Eye-Popping Orange Range Warms Up a Sleek White Kitchen

A windowless Minnesota kitchen lightens up with glossy cabinets, pops of color and a pass-through to the dining room

Camille LeFevre November 30, 2017

Houzz Contributor. Arts journalist specializing in design and architecture. Former editor of Architecture Minnesota, editor of Innovative Design Quarterly, contributor to Midwest Home and HomeDish blog, contributor to Architect's Newspaper and author of the monograph Charles R. Stinson: Compositions in Nature. Have also written for Architect, ICON and Architectural Record. On my bucket list: Modernism Week in Palm Springs; happy to have done Modernism Week in Phoenix in 2017!! More at camillelefevre.org

Houzz Contributor. Arts journalist specializing in design and architecture. Former... More

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Metropolis Design Group

Photos by Craig Claeys

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two teenagers
Size: 325 square feet (30.2 square meters)
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Designer: Laura Bischoff of Metropolis Design Group

The homeowners loved the simple, clean lines and open plan of their 1970s-era townhouse, but their kitchen was dark and closed off from the dining room. “She felt really lonely when cooking meals in the kitchen,” designer Laura Bischoff says about the family’s mother, who loves to cook. A new pass-through cut into the wall that separates the kitchen from the dining room now draws light from the dining room windows to make the windowless kitchen feel brighter and more cheerful.

A new built-in seat and storage area to the left of the range provides a comfortable perch for eating a bowl of cereal and socializing. “This way, her son can hang out and visit with her while she’s cooking,” Bischoff says.

Metropolis Design Group

The homeowners originally wanted a white kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The white cabinets are a European-style overlay with a semi-glossy lacquer finish that fit the desired sleek color theme. While out shopping for their stainless steel appliances, the homeowners discovered the orange Bertazzoni semi-pro range and brought it home. “They were looking for a little adventure,” Bischoff says. “I was surprised by their choice, but it really makes the kitchen. As soon as they brought it in, the kitchen came together.”

Find colorful ranges

Metropolis Design Group

Bischoff stained the birch-framed pass-through in walnut because the dining table in the next room and the floors are also walnut-stained. “A kitchen that was completely white would have been too austere with the rest of the house,” Bischoff says. The new pass-through is above the cabinets to the left of the door.

Don’t Pass Up the Kitchen Pass-Through

Metropolis Design Group

“They kept mentioning that the kids gravitate to the kitchen while she’s cooking, so I came up with the idea of a cozy seat,” Bischoff says. The fabric for the seat pillow in the walnut-stained birch is called Rule from textile maker Maharam. Turquoise paint inside the open shelves complements the fabric choice.

Metropolis Design Group

The wall tile from Kate-Lo adds texture. The cabinetry pulls feature a satin nickel finish. Large full-extension drawers add ample storage where needed. A microwave drawer keeps the vertical space uncluttered. Various decorative pieces in the chosen accent colors provide a midcentury reference. “Turquoise and orange with white is a modern classic,” Bischoff says.

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