Decorating & Design
A Two-Tone Kitchen Blends Mid-Century Soul And Kid-Friendly Finishes
Updated on January 11, 2022
We sat down with architect Brenda Izen of Izen Architecture to see how she delivered a cool mid-mod kitchen to two doctors and their three young kids. Brenda and her team were tasked with creating a soulful, durable kitchen for the busy family of five in a 630-square-foot space.
Scroll down to see our interview with Brenda and this beautiful mid-century modern kitchen!
How did you land on that island design?
Creating a curved island allowed us to widen the circulation around the space, and it was another way of modernizing the kitchen. The slats are a motif that we used throughout the home. They also echo the channelled upholstery we used on the banquette. I’m obsessed with the curved island. It’s the standout design feature of this kitchen.
What inspired you to use walnut for the cabinets and island?
Mid-century modern architecture is known for emphasizing warm woods, especially walnut, and the original house was no exception. We wanted to extend this palette but keep the space very modern, which is how we ended up with a two-tone kitchen.
What makes this kitchen so family-friendly?
It’s virtually indestructible. The millwork is high-pressure, scratchproof and fingerprint-resistant laminate. We also used laminate on the island slats. The banquette is upholstered in a super-durable, wipeable vinyl and the flooring is vinyl tile. The kitchen’s quartz backsplash extends behind the banquette, where Erin Rothstein’s Coffees of Toronto art print hangs.
Brenda opted for two-tone cabinets: walnut veneer (a nod to the mid-century home) paired with white laminate. Double wall ovens make entertaining easy.
Did you keep anything from the old 1950s kitchen?
We reused the brass knobs. They’re original to the house and were an important component of preserving some of the original elements. They stand out perfectly against the white drawers and counters.
A door disguised as a cabinet leads to a hidden butler’s pantry outfitted in bold indigo.
Millwork houses a desk area accented in the same indigo.
Elements Of The Look:
Coffees of Toronto Limited Edition print by Erin Rothstein.
Elements Of The Look:
Oxidized 1479V vinyl flooring by Patcraft.
Elements Of The Look:
72″ Oval dining table with Laminate Top by Eero Saarinen for Knoll.
Elements Of The Look:
Chelsea 25 mm knob in Satin Brass by Pankaj Gulati.
Elements Of The Look:
36″ Contemporary gas cooktop by Wolf.
Elements Of The Look:
Wood cabinets with pulls.
Elements Of The Look:
Form counter stool by Simon Legald for Normann Copenhagen.
Alex Lukey
House & Home December 2021
Izen Architecture