For a modern family looking to perfectly craft their "forever" home, Suzanna utilized existing formal spaces to create seamless and functional connections centered around a beautifully modified and updated kitchen.
Written by Wilson HackHaving outgrown their cramped bungalow, Suzanna's clients purchased a 1950's colonial in Austin, TX with the idea that this would be their last move. The house was in no way perfect and needed some major modifications right from the start. Stuffy formal spaces flanked the entry with little to no connection to the rest of the house. To the left of the entry was an existing dining room; to the right was an existing office. Initially, the client told Suzanna not to worry about redesigning those spaces because they didn't foresee utilizing them. Suzanna's response was, "absolutely, no!" There was an opportunity to tie in these spaces and make the whole house work together.
The original bar and pantry were removed in order to create a cased opening connection into the dining room. This instantly brought light into an otherwise dark space. The pantry was then relocated down by the laundry room—a decidedly smaller space but built with specific storage compartments and ultimately more functional than the previous walk-in pantry.
A thoughtfully oversized island was added, painted coolly in Stiffkey by Farrow and Ball, and designed with maximum storage. Because the clients were on a budget, Suzanna and her team reused the wall cabinets that were already there and simply refaced them for a clean, modern look. The clients' cookbook collection was incorporated, a delightful little library carefully tucked away at the end of the island. Stools by Williams Sonoma round out the central seating, a space where the owners' two children can always be found. Lighting from Urban Electric gracefully reaches down from above.
Custom floating white oak shelves were added by the sink and subtle green tile ties in with the almost undetectable soft blues and greens of the quartzite countertop. New flooring was added throughout the house and all the finishes and fixtures were replaced.
Completed almost five years ago, the kitchen has proven to be a cherished success. So thrilled were the clients with the finished design that they even left all of Suzanna's original styling. "Every time I walk into the house, it's exactly how I left it," laughs Suzanna.
