An outdated home in Ventura, California, receives an MCM kitchen renovation that celebrates its ocean views and restores its mod charm.
You might have heard the advice to live in your new home for a while before you make any permanent changes to it. Such was the case for homeowners Sharon Vasquez-Ray and her husband Rick Ray. The couple waited eight years after moving into their Ventura, California, for their kitchen renovation. 
Having previously lived in a Spanish bungalow, this couple wasn’t aware of their 1959 home’s mid century style when they moved in in 2012. But Sharon had always been fascinated by Mid Century Modern furniture and had dreamed of attending Modernism Week in Palm Springs. Her husband surprised her with tickets one year, and after attending, they noticed their own home’s mid century architecture and decided on kitchen renovation to complement it. With the help of a resourceful team, they transformed their dilapidated kitchen into a space worthy of its history.
Mid Century Kitchen Makeover
Another reason Sharon and Rick didn’t know the true style of their home was because it had been stripped of its original interior details. “The previous homeowners had makeovers done that didn’t make sense with mid century,” says Sharon. “The tile countertops had grout lines, the cabinets were stained and not sealed and they added a Mexican prefab tile on the floor. It would have been amazing to see the original treatment.”
Not only was the old look not in keeping with MCM design; it was also falling apart. “Everything started sagging,” says Sharon. “As the cabinet doors would fall off, I would just keep them off. It’s like we had a forced open shelf design.” Plus, the previous layout was not functional. The island in the middle of the small kitchen meant Sharon and Rick had to squeeze by the tiny space to get to the cabinets. Additionally, the sink was in the corner of the kitchen. “When you did dishes, you’d be looking at the wall instead of the stellar ocean view out the window,” says Sharon.
A Fresh Start
To ensure their kitchen renovation would be successful, Sharon and Rick hired architect David Ferrin of Arketype Architects and designer Josh Ganzhorn of Able and Baker Design. “David came up with the initial concept, and Josh designed the cabinets within that concept,” Sharon says.
They started the kitchen renovation by gutting the island and cabinets to open up the layout. Sharon had her heart set on ribbon sapele wood for the cabinets, and Josh found the right materials. “I gave them a Pinterest picture with sapele wood that inspired me, and they worked off of that,” says Sharon. Now, there’s plenty of accessible storage, and the white quartz countertops give the space a clean look.
An Ocean View
Located on top of a winding hill, the kitchen has an incredible view of the ocean. Sharon wanted to incorporate features that would celebrate that. She chose a neutral palette with touches of blue in the backsplash, barstools and dinnerware. The glass pendants hanging in front of the window remind her of bubbles, and the sink now faces the large window, taking advantage of the view. “I love the relaxation and inspiration I get from being in the kitchen,” says Sharon. “I actually enjoy cooking now, proving that design has the power to enhance your daily life.”
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