runs to give more of a “furniture” feel.
Mid-Century Meets Today
Since the client also wanted industrial objects and materials to contrast the mid-century design of the new space, a SubZero Pro 48 refrigerator was specified, as well as a custom 60″ Blue Star range. Aluminum toekicks complement the island door style, and a commercial-style faucet crowns a Shaws farmhouse sink.
The new countertops and terrazzo tile floors used in the kitchen and utility room truly brighten the space. Our clients wanted durable work surfaces, so they chose Silestone’s “White Storm” in a polished finish. This paired nicely with a back painted, matte glass backsplash in the kitchen.
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The island, one of the great focal points of a kitchen, features a massive 3″ thick cantilevered Walnut butcher block top by Grothouse. This beautiful piece, which is reinforced with concealed steel supports, makes a bold statement.
The new pantry space was outfitted with Zebrano floating shelves and enclosed by matching side panels and a Bentwood-crafted door. The interior of the door was veneered with a magnetic chalkboard material so this busy family could make notes and post lists.
After an extensive remodel, this home is a wonderful place for entertaining. We love its fun furnishings, beautiful accessories, thoughtful architectural details, and lovely views of the outdoors.
The kitchen received an ASID collaboration award. To view the complete project on Houzz, click here.
Find Inspiration Near You
Inspired to update your own space? Click here to set up a personal consultation to explore the possibilities for your home. Not close to Houston? Click here to find the closest authorized Bentwood dealer to you. Then, we’ll connect you with a designer in your area and get started with your vision right away!
Not quite ready to begin a project? Look through our gallery to find inspiration and discover the beauty of Bentwood.