Neutral Modern Kitchen – Glen Ellyn, IL

The setup

Nestled in the heart of Glen Ellyn, our clients found their dream mid-century abode, yet the kitchen remained a snapshot of the wrong design moment — the Frasurbane style of the late ’90s and early 2000s. Its palette, a relic of dial-up days and Y2K anxieties, clashed with natural light, refracting a dated haze throughout the space. The cooktop and hood, along with a towering backsplash, stifled the island’s convivial essence, while an extraneous perimeter peninsula acted more as a barricade than a bridge — segmenting the kitchen into a limited role.

Our goal: design a transitional kitchen with modern flair — a functional space for present-day living and entertaining that harmonizes with the home’s mid-century essence.

The remodel

The objectives were:

• Redesign layout for better functionality
• Remove multiple levels on island and move range out of island
• Create ample seating at island
• Bar area for entertaining

Design challenges:

• Relocating hood ventilation
• Existing corner sink/peninsula limited design possibilities
• Existing two-tiered island with rangetop/oven limited design possibilities
• Incorporating existing wine cooler
• Improving bar area while allowing it to feel like a separate space
• Upgrading overall kitchen aesthetic in balance with the rest of the home