Atomic Kitchens
Finding inspiration in a home’s Streamline Moderne design and the bold hue of the homeowners’ retro-styled appliances, two architectural firms partnered to create a sleek, open kitchen with a distinctly modern edge.
WHEN THE OWNERS OF THIS HOME PURCHASED IT, the 1930s Streamline Moderne space was in serious need of a loving update. Wanting to maintain the character of the designated heritage house while creating an open space that met their needs, the family worked with the architectural firms of dpai architecture inc. and Toms + Mcnally Design to use the home’s rounded form as the springboard for a full renovation that’s Streamline Moderne meets Midcentury Modern.
“The renovation respects the original character and detailing of the designated heritage house while celebrating its contemporary spirit with a bold addition,” says Petra Matar, an intern architect with dpai who worked on this project.
The project, which more than doubled the size of the home (adding 1,250 square feet to the home’s original 1,200 square feet), included the addition of a glass-box second story that mimics the curves of the original structure and gives the updated home a retro-futuristic feature. The glass extends out to the back and down to the first floor, and provided space for a new dining room with retractable glass panels that erase the boundaries between indoors and out.
The dining room flows into the reconfigured kitchen, which was once an enclosed space with traditional cabinets that were in poor condition and not functional, according to the homeowners and design team. Those cabinets, and a breakfast nook, were removed and the kitchen redesigned."the kitchen was opened up to the living area to become a focal gathering point in the house,” Petra says.
The kitchen’s striking design was sparked by retro-styled Elmira Stove Works appliances the homeowners brought from their former home. White cabinetry and countertops were selected to both balance the bold robin’s egg blue of the appliances and play well with the home’s warm wood detailing. The appliances also informed the creation of an expanded backsplash functioning as a feature wall to help define the space within the open floor plan.
Built-ins also serve to define the kitchen space and provide the family with needed multifunctional spaces. The rounded high-top table, which mimics the curves of the home’s architecture, extends from the countertops and creates a breakfast/homework/hangout nook for the family. The island, sporting curved corners that offer one more reference to the home’s architecture, is a favorite gathering spot for the family and its guests.