3530 — The Viola Kitchen: A Modern Heirloom
Kitchen—up to 300 sq ft The Viola Kitchen: A Modern Heirloom This 1910 Hyde Park gem carried the charm of its era—but also the quirks of several poorly conceived renovations.
Interior Project: Multi-Space
New Beginnings
New Beginnings celebrates the transformation of a first-time home into a warm, functional, and stylish family sanctuary. The homeowners wanted open, inviting spaces for entertaining, raising children, and enjoying personal hobbies, all while honoring the home’s inherent mid-century modern character. Their love of pastels—pink for her, blue for him—guided a soft, layered palette. Reading chairs, bookshelves, and well-lit gathering areas were prioritized, along with a large kitchen for cooking together and a versatile den to accommodate visiting family.
The home’s mid-century architecture clashed with the clients’ initial traditional design expectations. Irregular niches, openings, and doorways disrupted flow, while the kitchen was undersized for a 12-foot counter and five stools. Lighting was insufficient, Nelson Bubble pendants underperforming, and an offset window in the dining room disrupted balance. The project timeline was further compressed when the wife became pregnant, requiring accelerated design, construction, and installation.
A visit to a complete mid-century project helped the clients embrace the style. SketchUp visualizations guided architectural decisions, including a correctly scaled fireplace flanked by Kimberly Denman reading chairs and Aerin floor lamps. A full LED lighting system with selectable color temperatures created customizable ambiance, complemented by a central Aerin Grande four-tier chandelier. Rift-cut white oak wall panels, bookshelves, and floating benches tied spaces together. The kitchen was widened with structural support, featuring minimalist white oak cabinetry and Sub-Zero/Wolf appliances. Walnut furnishings, vintage Florence Knoll pieces, and a Troscan coffee table harmonized the interior. The dramatic crowning feature was an 11’ × 16’ Fromental handpainted mural with 24k gold accents, replacing the corrugated upper wall.
The den was transformed into a guest bedroom, and the home became a serene, functional, and beautiful space—ready for family life and their newborn daughter.
Resources
Appliances: Ferguson Home Cabinetry and Millwork: William Ohs via Classic Kitchens Countertops: Cosentino Fireplace: Cosentino Dekton Flooring: Virginia Tile Area Rugs: Surya Coffee Table: Troscan Counter Stools: Design Within Reach Dining Chairs: Design Within Reach Florence Knoll Credenza (Antique): 1st Dibs Guest Bedroom Furniture: Design Within Reach Living Room Lounge Chairs: Kimberly Denman Milo Baughman Buffet (Antique): 1st Dibs Paul Cobb Planners Group Dining Table (Antique): 1st Dibs Sectional: Lexington Hardware: Rueschhoffs Lighting: Visual Comfort Mural: Fromental – MOD Solid Surface Fabrication: Advanced Flooring AKA Lusso Porcelain Wallpapers: Poppy Prints
Designer
Signature Design + Studio
Contractor
Nick Berger Construction
Photographer
Matthew Anderson
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