Midwest Modern Kitchen Makes Efficient Use of Space

To provide a sense of connection with the outdoors, architects have long turned to walls of glass. For a luxurious kitchen in Minneapolis, local firm Peterssen/Keller Architecture pursued a similar strategy. Vertical windows along each side create the illusion that the kitchen is in front of an entire wall of transparency: The narrow slivers reveal a lush backdrop of greenery—or drifts of snow, depending on the season—just outside. The windows are one of the thoughtful details that make this open kitchen the centerpiece of a new 3,600-square-foot contemporary home. “We thought about how we could approach the kitchen functionally and compositionally, so it would always be interesting to look at,” says Andrew Edwins, project designer at P/K Architecture.

The kitchen, a relatively compact 300 square feet, makes efficient use of space. The clients, a young couple who entertain frequently, opted to keep the 12-foot-long kitchen island an open surface, rather than locate any appliances on it. By placing the sink and cooktop against the far wall, the cooking and cleaning functions are further from the dining room. The oven, steam oven, and warming drawer are hidden from view in the island while walnut cabinets conceal the refrigerator, an appliance garage, and additional storage. “The island then becomes a multifunctional space in the kitchen,” says Edwins. During parties, guests can flow easily between indoor and outdoor space, thanks to glass sliders right next to the island that open onto the front porch.

The finishes are a carefully considered mix of materials, creating subtle visual interest within a minimalist aesthetic. Anchoring the design is a Carrara marble backsplash made of Voguebay tiles etched with shallow grooves. There are no power outlets to mar its seamlessness (instead, there is a Mockett pop-up outlet on the countertop). It is paired with white engineered quartz countertops and custom cabinetry. To create a sleek surface to contrast with the honed marble, the design team clad the upper cabinets in backpainted glass, while painting the lower cabinetry with a warm white eggshell finish.

“Typically we will do a white with a hint of warmth, so that on cloudy days the white walls don’t turn a cool blue-gray and they work better with wood tones,” explains Edwins. However, the DuPont Zodiaq countertops are a true white, to mediate between the cool white backsplash and the warm white cabinetry.

The kitchen stays grounded with its use of natural wood. In addition to white oak flooring, a bank of cabinets is faced with quarter-sawn walnut. The warm-hued built-ins conceal the refrigerator, an appliance garage, and additional storage. Clever shelving provides a place for the couple to store their cookbooks while also allowing them to open the adjoining refrigerator door a full 110 degrees.

The contrasting finishes in the kitchen align with those of the home itself, which consists of two volumes, one clad in horizontal cedar siding and the other in dark gray metal. “In the last five years, our clients have been asking us for clean lines and a much more tailored look while still keeping the natural materials,” says Edwins.