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A Nash Martinez light fixture hangs over a whitewashed ash dining table by Robert Rahm of Marrow, with a Sandra Dal Poggetto artwork between the cabinets.

The green slatted cabinetry features bespoke doors on standard carcasses from DIY Kitchens. The triple-glazed O-Lite rooflights by Roof Maker introduce ample daylight into the formerly dark space, and add another curved element to the Mid-Century Modern-inspired scheme.

The kitchen is accessed via the main entrance hall, down three steps made from a dark timber that echoes the cherry wood cabinetry. The stairs are framed by green slatted cabinets finished in Jewell Beetle paint by Little Greene.

In the first-floor bathroom, the mermaid backsplash Caleb carved plays off the Hygge & West “Mermaid” wallpaper.

The home’s modest size meant Caleb did not have to worry too much about material and labor costs. For example, all the interior walls are done in plaster, which is three-to-four times more expensive than drywall in Maine.

“Using only wood to form a cabinet results in artistic moments. Diagonals read as decorative, but these strong triangles are necessary when you’re not using plywood,” Caleb says. “It’s pure joy to use the kitchen, knowing that all parts of it are built with meaning and without compromise.

The entry is full of function, including a washer/dryer that hides behind a mod arrangement of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry made from painted MDF with walnut detailing.

“I like the darkness of walnut. Other woods tend to yellow if you don’t stain it, while walnut stays true to itself,” Caleb says. The white glass tile backsplash melds with the wall.

The pantry has a bar, extra storage, and display for the owners’ cookbooks and favorite kitchen wares. Since it’s used every day, the architects wanted it “to equal the pleasure of being inside the kitchen,” says Edmonds. “I often tell people it's my favorite room in the house,” adds the owner.

Oak lines the interior for a tactile surprise, and the marble counter echoes the marble on the island and perimeter counters.

A trio of Norman counter stools by Rove Concepts sits underneath Cast pendant lights by Menu in the kitchen. Estate Interiors crafted the custom range hood.

The kitchen contains a small desk space that helps subtly define a corner between the kitchen and the breakfast nook. "The idea was to give a sense of a room, with a corner, but still make it feel completely open,

The updated kitchen continues the white oak cabinetry and paneling from the sitting room, while new poured terrazzo floors throughout offer a durable, period-appropriate flooring solution. "I grew up in Malaysia, and a lot of the older homes have terrazzo tiles,

Full-height cabinetry, custom-built with a white matte lacquer finish, maxes out every square inch. The appliance garage at the center hides the Vitamix and coffee maker. When closed up, this bank of cabinets reads as a single wall and the finish reflects light, helping the space to feel bigger.

Wise maintained the footprint of the kitchen, which is roughly 125 square feet, then maxed out the storage. "Our goal here was to create a sleek and minimal kitchen respectful to the era of the home that was hyper-functional in a small space," says Wise. The black stools are from IKEA.

The sink was shifted slightly to make room for a hard-working corner cabinet and the cooktop now has a good amount of prep space nearby. The backsplash is glass back-painted with a custom color and the custom cabinetry is hemlock with horizontal grain match. Wise also dropped the windowsill behind the sink.

The best kitchen remodels simplify an owner’s life and make efficient use of every available square inch.

"The fixed glass without a door really makes it feel like a room within the room, and the plastered walls allow a continuity of subtle texture from wet to dry areas," Lanigan says. The lightwell is connected to the roof deck above.

“After speaking to hundreds of homeowners, we realized that our vision of converting garages (and upcycling other unused spaces into housing) couldn't be done at scale without revisiting the way we approach renovation as a whole,” says Schneider.