An outdated kitchen might be bearable, but a dysfunctional kitchen is a whole other story. With this Minnesota family, the previous finishes weren’t ideal, but the absence of a job triangle, the inadequate lighting and a missing dishwasher needed to be fixed soon. Designers Jen Ziemer and Andrea Dixon solved these problems in a kitchen remodel that additional storage and workspace while upgrading the material palette in a fresh but standard style.

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A few and their teenager, preschooler and dog
Location: Minneapolis
Size: 160 square feet
Cost: $70,000

Fiddlehead Design Group

The kitchen sits in the corner of the home, with open access to the dining room. The family wanted a more traditional design with the kitchen separate from the rest of the home, however Ziemer and Dixon did enlarge the dining room opening to link the two rooms.

Three distinct colours of sturdy, vinyl composition tiles (VCT) make up a plaid-inspired layout, based on a fabric the customers adore. The affordable vinyl fit their budget and works well with the kitchen’s heated floors.

Flooring: Mannington VCT, 12 by 12 inches in Cameo White, Midnight and Iron; dishwasher, stove, hood: GE Cafe

Fiddlehead Design Group

Since the kitchen’s design evolved, Ziemer and Dixon nixed an island — while it would have added additional storage, they wanted to make sure the family had room to maneuver around.

Backsplash: 4- by 8-inch white subway tile, The Tile Shop; countertop: fieldstone, Cambria; cabinetry: custom Shaker door with inset bead, painted in Benjamin Moore’s White Dove

Before Photo

Fiddlehead Design Group, LLC

BEFORE: The kitchen’s design has to revolve around necessary traffic paths from the dining room and a back door, so the new layout simply streamlines the work triangle. Ziemer and Dixon also maintained all of the original windows, so the kitchen would have tons of natural light.

Fiddlehead Design Group, LLC

AFTER: to create the most of the light, the designers enlarged the back wall of windows and removed a few upper chimney. Rather, extra-deep drawers provide additional storage space that is much easier to access. A microwave can be reached by each member of their household.

Microwave Shop: Sharp, 24 inches

Fiddlehead Design Group

A nook for standard-depth cabinetry on the left side of this door includes a small above-counter pantry with rollouts, open shelves for displaying cookbooks along with an appliance garage. Specialized spots for cutting boards and trays make putting things away in the adjacent dishwasher simple.

Wall paint: Soleil, Benjamin Moore

Before Photo

Fiddlehead Design Group, LLC

BEFORE: The kitchen’s preceding material palette felt drab and outdated. The customers wanted something simple that still represented their character.

Fiddlehead Design Group, LLC

AFTER: The new palette is airy and light, accented with the customers’ own classic accessories. The full wall of glistening subway tile along with the painted cabinetry reflect light. The library lighting works as task lighting for prep and cooking.

Pot rack: Williams-Sonoma; lighting: Anette Library Light

See related