Instilled Elegance - Kansas City Homes & Style

Story by Judy Goppert | Photography by Matthew Anderson

Heidi Harrison, CKBD with MP360 Design & Build, recently coordinated a complete remodel of the Smith family residence. The finished product is a lighter space, much more open, increased storage and functionality, providing a welcoming sophisticated updated look.

“They purchased the home in 2013, and this is the first major project they have done,” Harrison noted. “The vision for this kitchen remodel was to infuse sophistication and timeless elegance into a builder-grade home, while emphasizing functionality and quality. Starting with a blank canvas allowed us to reimagine the space’s full potential.”

The first step involved carefully selecting luxury appliances, cabinetry, lighting, and hardware. Recognizing the importance of quality and precision, a fully custom-manufactured luxury line was opted for. The superior craftsmanship and lifetime warranty provided a level of excellence that is often unattainable with locally built alternatives.

Nathan and Sha Smith were over the top on their newly renovated Parkville, MO home. “Our kitchen is not just a place where we prepare food, it’s where memories are made, and family and friends come together. When designed with both function and beauty in mind, it becomes a space that inspires creativity and makes cooking an absolute joy. With sleek, organized storage solutions, elegant countertops, and lighting that sets the perfect mood, a remodeled kitchen can transform daily meals into extraordinary experiences. It’s where style meets efficiency, sparking a passion for cooking that we never knew we had. Our only regret is not doing it sooner!”

Harrison expressed that collaboration with the couple was essential to achieving an exceptional outcome. The goal was to maximize storage, improve functionality, and create distinct zones for a multi-generational family that enjoys cooking together. The client’s preference to remove their peninsula led to a re-evaluation of the kitchen layout, enhancing flow and overall usability.

Lightening and opening the space was another priority, resulting in the incorporation of recessed lighting, decorative fixtures, and under-cabinet illumination, complemented by lighter finishes for cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. The selection of luxury integrated appliances minimized visual clutter and optimized the limited walkway space while extending cabinetry to the ceiling creating a visually open, high-end look and maximized storage.

Throughout the process, challenges were faced due to the kitchen’s smaller dimensions, which could not be expanded because of a centrally located staircase. The space initially lacked adequate storage and organization, and the need for extra dedicated spice and dried food storage was identified. Solutions included the creation of an island to facilitate two pathways around the kitchen and replacing an inefficient walk-in pantry with cabinetry that doubled the storage capacity.

To optimize organization, Harrison included innovative cabinetry inserts, the kitchen now being home to drawer spice racks, in-drawer knife blocks, cutlery dividers, tray dividers for cookie sheets, utensil dividers, and a corner LeMans pullout, which outperforms traditional lazy Susans.

“We also added drawers wherever possible, implemented an in-cabinet trash pullout with a servo drive for hands-free operation, and introduced roll-out shelves in the pantry cabinetry,” she continued.

One of the major revisions was the removal of the walk-in pantry, as much of the area was designed to accommodate body space. New design allow for the storage of food items in tall pantries with rollouts. To the Smith’s delight, their new pantry actually has empty rollouts that will used for future storage.

By using a luxury appliance brand that allows the appliances to be integrated into the cabinetry, the kitchen has a sophisticated finish. This allows the beauty of the cabinets to a focal point, while also being very efficient. Refrigerator storage was increased with the fridge and freezer being separate. “Having the refrigerator and freezer columns makes food preservation last longer because they are not interchanging air with one another,” Harrison shared. “This also allows for the appliances to be as deep as the cabinetry, so that there is more room in the walkway. And making them completely concealed makes site lines less interrupted and provides a cleaner aesthetic.” The luxury brand of cabinetry selected is a fully custom factory-finished cabinet with all the bells and whistles.

The bar is also updated, yet with a classic allure. Bringing brass finishes back into the design mix warms up the space and lends to a timeless appeal.

“Through thoughtful design and innovative solutions, we transformed the kitchen’s limitations into opportunities, resulting in a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional,” she expressed.