A Circa-1915 Minnesota Kitchen Steps Into the Light - David Watkins Designs
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A Circa-1915 Minnesota Kitchen Steps Into the Light

A Circa-1915 Minnesota Kitchen Steps Into the Light

“Dinged-up.” That’s how Cheryl and Cody recall the condition of their circa-1915 St. Paul, Minnesota, bungalow the first time they set foot inside a few years ago. Nonetheless, the couple—who share two kids, a dog, and some chickens—deemed it not too shabby. They saw it as an upgrade from their existing 900-square-foot condo and the perfect size for their growing brood. Convinced it was the right move, the couple decided to call off all bets and make an offer. “We loved the historic charm of the bungalow. It had housed several large families before us and felt comfortable and lived-in,” Cheryl says. In fact, it was so lived-in that the rooms were falling apart, the layouts were obsolete, and the kitchen—a strange galley curiosity—could barely squeeze two cooks inside at once. But Cheryl and Cody (she’s a nurse, he’s a land surveyor) saw the potential and were confident in their ability to make the home livable (and lovable) with some help from interior designer Julia Miller of Yond Interiors. Their brief? To expand and update the kitchen while keeping one foot in the past.

AFTER: The kitchen—defined by butter yellow cabinetry—basks in natural light thanks to windows that dominate the garden-facing walls. “The color palette was something we couldn’t have picked on our own, but we absolutely love it. It feels bright yet grounded,” Cheryl says. The Le Corbusier sconces flanking the sink, re-homed from the family’s previous residence, are equally special. “We love how unexpected they feel in a rather traditional space, and they really allow the lighting to be flexible to the needs of the cook.”

As Julia further explains, the first step was moving the kitchen altogether. “Luckily, a previous owner had added a sunroom next door, so moving the kitchen there to gain some elbow room seemed like the obvious choice,” says the designer, who connected the space to the main living area to encourage natural light. As for the aesthetic, she gave the interior a sunshiney, detail-filled British slant. “The clients love traditional cabinetry so we obsessed over every little trim and measurement,” she adds.

If the end result is anything to go by, it’s safe to say that the kitchen is bigger—and better—than ever before. As Julia puts it, “it really reflects the homeowners’ bright and relaxed style.”

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota