Modern Times

Maryanna Drive Residence, Austin, Texas

Grand, best kitchen in a single-family detached remodeled home—over 3,000 square feet

Kevin Alter’s client had fond childhood memories of time spent in this house, but as an adult with a family of his own, he wanted to renovate the kitchen to accommodate a new set of priorities—all the while maintaining aspects of the home’s original personality.

The trick was figuring out what to keep and what to change. “It’s a large and handsome property,” Alter says, “but it had a ’70s character with brick floors, dark oak cabinets, and very inefficient spaces.”

Beginning with a space that had traditional panels, wood beams, and small windows, Alter inserted a decidedly modern new kitchen with a continuous ceiling and three partitions surrounding a large island. One partition houses refrigeration, the other contains cooking equipment, and a third has a wet bar. To bring unity to the three stations (and the space in general), the architect specified book-matched eucalyptus veneer for the cabinetry and replaced the old brick floor with wide-plank mahogany.

A large 6-foot-by-12-foot window brings abundant daylight to the space, while ­recessed cans and pendant fixtures ­supplement artificial illumination. White Caesarstone quartz countertops, highly ­reflective stainless steel, and glass-front cabinets also help brighten the room. “The clients were skeptical that the project was too modern and should have a more decorative aspect to it,” Alter says, but now they are very happy they trusted their instincts and their architect.

Entrant/Architect: AlterStudio Architects, Austin, Texas; Builder: Brian Sheffield Custom Homes, Austin; Interior designer: Tracey Overbeck Stead Interiors, Austin