November 29, 2021

After a serious dishwasher leak had destroyed her clients’ kitchen, Danielle Bohn, CMKBD, of Plymouth, Minn.-based Studio M Kitchen & Bath worked with them to create a new space that reflected their personalities and fit their entertaining lifestyle. To improve the functionality of the kitchen design, she removed a walk-in pantry that broke up the spatial flow and straightened out the island; its original angular configuration didn’t accommodate seated guests in comfort.

The clients were impressed by a display at Studio M’s showroom that mixed different materials and finishes, resulting in an eclectic, contemporary appearance. Bohn selected a palette of three finishes, each contributing a unique quality to the space. The cherry-stained wood brings warmth to the room, the laminate-faced cabinet doors add texture, and the painted trim introduces a softness to the kitchen.

Lesson Learned

The cabinets had already been ordered when an unforeseen challenge arose. Demolition of the wall next to the refrigerator revealed ventilation ductwork that could not be removed, so Bohn devised a design workaround. She modified the original plan for a built-in bookcase between the refrigerator and the pantry, opting to use open shelves of varying depths to camouflage the bump-out where the ducts ran. Extending the tile backsplash to this section of the wall furthers the impression that the design is intentional.

“I have now started having general contractors meet with me at the time of initial measures of the project, so we can discuss possible options when removing walls and rearrange layout options for kitchen and bathroom spaces,” said Bohn. “This has been immensely helpful because it has reduced the possible outcome for any unexpected demo surprises.”