SPACE, STORAGE AND SIMPLICITY
Rich wood and nostalgic details create a timeless look in this Lake Minnetonka kitchen.
Rustic and modern elements combine for a timeless cottage look in this Minnesota kitchen.
“The original architecture of the home influenced the overall design; we wanted it to feel natural to the home while providing a more updated look.”
What makes a kitchen great? Is it a large amount of cupboard storage, an expanse of counter space or maybe an open layout? The truth is, it’s a combination of all these things. Each home and homeowner has different wants and needs, particularly when it comes to kitchens. Designer, Shelly Lindstrom, owner and principal of Fluid Design Studio gave this Minnetonka, Minnesota, kitchen a practical makeover and what it desperately needed, a functional and central space for the family of five to enjoy. Shelly explains,
“The existing kitchen space was just too small with no room to expand (staircase on one side, entryway on the other side and the exterior wall on the third side). So we moved the kitchen to the sitting room, which was much larger. However, there was an existing wood-burning fireplace where the stove is now located, so it took the homeowners awhile to wrap their minds around the proposed design change.”
With functionality, storage and charm in mind, Shelly drastically transformed the flow of this space. Working with the home, she kept its farmhouse feel yet boosted that with modernized features. “The original architecture of the home influenced the overall design; we wanted it to feel natural, while providing a more updated look,” says Shelly. Maintaining the homey Lake Minnetonka feel was an important element of integrity for the home.
STATEMENT FLOORS
The kitchen has a very striking entrance with a sophisticated hardwood floor that catches the eye immediately. Combined with a handsome walnut island with furniture-like detailing, the look is classically cottage. With functionality in mind, the sturdy island has drawers for extra storage. For homes that struggle with creating more storage, a kitchen island is a great place to implement cupboards, without making the space seem too cluttered. White cabinets balance the look and allow the focal point of the room to be the intricate island. Black hardware and black accents for the lighting provide a clean, fresh look.
FORM + FUNCTION
Gray glass subway tiles on the walls add a fresh take on a period classic, imbuing the space with just enough color and nicely framing the three-part window above the sink.
The storage on the island and around the kitchen wasn’t enough, so further storage was added via built-in cubbies above the oven. Shelly enhanced these cabinets with dividers, which make it easy to keep the kitchen tidy and uncluttered. Usable counter space is found all around the kitchen.
Shelly also gave the family a bonus space, a mudroom, just off the kitchen. “There really wasn’t a mudroom space, so we needed to expand the footprint of that room by borrowing space from the back porch,” Shelly says. Because they stuck with neutral colors, the transition from hardwood floors to tile feels seamless. The white molding of the doorframe continues in the mudroom, linking it to the kitchen. Dark fixtures and light cabinets carry through both spaces.
The family now has two distinct functional areas, with plenty of space and easy-to-maintain organizational features, all in a timeless style. The kitchen is now not only the heart but also the hub of the home.
Mixing rustic and
modern elements creates the complete cottage style.