An A-Frame Kitchen Goes from Cramped and Outdated to Roomy and Timeless

The footprint and finishes of a kitchen in a 1970s Tahoe City, California, A-frame may have worked for its original era, but it desperately needed a present-day update. 

“The clients, a couple in their early 40s who are obsessed with their dogs, spent several years getting to know this home’s quirks before deciding to remodel,” explains interior designer Andrea Lackie. “The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home had dated finishes and the existing kitchen layout lacked function within the limited square footage. They dreamed of creating a comfortable, beautiful, and warm space that would stand the test of time.”

Brad Scott Visuals

As Andrea mentioned, the main problems with kitchen were the limited space and odd layout. The kitchen faced a blank wall; the stove top was pushed far to one side, and the fridge was just “floating” in the space and was awkwardly sticking out into a walkway, she says.

The homeowners wanted to enlarge the kitchen, improving the function and organization of the space. And when it came to the design aesthetic, they envisioned a palette that was both warm but had a sense of lightness. They were open to color, as long as it made sense with the rest of the house.

Brad Scott Visuals

“We were able to expand the kitchen footprint by reconfiguring an adjacent bathroom and moving the washer and dryer, previously tucked into a back storage area of the kitchen, down into the lower level,” Andrea says. “We moved the exterior door into an existing window opening and brought in a structural engineer to add a bay window where the exterior door originally was. We reconfigured the cabinetry layout, moving the appliances into more functional locations and added a cabinet with the kitchen sink in front of the bay window.”

Brad Scott Visuals

A freestanding island was chosen over a built-in one for flexibility and a feeling of lightness. The drab lighting was improved with flush-mount fixtures that fit in with the new cabinets.

For the countertop and backsplash, Andrea’s clients wanted something that had some organic movement and the right balance of warm and cool tones. A lot of time was invested to find the perfect fit.

Brad Scott Visuals

“The new hardwood flooring finish selection was also critical for us to get right, as the flooring runs through the kitchen into the adjacent open living area and adjoins the existing tongue-and-groove wood paneling on the walls, which we did not touch,” says Andrea.

The newly designed kitchen is highly functional, yet still retains some charm. The timeless finishes and natural materials all ensure that the space still fits in with A-frame’s beams, tongue-and-groove ceiling, and natural stone accents.