Kitchen of the Week: Beige Cabinets and a Vintage Vibe
A designer found on Houzz helps a couple update the kitchen in their 1897 home with modern function and old-world style
Phil and Karen Carroll moved into their historic 1897 Victorian home in Downers Grove, Illinois, in 2006. In 2014, they did an extensive remodel. They created a new master bedroom suite, rebuilt the roof and replaced all the siding. In 2020, the couple turned their attention to the 1990s kitchen and its aging oak cabinets, green walls and busy soffit ceiling.
The couple discovered the work of designer Susan Klimala on Houzz and reached out to her for help creating a light, airy and happy kitchen. Klimala cleaned up the busy ceiling, improved storage and gave the space a fresh look that nods to the historic character of the home. “I wanted the modern conveniences, but I didn’t want it to look too modern,” Karen says.
The couple discovered the work of designer Susan Klimala on Houzz and reached out to her for help creating a light, airy and happy kitchen. Klimala cleaned up the busy ceiling, improved storage and gave the space a fresh look that nods to the historic character of the home. “I wanted the modern conveniences, but I didn’t want it to look too modern,” Karen says.
After: Klimala stripped the kitchen down to the studs and addressed the ceiling soffits. “Turns out [they were] just a series of shortcuts from the prior renovation, and we were surprised and delighted that we were easily able to flatten out almost the entire ceiling with a couple of little reworks,” she says.
New semicustom maple cabinets in a mushroom color complement the soft beige walls (Tapestry Beige by Benjamin Moore). Off-white trim (Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore) coordinates with glazed white ceramic backsplash tile and marble-look quartz countertops for a fresh, inviting transitional style. Patterned porcelain tile behind the range punches up the design and creates a focal point. Karen “didn’t want a white kitchen but still wanted something light and airy, and the mushroom finish was perfect for that,” Klimala says.
A new island that’s about 8 by 2 feet increases the work surface and provides room for three people. “My husband taught my son how to make pasta from scratch at the island,” Karen says. “It now allows us to spend time there as a family.” (The couple stored the former island in the garage. “My husband couldn’t part with it yet,” Karen says.)
Backsplash: Cloe glazed ceramic subway tile in white, 2½ by 8 inches, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; cabinets: Breeze with Bridgewater doors, Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry
New semicustom maple cabinets in a mushroom color complement the soft beige walls (Tapestry Beige by Benjamin Moore). Off-white trim (Decorator’s White by Benjamin Moore) coordinates with glazed white ceramic backsplash tile and marble-look quartz countertops for a fresh, inviting transitional style. Patterned porcelain tile behind the range punches up the design and creates a focal point. Karen “didn’t want a white kitchen but still wanted something light and airy, and the mushroom finish was perfect for that,” Klimala says.
A new island that’s about 8 by 2 feet increases the work surface and provides room for three people. “My husband taught my son how to make pasta from scratch at the island,” Karen says. “It now allows us to spend time there as a family.” (The couple stored the former island in the garage. “My husband couldn’t part with it yet,” Karen says.)
Backsplash: Cloe glazed ceramic subway tile in white, 2½ by 8 inches, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; cabinets: Breeze with Bridgewater doors, Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry
Karen had the idea to change the standard cased opening between the kitchen and dining room to an arched opening to match another arched opening on the other side of the dining room. “I was sitting in our dining room one day when the renovation started, and realized the opening was inconsistent with the rest of our home,” she says. “I’m very, very happy we did it.”
Klimala enlarged the window over the sink and moved it slightly to give the workspace around the sink more breathing room. A small pendant with a dish-shape mercury glass shade and an antiqued-bronze finish is the same design as the two pendants in a larger size above the island. (Ceiling lights and electrical outlets on the sink wall were edited out of these photos by the photographer.)
The couple incorporated their existing tongue-and-groove red oak flooring into the design, which helped them save money.
Pendants: Boston in bronze, Visual Comfort
Klimala enlarged the window over the sink and moved it slightly to give the workspace around the sink more breathing room. A small pendant with a dish-shape mercury glass shade and an antiqued-bronze finish is the same design as the two pendants in a larger size above the island. (Ceiling lights and electrical outlets on the sink wall were edited out of these photos by the photographer.)
The couple incorporated their existing tongue-and-groove red oak flooring into the design, which helped them save money.
Pendants: Boston in bronze, Visual Comfort
Before: The homeowners liked the general layout of their former kitchen, including the location of the pantry in a tall cabinet and the stainless steel refrigerator, which the couple wanted to include in the updated space. But the limited storage space caused them to use a rolling cart for overflow.
The powder room seen at the rear here also needed some attention.
The powder room seen at the rear here also needed some attention.
After: Klimala increased storage capacity by expanding the pantry cabinet and bringing it up to the ceiling. “It created a nice bookend for the kitchen,” she says.
New paint and wallpaper updated the powder room.
New paint and wallpaper updated the powder room.
Backless counter-height leather-and-wood bar stools with nailhead trim allow the family to eat casual meals at the island.
Shop for backless counter stools
Shop for backless counter stools
Here’s a closer look at the encaustic-look porcelain tile behind the 36-inch dual-fuel range. “I love cooking on that range,” Karen says. “I make chicken soup from scratch. And I love that the chimney hood doesn’t block the tiles.”
The surrounding white glazed ceramic backsplash tiles vary in tone, giving them a handmade appearance. They have “the look of traditional subway tiles and felt appropriate for the vintage vibe we were going for, but the variation in tone was also nice,” Klimala says.
The surrounding white glazed ceramic backsplash tiles vary in tone, giving them a handmade appearance. They have “the look of traditional subway tiles and felt appropriate for the vintage vibe we were going for, but the variation in tone was also nice,” Klimala says.
At one end of the kitchen is a snack-and-drink station with an undercounter stainless steel microwave and beverage fridge.
White oak floating shelves in a corner offer display space and help break up the wall of upper cabinets.
White oak floating shelves in a corner offer display space and help break up the wall of upper cabinets.
The door with a glass panel seen here leads to a backyard patio. The solid paneled door to the left connects to the basement.
The couple now has an updated kitchen that better reflects the personality of the historic home. “I’m so proud of what we did in a small space,” Klimala says. “It solves problems and offers solutions.”
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The couple now has an updated kitchen that better reflects the personality of the historic home. “I’m so proud of what we did in a small space,” Klimala says. “It solves problems and offers solutions.”
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Phil and Karen Carroll and their teenage son
Location: Downers Grove, Illinois
Size: 204 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Before: The couple felt that the multiple soffits in the ceiling made the previous kitchen look busy and cramped. They also thought the aging oak cabinets looked heavy, and disliked how they crowded a slim window above the sink. The countertops were laminate and offered limited workspace around the range and sink.
The Carrolls loved their vintage island with wood top, but its small size no longer fit their needs.
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