A Clean and Updated Traditional Open Concept Kitchen

Tour Type

Virtual Only

Michaela Menke | Cabinet Design Studio

Studio Manager and Lead Designer

Cabinet Design Studio is where you want to start if you are planning renovation project or if you are building a house from scratch.

We lead with design in everything we do. Each space is curated specifically around the needs of each client. Every client works with a designer to ensure their vision becomes reality; great design provides long term value. We want your space to not only be beautiful but also function specifically for you and your family’s needs.

Cabinet Design Studio strives in helping clients achieve their layout goals OR to help clients see a vison they may have not even thought of to begin with.

We specialize in cabinetry, but can also help with countertops, tile, hardware, and many other aspects in the building/remolding process.

We also partner with outside designers or contractors within Omaha to help bring together any project.

Our end goal to create an enjoyable experience by guiding our clients through every step of the process from start to finish.

PRO Partners

Gitt Construction, Inc.

MSI Surfaces

Project Details

The Challenge

The biggest challenge was to deal with the awkward corner pantry and a weird, angular walkway.
The client envisioned an open concept kitchen, lots of warmth and traditional touches.
They wanted it to feel like an extension of the rest of the 90s home but still feel updated and function for their needs. Additionally, the existing layout incorporated a batwing peninsula AND an island that made the kitchen feel cramped, created tiny walkways, and overall just didn’t function for the family in any capacity.

The Vision

The home had many windows that brought in a ton of light. So, we opted to use all wood-stained cabinets and kept the original wood floors to keep everything feeling cozy and to avoid washing out the space.
We wanted to take advantage of the tall ceilings and take the cabinets all the way up.
Incorporating warm metals and creamy whites, we were able to keep the traditional feeling while still making it elevated. The corner pantry needed to move, but we had to tuck it somewhere that made sense, so the flow of the kitchen still worked with the clients’ cooking style.

The Solution

Working with the odd angles the home already had, we were able to move the pantry down and incorporate it in the overly large walkway from the formal dining room.
While the pantry did shrink slightly, we were able to keep the kitchen from being broken up by a pantry smack in the middle of the cooking and prep space. We were also able to give them more functional storage in the kitchen by adding extra cabinets along the back of the island and additional storage capacity in the nook near the breakfast table. By taking away the bat wing, the peninsula removed wasted corner space in the middle of the kitchen.

The Results

This cramped and secluded kitchen became an open, inviting, and warm extension of the rest of the home.
Warm woods, creamy whites, gold accents, and homey touches created the perfect updated traditional style the client was seeking. From the detailed sides of the island to the small stone shelf above the range to the arched reeded glass doors, this kitchen is the perfect balance of modern elegance and traditional coziness.