Mercer Island Mid-century

The kitchen in the Mercer Island Residence was a collaboration between Henrybuilt and Hui Tian, homeowner and principal of Studio19 Architects. The goal of the project was to open the existing kitchen to the lake view and adjacent living area while making use of the existing plumbing. The fireplace in front of the kitchen was removed, exposing the view of the lake and enlarging the footprint of the kitchen. The enlarged kitchen anchors the main floor of the house and connects the space to the adjacent yard. The layout of the kitchen is focused on efficiency, allowing 3-4 people to work in the space at the same time. The overall aesthetic is clean and streamlined, mirroring the minimalist design of the rest of the mid-century house. Features include push and release latches in lieu of handles on the wall cabinets and the cabinets below the counter top facing the living room, full length stainless steel pulls on the remaining base cabinets, a stainless steel paneled refrigerator that is flush with the walls around it, vertical wall cabinets that are flush with the walls, and open shelves instead of upper cabinets adding a feeling of openness and light. The neutral color palette includes dark grained wenge, stainless steel, grey polished concrete flooring, and white walls.