The Shaker cabinets did not fit the Mid‑Century character of this Ralph Fournier home in Crestwood, MO, and the owners wanted a cleaner, more period‑appropriate look without losing the existing footprint of the kitchen. Rather than starting over, we worked with the cabinets along the sink and range walls, keeping the existing cabinet boxes in place to maintain their layout.
To bring the style in line with the architecture, we replaced the doors and drawer fronts on the base cabinets with natural cherry slab fronts, highlighting the warm grain and simple lines that are true to Mid‑Century design. For contrast and a touch of personality, we introduced a pop of color on the wall cabinets, using Reflecting Pool by Sherwin Williams on new slab doors. This combination of natural cherry and soft blue‑green gives the kitchen a custom, curated feel while still feeling appropriate for the era of the home.
Behind the doors, we upgraded the functionality as well. All existing drawer boxes were replaced with solid wood dovetail drawers paired with undermount soft‑close glides, creating smoother operation and better long‑term durability. We also added adjustable roll‑out trays in key base cabinets, making it much easier to access everyday cookware and pantry items without bending or digging into the back of the cabinet.
On the opposite wall, beneath their beautiful custom open shelves, we installed an all‑new run of cabinetry designed for storage and organization. This included a dedicated pull‑out trash and recycling cabinet to keep bins hidden but convenient, deep drawers sized for easy‑to‑access dishes and serving pieces, a built‑in microwave cabinet to clear the counters, and an appliance garage to quickly conceal the toaster and other small appliances. Together, these updates not only modernized the look of the kitchen to suit the Mid‑Century home, but also significantly improved day‑to‑day function for the homeowners.