East Isles Kitchen Remodel

Written By Victoria Johnson

High-Function Design for Busy Minneapolis Families

We are excited to share some details of one of our most satisfying projects: the East Isles Kitchen Remodel in Minneapolis, MN. This high-end renovation perfectly captures our passion for designing beautiful, resilient homes for busy families.

The new kitchen layout centers around the large prep island with an integrated microwave drawer, providing ample space for busy family cooking. The adjacent, light-filled seating area serves as a cozy, dedicated breakfast nook for quick weeknight meals.

As a Minneapolis kitchen designer, I believe the true measure of a successful space isn't just its beauty, but how effortlessly it supports the rhythm of your family life. Our clients in East Isles are a perfect example: they love to cook, they love to entertain, and they needed a kitchen that could withstand a busy schedule while honoring the unique architecture of their historic home.

The truth is, the vision for this space began forming years prior to being hired. As friends of the homeowners, my husband and I spent time in their beautiful home, allowing me to observe their family's flow and lifestyle first-hand. I remember stepping past the grand red door of their three-story white house, admiring the beautiful dark trim and creaky floors, and then seeing their dated, 1970s yellowed red oak kitchen. The potential for a modern, highly functional kitchen that respected the home's original character was immediately clear. Years later, after founding M. Victoria Johnson Interiors, I was honored to transform this space into the functional, custom kitchen that honored their home's past and their present needs.

The Foundation: Layout Changes for Family Flow

When designing kitchens for busy family homes, we almost always recommend starting with the floor plan. While new finishes are exciting, true transformation comes from optimizing the flow of the room, especially how it connects to the rest of the house.

For the East Isles remodel, this meant challenging the existing layout to maximize functionality.

  • The Bay Window Solution: If I had to pick one favorite design detail, it would be the new seating area we created around the bay windows. This cozy, functional breakfast nook is perfect for quick family meals. However, creating this bench required freeing up a critical section of wall space previously occupied by the large refrigerator. Our structural solution was to modify the doorway leading to the dining room (with consultation from a structural engineer). This move allowed us to successfully relocate the refrigerator to the new wall on the other side of the kitchen, which, in turn, unlocked the wall space needed for the custom seating around the bay window. It's a space that encourages gathering.

Detail shot of the custom cabinetry designed to match the home's original dark trim. The millwork surrounding the bay window transforms a once-unused area into a functional, inviting breakfast nook, showcasing our commitment to seamlessly blending historic detail with modern living.

  • The Power of Process: Like many of our clients, this family came to us with years of ideas. We welcome them! But we don't let them limit our creativity. Our process starts by studying multiple floor plan options. Only once we've agreed on a layout that vastly improves flow and function do we start working on the finishes. For modern living, layout is everything.

Design Details: Durable Beauty and Historic Match

Our clients needed a durable space, but they also craved beauty. This led to some creative solutions for their high-end finishes.

  • Honoring the Architecture: The biggest design challenge was that the previous kitchen remodel, done by a former owner, completely disregarded the home's original architecture. To restore this connection, we focused on meticulous detail. We partnered with Retro Tech Construction and Trademark Wood Products to painstakingly match the home's original dark trim—even extending the detailing into the hallway connecting to the kitchen. We even went a step further for the powder room, sourcing a dark stained oak door from Bauer Brothers Building Materials that was an almost perfect match for the home's original doors, ensuring every element respected the period. For the cabinetry, we chose a classic inset design with an ogee detail on the doors, specifically chosen to maintain the historic, period-appropriate feel.

This hallway view showcases the newly installed dark-stained oak door (salvaged from Bauer Brothers Building Materials) and the custom-matched trim. This meticulous detail work ensures the new kitchen feels entirely original and integrated with the home's 1900s aesthetic.

  • Solving the Slab Backsplash: The client was certain they wanted a stunning, low-maintenance slab backsplash, which is ideal for easy cleaning in a family kitchen. The challenge? The wall was eight inches too wide, requiring an undesirable seam. Our solution was to incorporate a beautiful niche behind the range, providing storage for oils and spices and giving us a natural, intentional place for the seam. A true win-win for function and aesthetics!

A clear view of the working side of the kitchen. To achieve the stunning, low-maintenance full-slab backsplash without an awkward seam, we strategically designed a marble-tiled niche behind the Wolf range. This detail not only looks intentional but also provides convenient, discreet storage for cooking essentials.

  • Durable Finishes for Kids: Knowing this kitchen would see heavy use, we chose Yorkville by Hanstone for the countertops. This durable, non-porous, man-made product is the ideal choice for families with little ones who love to cook and play.

We believe this project is a shining example of how M. Victoria Johnson Interiors creates spaces that are both exceptionally beautiful and perfectly designed for the demands of modern family life.

Ready to Design Your Functional Family Kitchen?

Whether your home is a new build or a historic gem in Minneapolis or the surrounding areas, we specialize in creating custom kitchens that blend modern living needs with timeless design.

Victoria Johnson