A Kansas City kitchen renovation brilliantly balances modern functionality with timeless charm while maximizing natural light and entertainment options.
Story by Ann Butenas | Photography by Bob Greenspan
In the heart of Kansas City’s historic Brookside neighborhood, a remarkable kitchen transformation has turned a disconnected, dark space into a light-filled culinary haven. Elizabeth Rishel, CKD and owner of Orion Design, alongside designer Alex Huckins, orchestrated this stunning renovation that seamlessly blends modern convenience with classic charm.
The project’s success began with a bold reconfiguration of the home’s layout. By relocating the powder bathroom adjacent to the stairs, Rishel’s team created the opportunity to expand the kitchen significantly and establish a natural flow into the dining room.
“We got rid of the eat-in kitchen area and repositioned the exterior door to create a mudroom. This opened the entire space for a new kitchen,” explained Rishel. This strategic move enabled the creation of a much larger kitchen that captures the morning sun from the backyard, making the most of natural light throughout the day.
Sunlight now floods the kitchen through strategically placed banks of windows, including an innovative installation flanking the range. This thoughtful design brings the outdoors in, creating an uplifting atmosphere for daily activities. The renovation’s emphasis on brightness represents a dramatic departure from the previous layout, which featured just a single window over the sink and a dark, disconnected rear entrance.
The kitchen’s centerpiece is a generously sized island that combines form and function, featuring ample counter space, convenient drawer storage on the sink side, and an integrated trash cabinet. Above, carefully chosen pendant lighting strikes the perfect balance – providing essential illumination without overwhelming the sight lines to the cooking area.
“The scale is perfect,” noted Rishel. “These are the important details to vet.”
Color plays a crucial role in the design’s success. The kitchen’s warm yellow cabinets create an elegant flow with the dining room’s sophisticated brown tones, transforming the former lime green palette into a more cohesive design. The homeowners’ adventurous spirit with color choices allowed for this bold yet harmonious palette. Traditional elements, including a treasured family sideboard and dining table, were thoughtfully incorporated into the updated space, bridging old and new with elegant sophistication.
The material selections throughout the kitchen showcase a commitment to both beauty and durability. The countertops, crafted from quartzite, offer the elegant appearance of marble with enhanced resilience, though Rishel notes the premium material requires proper maintenance. A farmhouse sink, topped with an antique brass faucet and flanked by elegant sconces, provides a picturesque view of the side yard. The flooring received careful attention as well, with the contractor expertly lacing in new wood where walls were removed, then sanding, and re-staining the entire surface for a seamless finish.
Modern touches appear in unexpected details, such as the glazed ceramic backsplash tiles arranged in an upright soldier pattern. The custom range hood, finished on all four sides to accommodate its visibility through the windows, features creamy white trim matching the cabinets, while its sides echo the wall color. It provides powerful ventilation for serious cooking, meeting the homeowners’ desire for both form and function. Linear brass pulls on the cabinetry add contemporary flair while maintaining the kitchen’s timeless appeal.
Storage solutions abound, with an entire wall dedicated to pantry cabinets, cleverly incorporating a flush-mounted TV that allows the homeowners to enjoy entertainment while cooking without compromising the kitchen’s aesthetic. An appliance garage beside the sink conceals the microwave, maintaining the kitchen’s clean lines. The refrigerator, a Thermador model, seamlessly blends with the cabinetry design, creating a cohesive look throughout the space.
The renovation extended beyond the kitchen to create a cohesive flow throughout the ground floor. The mudroom received a sophisticated truffle-colored paint treatment, and existing cabinets were enhanced with a quartzite countertop over the radiator. The relocated powder room now features whimsical rolling clouds wallpaper and enjoys increased privacy in its new position, creating a more logical traffic pattern through the home.
The project’s success lies in its ability to deliver modern functionality while respecting the home’s character.
“The updated kitchen doesn’t feel like a total departure from the overall style of the home,” Rishel observed, “but has the layout and function of a modern kitchen.” From the front door, visitors now encounter a space that’s both welcoming and efficient, where carefully chosen drapery in the dining area pulls the kitchen’s sunny yellow tones through the space, creating a seamless visual connection between rooms.
Through thoughtful design choices and expert space planning, this Brookside kitchen renovation proves that practical improvements can coexist beautifully with period charm, creating an inviting heart for the home that serves both form and function for these near-empty nesters.
Resources
- Design: Orion Design
- Contractor: Remodel Moore
- Cabinets: Cabinet Designs LLC
- Plumbing Fixtures: Grandview Winnelson
- Lighting: Visual Comfort
- Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs
- Countertops: Legendary Stone
- Tile Installer: Beck’s Tessellation LLC
