Wauwatosa Eclectic Kitchen

Eclectic Family-Friendly Kitchen | Wauwatosa

A 1940s kitchen in Wauwatosa’s Pasadena neighborhood was cramped and the couple had difficulty cooking together. They needed a better layout, more storage, and a seating area where their children could do homework. By removing the dining room wall and relocating a basement door, we created a functional, family-friendly space. The homeowners have an eclectic design style, loving elements of traditional and modern design. We chose shaker cabinets, hardwood floors and schoolhouse lighting. Modern elements include a hexagon backsplash tile and navy lower cabinets with brushed gold hardware. More storage was added with a pantry, desk area, drawer organizers and rollouts.

The Original Space

The existing kitchen was very limiting and not functional. The clients identified several goals for their kitchen remodel:

• The number one request was to have a spot for their kids to do homework while both of them were prepping for dinner.
• The kitchen was crowded with the sink area and range on the same wall. Food prep was a challenge because the couple was always bumping into each other. They wanted more distinct zones in the kitchen.
• They needed more storage and organization solutions.

Open the Space & Relocate the Basement Door

The biggest design challenge of this Wauwatosa remodel was the location of the basement door entrance that existed inside the kitchen.

The best solution was to relocate the basement doorway to the opposite side of the hallway. This allows for the overall kitchen to flow cohesively. It also makes more sense logistically to enter the basement directly from the front door hallway.

By moving the basement doorway and opening the dining room wall, the family now has a peninsula and desk area. This acts as a command center for the children’s homework and paying bills.

The family can all be together in their new kitchen, whether it be cooking, homework or eating.

Storage Features

The family needed efficient kitchen storage and organization solutions:

• Desk Storage – A family of four, they wanted a designated desk area to organize mail, homework and notes.
• Pantry – The old kitchen had no dedicated pantry area so we added a pantry cabinet next to the refrigerator for easy access to food items. Now the kids know exactly where to find snacks.
• Rollout Storage – Two full-height roll-out drawers provide canisters for silverware and pantry items.
• Drawers – Drawers allowed us to use more creative storage systems and maximize the functionality and storage within a cabinet. Several drawers include a pegboard organizing system for cookware/lids and tupperware/lids.
• Cooking Organization – The niche behind the range helps keep clutter off of the countertop and keeps everyday use items close by.

Eclectic Kitchen Design 

The clients have an eclectic taste, loving all design styles, but we needed the design to fit their 1940s home, with a mix of traditional and modern elements. We used an elongated hexagon backsplash tile to add shape and dimension. This also gave the kitchen more of a modern look. The Cambria quartz countertop chosen is neutral, allowing the navy cabinets to be the pop of color. Brushed gold hardware adds a touch of elegance on the navy cabinets. Simple matte black finishes were chosen for the upper cabinet hardware, faucet and lighting.

Creating a personalized space is important in every remodel. We originally planned for some open shelving near the peninsula but instead hung the homeowner’s fruit basket – a family heirloom. It’s the perfect spot to keep it front and center.

More of This Kitchen

We have a detailed blog post about this project with before and after pictures! Check it out:

• Wauwatosa Kitchen Reveal

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