In contrast to more traditional homes, which tend to shut out the site, this midcentury modern house attracted Amy and Matt Collins because of its many views of the wooded property. The living areas are wrapped mostly in glass, so the open interior living spaces are brightly lit. And because it was affordably priced, they knew they’d be able to make improvements in the future. Their first project was to add a master suite and a studio for Matt, who is an illustrator and works at home. They knew they’d need to address the outdated and clunky kitchen soon after. When a tree fell on the house and damaged the roof above, they took the opportunity to remodel all of the living areas.

A 312-sq.-ft. solution

It was easy to see what was wrong with Amy and Matt’s kitchen, and it was more than just the kitchen itself that wasn’t working. There were big problems to solve that included the surrounding dining and living rooms, and the entry too. The existing kitchen—built circa 1980—had a narrow Pullman-style layout, which dead-ended against a bathroom wall. The cabinetry was ubiquitous (and pretty ugly) ’80s white laminate. With the kitchen located right next to the main entry door, it was the first thing visitors saw when they came in the house.

While it was open to the dining area, the kitchen’s narrow width made it difficult for more than one person to use. And there was no place for family or guests to hang out with the cook. Because the existing kitchen was located on an exterior wall with big windows, there were few upper cabinets. The open shelves­, exposed to the adjoining hallway, meant dishes attracted dust and required vigilant arrangement. Finally, the living areas adjacent…