Sammamish, WA
Part of a whole-house remodel, this kitchen was the undeniable highlight — a complete transformation from its dated 1980s origins into a warm, modern showpiece. The clients chose IKEA cabinets paired with custom rift-teak doors and fronts built in our shop, with the grain running horizontally and matched from cabinet to cabinet for a seamless, flowing look. Integrated Thermador refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher — all fitted with our custom doors — disappear into the cabinetry. We also refinished the hardwood floors, rerouted electrical and plumbing, installed a glass tile backsplash, and reframed several walls to open up the space.
One of the first things to go was the built-in pantry — a staple of 1980s and 90s kitchens that you can see in the before photo. These floor-to-ceiling pantry closets look like they offer a lot of storage, but in practice most of the space is wasted. We replaced it with tall cabinets fitted with pull-out shelves and drawers, which put everything within easy reach and make far more efficient use of every inch.
The island is the social hub of this kitchen. We designed it with a raised bar along the back side — a great spot for friends or family to sit and visit while someone's cooking without being in the way. The cooktop is built into the island as well, and rather than hanging a bulky range hood overhead, we installed a downdraft vent that retracts when not in use. It keeps the sightlines open across the kitchen and into the living space, which was the whole point of reframing the walls.
A detail worth calling out is the reeded glass in the upper display cabinets. Reeded glass has a ribbed texture that softens the view of what's inside, and glass-front cabinets in general are a great way to break up the visual weight of a wall of solid doors — but here, we oriented the glass horizontally so the lines of the reeding run in the same direction as the teak grain on the surrounding doors. It's a subtle touch that ties the uppers together and gives the whole wall of cabinetry a cohesive, intentional feel.
