A Minnesota Kitchen Renovation: From Palm Trees to Maples

This Minnesota kitchen renovation takes its cues from mid mod design with an infusion of nature-inspired colors and textures.

Capturing the essence of Mid Century Modern design while crafting something new takes creativity and a bit of gumption. When homeowners Courtney Gerber and Chad Freeburg decided to renovate their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, they had a vision of creating a kitchen that blended classic mid mod elements with an artistic twist.

“The house was built in 1949, so Mid Century Modern was an influence, but we weren’t interested in a strict interpretation of the style,” Chad says. To celebrate a decade in their beloved home, they brought on Lidia Valdivia, founder and designer at Moonstone Design and Build, to help them craft a space that fulfilled their functional and aesthetic needs and wants.

Handmade Zia tile backsplash in an earthy green with peach kitchen cabinets — The Handmade Zia tile backsplash in an earthy green is an homage to a Mid Century Modern palette with a contemporary twist. The glazed brick finish adds to the texture of the space—a feature that was very important to the homeowners. The inspiration for the palette came from winter sunset in Minnesota. “It is an almost burnt peach with hints of plum,” homeowner Chad says. “We craved the northern Midwest sky when we were living out East for a time and this came through in our color choices.”

Minnesota kitchen renovation with terrazzo floors and green backsplash tile — The terrazzo floors, a classic MCM look, proved to be a challenging aspect of the renovation as well as an opportunity for some creativity. “We received two shipments cracked, so we cut them into smaller pieces to make it work and not delay the timeline,” explains interior designer Lidia Valdivia.

Guiding Goals for the Minnesota Kitchen Renovation

Getting started meant determining what changes needed to be made, both to the practical and style aspects of the kitchen. Due to the age of the home and contemporary expectations, there were several important functional needs. “Their kitchen was not functional,” Lidia says. “They didn’t have enough storage or counterspace and the kitchen had a lot of unutilized space.” They also wanted to open up the kitchen and create a pantry. This necessitated removing the wall between the dining room and kitchen as well as expanding the kitchen into the dining room space to accommodate the new layout.

Artistic Touches

Aesthetically speaking, the homeowners wanted to keep the heart of mid mod design while allowing for a fresh interpretation with a vivid palette and tactile textures. “They wanted a cheery and warm space with colors that popped and a mixture of textures and materials,” Lidia explains. The homeowners drew inspiration from nature, citing winter sunsets in Minnesota as the muse for the colors. “We had both the West Coast and Midwest in mind when we imagined the space,” Chad says. “We had both palm trees and Norwegian maples on our minds.”

The redesigned kitchen is a visual feast of warm wood tones, a variety of finishes that create dynamic dimension and texture, and a harmonious blend of symmetry and modern lines.

pullout spice rack in renovated Minnesota kitchen — With the renovation came a complete reimagining of the space to accommodate the needs of the homeowners and to maximize the footprint. The original kitchen did not have a hood or ventilation system for the range, so Lidia’s team added one in, covered in the Zia tile as a continuation of the backsplash. Open shelving provides the opportunity for the homeowners to style their favorite vintage pieces as well as a continuation of the zia handmade tile backsplash.

dining table with view to renovated Minnesota kitchen — Multiple finishes come together in perfect harmony to create a rich presentation. “We created a tactile experience by utilizing texture-rich materials and a mix of metals,” Lidia says. “We also decorated the kitchen to have natural décor, like handmade pottery, wood utensils and plants.”

peach archway transitioning from kitchen the hallway — Texture, both natural and manufactured, enhances the overall look and feel of the space. “Kneading, mashing, tasting, smelling—kitchen activities—are sensory magic,” Lidia says. “The clients wanted to invite a tactile experience through our choice of surfaces. We wanted to blend the engineered with the handmade.”

If you loved this Minnesota kitchen renovation, you may also be inspired by these kitchens: Trendsetting Tastes: A 1956 Kitchen Renovation in LA and A Mod Michigan Kitchen Makeover in Three Parts. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!