MID-CENTURY REINVENTION
This project focused on a few key moves to update this small mid-century apartment while staying within a tight budget. A wall between the kitchen and living/dining room was partially removed to create a large, contiguous living area. In the kitchen, the original 1950’s metal cabinets and wood-look laminate countertops were retained, so Lincoln Lighthill Architect used maple plywood throughout the home to match this faux but nearly indestructible counter surface and contrast with the existing oak floors. A new oven and refrigerator swap locations to move the bulky items to the back wall, where a large pantry provides abundant storage and an appliance garage. A reclaimed maple butcherblock slab sits on a height-adjustable base and transforms from counter to table. Combined with an expandable dining table, the space can seat 14 people for dinner. Cork flooring, reclaimed from another project, provides a durable and resilient surface that blends with the existing oak floors. In the bathroom, new fixtures, an updated vanity, and Heath hexagonal tile flooring transform the formerly pink-tiled space, unifying it with the rest of the home.