Before & After: A Stunning Midcentury Modern Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Transformation
At Better Than New Kitchens we love a good kitchen transformation, and our recent project is a perfect example. We worked on a custom kitchen refacing job with a midcentury modern vibe for a family living in a 1950s ranch-style home in the Biltmore area of Phoenix, Arizona. Their goals were simple: update the kitchen to match their style and add more cabinet space.
Updating the Look
The original kitchen had traditional maple wood cabinets and dark granite countertops, but the family wanted a more modern look. They described their style as “midcentury eclectic,” a transitional style leaning heavily into the midcentury modern aesthetic. So, we helped them choose flat panel cabinet doors in two tones, natural rift-cut walnut and sage green.
To create more visual interest, we decided to place the rift-cut walnut on the right wall upper cabinets and the left wall upper and lower cabinets. The sage green cabinets were placed on the right wall lower cabinets and the refrigerator cabinet and pantry on the left wall. The upper cabinets were topped with sleek, slightly angled, crown molding. Our clients complimented their new cabinets by adding a white quartz countertop, a glass and stone mosaic tile backsplash, and brushed nickel hardware.
More Cabinet Storage
Besides making the kitchen look better, the family needed more storage. We tackled this in two ways. First, we added new stacked upper cabinets to the existing ones, great for storing stuff you don’t use every day. This was a game-changer, not only for storage but for the overall look of the kitchen. Raising the upper cabinets to the ceiling not only got rid of the dark, wasted space above the old cabinets but also made the kitchen look taller and more open.
We also widened the pantry to the right of the fridge. How? By borrowing some space from the nearby cabinets between the stove and fridge. The result? A roomier pantry and a shift to the left by about 8 inches.
Custom Touches
We had some fun adding unique features, like this one-of-a-kind showstopper, an L-shaped glass panel door display cabinet. Originally our clients requested open shelves on the end of the upper cabinets, but they were also worried about collecting dust. So, we came up with a unique solution by custom designing and building an L-shaped glass door with slow-close hinges. The clients selected a vintage inspired textured glass that beautifully complimented the walnut doors and perfectly fit with their mid century modern style.
Another custom feature was on the other side of the kitchen where we adjusted the upper cabinets to make room for a new-build narrow bookshelf with adjustable shelves for cookbooks and decorations. And next to the sink, to make life a little bit easier, we turned two lower cabinets into pull-out trash bins.
Conclusion
This project is a great example of how a facelift and a few smart additions can transform a kitchen and improve functionality. If you want to see more transformations, hop over to our Project Gallery on the website. And if you’re thinking about giving your kitchen a makeover, get in touch with Better Than New Kitchens. We’re excited to work with you and make your kitchen dreams a reality.
