Mid Century (Mod)ifications

The design team was excited to overhaul a 1980s renovation gone bad. They loved working with clients who weren’t afraid of color and were open to an alternative layout. The goals were to bring color and atomic-age mid-century modern (MCM) vibes into the design. They also aimed to let in as much natural light as possible and create a layout for entertaining large groups.

Some of the greatest challenges they faced were because of the way the home was originally constructed. The ceilings were solid wood and didn’t allow space for rough-in junction boxes, so all new electrical work would have had exposed junction boxes. The existing floor-to-ceiling doors and windows were single-pane and needed to be completely replaced. It was also difficult to create more storage solutions throughout the home.

The  redesign provided floor-to-ceiling storage, a pantry, an integrated refrigerator and hidden cabinets within the slatted wooden hood surround and island. They added a bar area to the side of the cabinets for easy access to the lounge room. All existing doors and windows were replaced with double-pane glazing and custom trim surrounds to maximize the natural light. To add lighting, they furred out the main beam in the common area and added integrated LEDs for overhead lighting. In the primary bathroom, they expanded the footprint by moving the existing electrical panel and taking over a bedroom closet. By doubling the footprint, they were able to provide a large vanity, zero-entry shower and heated floor system.