Two-Cook Kitchen

This 1938 house nestled in Hopkins’ historic Interlachen Park neighborhood is unique to the block. A Depression-era restraint to modern details sets it apart from the more traditional homes surrounding it. Over the years, the owners have restored the home’s dated interior finishes and brought the home up to snuff – but the dark, cramped kitchen remained the same. Tucked in the corner of the house and remodeled in the ‘60s, the kitchen felt disconnected and the walled-off dining room was hardly ever used. The tight flow between dining room, kitchen, side entry, and mudroom was always an issue for this busy family of five, and the make-shift mudroom (originally a den) was underutilized.

Without adding a foot, rooms were reconfigured to maximize function and flow, and original details of the home were introduced into the new space. The wall between kitchen and dining room was removed to allow easy access to the screened porch and make way for a kitchen island. Functionality was thoughtfully added into the curved walls: a recessed coffee bar in the kitchen and new drop zone at the entry (both with details borrowed from original niches in the dining room) flow into a large walk-in mudroom closet. Taking cue from the existing living room, new curved walls repeat to encourage easy circulation between side entry, kitchen and mudroom.