*This post was revised 8/19/25 to update Ferguson Home product links
This single-story rambler was originally built in 1952 and featured a modestly sized yet efficient layout with three bedrooms and two bathrooms across just shy of 2000 square feet. The homeowners had purchased it in 1992 and had made mostly cosmetic updates over the years. They spent over 25 years enjoying the prime location in Clyde Hill within walking distance to premium restaurants and shopping in nearby downtown Bellevue. The home has gorgeous city and territorial views (including of Mt. Rainier on a clear day) and the backyard feels like a secret oasis tucked away just steps from city life. The homeowners decided to update their home in preparation to sell to get the most return on their investment and enlisted my design services along with Paul Osmak of Osmak Homes for the construction. They wanted to create a space that is open, inviting and great for entertaining. The old kitchen had served them well, but they wanted the new design to fit the mid-century style architecture and be equipped with modern amenities fit for a home chef.
THE RENOVATION
Due to the many angles in the ceiling and the flow from the French doors to the backyard, we wanted to create a space that maximized the kitchen layout while allowing easy uninterrupted access to the outdoors. Keeping the upper cabinets light helps them blend with the wall and vaulted ceiling color to keep the room bright with the natural light from the skylight. We added angled cabinets to the end of the cabinet run so as to not detract from the double glass doors. We eliminated the curved shape of the island and created a new larger scale rectangular island with waterfall edges that make it feel very substantial and gives the kitchen a prominent presence in the home. The new island is perfect for casual hangouts and entertaining alike.
BEFORE
The old cabinets felt worn and tired as they had met the end of their useful life with multiple coats of paint and worn out hinges. The layout was awkward and dated. The sitting room was inadequately utilized and the fireplace felt a bit dingy. The spaces all flow together, and the overall style did not match the desirable luxury lifestyle of downtown Bellevue city living.
BEFORE + AFTER COMPARISON
The appliances were condensed in the new layout with a slide-in range which eliminated the need for a separate cooktop and wall oven configuration. The microwave was moved to a base cabinet to free up room next the refrigerator. This new configuration allowed for a nice sized pantry cabinet next to the refrigerator.
BEFORE PHOTOS
THE UPDATED KITCHEN
THE DESIGN
We chose a two-tone palette for the cabinets focusing on light grey wood-look uppers paired with rich, dark gray base and tall cabinets. Brass finishes were tied in through an accent on the cabinet hardware as well as the faucet and the island pendant lights. We kept the major pieces in relatively the same configuration to minimize rough in relocation costs.
THE APPLIANCES
It isn’t uncommon to mix and match appliances as long as they are either all the same finish or a combination of one finish and panel-ready with custom cabinet fronts. Mixing brands sometimes helps you incorporate features you love if done correctly. I think it’s best to match major appliance handles, in this case the range and refrigerator handles match and are from the same line. The range is a GE Cafe so as to give it a chef’s feel without breaking the bank. The homeowners wanted to incorporate a Bosch dishwasher, so we chose one with an unbranded face and pocket pull so that it blends with the other stainless appliances. The beverage fridge has a slightly different handle but is nondescript and has a clean look that doesn’t detract from the other pieces. The Sharpe microwave drawer tucks the microwave mostly out of view and in a base cabinet for a clean finish. We chose the microwave option with the hidden controls to keep the face minimal.
THE CABINETRY
A dark glossy warm gray flat-front door style is paired with a pale wood-look laminate door style on the upper cabinets with European style frameless cabinet boxes. Stainless steel appliances throughout offer ease of cleaning and a neutral look. Since the size of the kitchen is fairly compact, they opted to skip a trash pull out in favor of utilizing the island for much needed storage.
THE COUNTERTOP
The countertop is a beautiful white marble-look quartz that is really a showstopper with the waterfall edges that open to the sitting, dining and living room. Since the kitchen is relatively small, we kept the color consistent through all the countertops and even into the adjacent laundry room to create a uniform look throughout.
FEATURES
The range area has a beautiful glass penny tile mosaic that pulls in beige and taupe that compliments the linear glass subway tile set in a straight pattern to play off the mid-century aesthetic. We had looked at tons of options for this accent, but ultimately opted for a fairly neutral choice that would have the most design longevity. The rest of the backsplash is a warm gray glass subway in a straight stack to emphasize the mid-century vibe.
The home already had oak floors in most of the rooms, so we laced them into the new kitchen after the concrete slab work was done and refinished the whole floor in a lovely warm taupe color that compliments everything and provides a nice neutral backdrop for furniture. We didn’t want anything that competes with the beautiful views out every window so kept the finishes muted and with minimal ornamentation.
CREATING DIFFERENT ZONES
Since the sitting room opens to the kitchen and main living space, we dressed it up by eliminating the small closet with bi-fold doors and created a built-in bar area that feels much more stylish with new recessed lights and a thick floating shelf. A new gas insert was installed in place of the wood burning fireplace and a modern linear-stone mosaic in a dark slate that compliments the cabinetry was installed floor to ceiling and highlighted with mini puck lights. This fireplace, while modern, doesn’t compete or clash with the original beige and brown stone fireplace in the living room just a few steps away.
Photos above by Olivia Horine Design.
THE CONTEXT
Every space of the main living area flows seamlessly from room to room. The minimal interior provides a calming aesthetic and allows the views outside to be the main focal points. The homeowners created a very functional and livable home to take it into the next century and allow them to maximize their return on investment for the next chapter of their retirement.
The new sitting room and kitchen flow together seamlessly 
The fireplace tile blends seamlessly with the cabinetry 
From every angle the kitchen is a beautiful focal point 
The mid-century style flows with the living room rockery 
The original mid-century stone was left to keep some of the original character of the house 
Every window has a beautiful city or nature view 
The French doors in the kitchen lead to a cozy outdoor seating area 
The backyard feels like an oasis just steps from the kitchen
SHOP THE LOOK
*Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission from product links. I only recommend products I have used and loved.
Disclaimer: Due to many of the appliance and fixtures being discontinued since this project completed, I have linked similar models below.
APPLIANCES:
FIXTURES & HARDWARE
If you are located in the Bellevue, Kirkland or surrounding areas and interested in remodeling your kitchen or bathroom with us whether large or small, please feel free to contact us below.
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