Inserting a Modern Box to an Older Home

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home

A modern intervention for a kitchen remodel and addition in a traditional Craftsman home.

When it came time for the owners of this Craftsman home to remodel their kitchen, they sought a feeling of openness and abundant natural light. They imagined a kitchen flowing seamlessly to the dining room, with an improved, direct connection to a new back deck and the yard beyond.

The design solution was to insert a modern, “white box” into the traditional Craftsman home. Contrasting with the traditional details of the rest of the house, the spaces within the box are articulated in a modern and minimal fashion. The intentional stylistic contrast suits the client’s design sense and adds a layer of dynamic balance to the home’s aesthetics.

The kitchen addition extends beyond the exterior wall of the house as a discrete, modern form inserted into — and growing out of — the Craftsman home. To highlight this design move, the vertical siding at the exterior wall continues, interrupted only by the threshold of an operable glass wall, as it transitions from interior to exterior.

Creating a successful balance of styles requires not only elegant and careful detailing, but also high-quality craftsmanship and execution. A highly-engaged client collaborating closely with us and the construction team (who were dedicated to the art of their work), played a great role in this project’s success.

The kitchen and dining spaces of this home are now flooded with light. From one space to the next, interior and exterior rooms flow into one another, while shifting between Craftsman and modern detail and form.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Seamless Transitions

Lanai-style doors create an open connection between the dining area and outdoor deck, creating opportunities for entertaining, family gatherings, and simply taking advantage of beautiful days. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Seamless Transitions

Lanai-style doors create an open connection between the dining area and outdoor deck, creating opportunities for entertaining, family gatherings, and simply taking advantage of beautiful days. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Minimalist Workspace

The contemporary chandelier serves as a focal point over the marble island, pairing with the oil-rubbed bronze metal accents of the kitchen to mirror the darker elements in the adjacent dining room. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Minimalist Workspace

The contemporary chandelier serves as a focal point over the marble island, pairing with the oil-rubbed bronze metal accents of the kitchen to mirror the darker elements in the adjacent dining room. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Modern and Bright

Trimless windows and doors accentuate the modern design of the kitchen addition, while also echoing the clean lines of the statement-making island. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Modern and Bright

Trimless windows and doors accentuate the modern design of the kitchen addition, while also echoing the clean lines of the statement-making island. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Personalized Space

Open shelving over the sink provides an opportunity for a flair of decor, giving the client a spot to let their personality shine.Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Personalized Space

Open shelving over the sink provides an opportunity for a flair of decor, giving the client a spot to let their personality shine.Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Lounge in Style

The back deck addition creates a transitional zone between indoor and outdoor, highlighting the blend of modern and traditional. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Lounge in Style

The back deck addition creates a transitional zone between indoor and outdoor, highlighting the blend of modern and traditional. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Daylit Gatherings

With two entry zones that provide smooth circulation, this back deck is the perfect spot for gathering on sunny days and clear evenings. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Daylit Gatherings

With two entry zones that provide smooth circulation, this back deck is the perfect spot for gathering on sunny days and clear evenings. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Serene Backyard Retreat

A short walk across warm flagstones leads to the private spa, nestled between tall hedges and a privacy wall to create a perfectly serene getaway. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Serene Backyard Retreat

A short walk across warm flagstones leads to the private spa, nestled between tall hedges and a privacy wall to create a perfectly serene getaway. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Sun-Drenched Breakfast Nook

This efficient addition creates volumetric light through the use of corner windows, drawing light deep into the new kitchen. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Sun-Drenched Breakfast Nook

This efficient addition creates volumetric light through the use of corner windows, drawing light deep into the new kitchen. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Blending Traditional with Modern

Rather than separating the differing stylistic zones of the house, the openness between the kitchen and dining room is designed to celebrate the merging of classic and new. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Blending Traditional with Modern

Rather than separating the differing stylistic zones of the house, the openness between the kitchen and dining room is designed to celebrate the merging of classic and new. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
A Multifunctional Island

Composed of crisp, clean lines, this island creates ample workspace for the kitchen while also offering extra seating options for entertaining. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

A Multifunctional Island

Composed of crisp, clean lines, this island creates ample workspace for the kitchen while also offering extra seating options for entertaining. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Open Connections, Defined Spaces

Despite having a more open floor plan than traditional Craftsman homes, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces in this home remain distinctly functional while also creating natural circulation. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Open Connections, Defined Spaces

Despite having a more open floor plan than traditional Craftsman homes, the living, dining, and kitchen spaces in this home remain distinctly functional while also creating natural circulation. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Midcentury Charm

A Sputnik chandelier accents the dining room’s coffered ceiling, creating a stylistic bridge between the historical home and its modern additions. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Midcentury Charm

A Sputnik chandelier accents the dining room’s coffered ceiling, creating a stylistic bridge between the historical home and its modern additions. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Dining In Style

Painted a sleek charcoal, the walls of the dining room are offset by the light Craftsman-style window trim, making the space feel connected to the lighter adjacent space. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Dining In Style

Painted a sleek charcoal, the walls of the dining room are offset by the light Craftsman-style window trim, making the space feel connected to the lighter adjacent space. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home – Board & Vellum
Contrasting Harmony

The dark, dramatic dining room serves as a contrast to the light and bright kitchen, helping to differentiate the two spaces while also creating a sense of design harmony. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Contrasting Harmony

The dark, dramatic dining room serves as a contrast to the light and bright kitchen, helping to differentiate the two spaces while also creating a sense of design harmony. Modern Kitchen in a Craftsman Home | Photo by Amaryllis Lockhart.

Notes & Credits
This project was built by Ambrose Construction.
Structural engineering by Bykonen Carter Quinn Structural Engineering.
Photos by Andrew Giammarco Photography and Amaryllis Lockhart.

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