FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Kitchens

Guide Home
  • Kitchen Planning & Design
  • Featured Kitchen Projects
  • Cabinets, Built-Ins, & Pantries
  • Kitchen Islands
  • Countertops & Flooring
  • Appliances, Fixtures, & Lighting
Kitchens by Design

Warmly Modern

A straightforward kitchen remodel checks off every box on the clients' wish list.

By Kiley Jacques
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

It’s not often Colorado-based designer Laura Medicus has the chance to remodel a kitchen in a newer home. “My projects usually involve houses from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, so it was pleasurable in this case because not a lot went wrong—there weren’t any structural surprises.”

Built in 2006, the house features generously sized rooms, though the kitchen suffered from a poor layout. It also had that “wood-and-brown-leather” look, as Medicus describes it, that is common in the region. The configuration made it an awkward space to occupy, never mind in which to cook for and serve a family of four. The primary objective was to make the room function on the most basic level: as a kitchen.

Old Floor Plan

before photo of the kitchen
Before photo of the kitchen

modern kitchen counters and cabinets
View of a modern kitchen counter and cabinet

New Floor Plan

floor plan
Floor plan

An island was key to improving functionality. Prior to the remodel, seating was limited to two stools at a peninsula next to an exterior door. The owners wanted seating for four, hence the island. They had removed the island that originally came with the house because it sorely outsized the space. When it was out, they discovered that the builders had not run wood flooring beneath it. Their solution was to patch it with tile. This incongruity of tiling in the middle of the hardwood floor made the odd space even stranger. To make a new island feel comfortable and appropriately scaled, Medicus reconfigured the floor plan by moving the powder room. That helped to make space not only for the island but also for a pantry, which was a top priority.

kitchen island with bar seating
Modern kitchen island with bar seating

One of the owners loves to cook, so the work triangle Medicus designed works well for her. There’s a lot of breathing room given to the island, which features an inset walnut cutting board, as well as to the 48-in. Viking range and industrial-size hood. “That stove is a beautiful appliance, so giving it some space to show off was important,” Medicus notes.

kitchen countertop area
Wrap around countertop area

Cabinets were kept to a minimum. Storage was worked into the island and the workhorse of a central unit that houses the pantry and bathroom. “Any time I have a client who says they don’t need upper cabinets, I’m glad to omit them,” Medicus says, adding that their absence increases the breathing room she was after. “In a bigger home like this, there are ways to get around needing upper cabinets.”

modern kitchen counters and cabinets

The client had requested flat-faced drawers, which, in combination with the engineered quartz countertops, the designer says contribute to the room’s “warmly modern” feel. The high-gloss tile from Surface Art that she spec’d for the backsplash does the same. “It reflects the light beautifully and adds a special shimmery quality to the space.”

Together, the strategic floor plan and fresh materials make this a no-nonsense kitchen with wholesome appeal. Plus, it works as a kitchen should.

Photos courtesy of Laura Medicus Interiors

If you have a kitchen project that might be of interest to our readers, please send a short description and images to [email protected].

For more kitchen remodels:

  • Rethinking a Kitchen
  • Structrual Statement
  • Posts and Beams Revised
Previous: Wood-on-White Kitchen Next: Eight Units Become One

Guide

Kitchens

Chapter

Featured Kitchen Projects

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

View Comments

  1. tobymills91 | Feb 07, 2020 01:43am | #1

    nice

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Kitchens

Kitchens

A complete resource for designing, building, or remodeling the kitchen of your dreams

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Kitchens Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Kitchen Planning & Design
Featured Kitchen Projects
  • Kitchen Remodels
Cabinets, Built-Ins, & Pantries
  • Choosing Kitchen Cabinets
  • Installing Kitchen Cabinets
  • Cabinet Hardware
  • Breakfast Nooks
  • Pantries
Kitchen Islands
Countertops & Flooring
  • Countertops 101
  • Concrete Countertops
  • Kitchen Flooring
Appliances, Fixtures, & Lighting
  • Appliances
  • Range Hoods
  • Sinks & Faucets
  • Kitchen Lighting

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

This is your last free article.

Don't miss another expert tip or technique from building pros. Start your free trial today.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data