Circular design elements in Patty and Kevin Van Kampen’s Shorewood kitchen create a dynamic design. A circular soffit is echoed in the concentric circular detail on the wood floor and a curved countertop separates the dining and cooking areas.

For Patty and Kevin Van Kampen of Shorewood it was time to transform their 1950s style kitchen area to achieve an updated, classic aesthetic. Although the Van Kampens admit they don’t spend a lot of time actually cooking in the kitchen, they wanted the space to be light, bright and enjoyable.

"They wanted to see the lake from any spot in the kitchen, and they wanted to let more light in by adding a window to the south wall," says Dick Frozé, owner of Frozé Design-Build, whose firm, along with interior designer Peg Winters, worked on the project.

Frozé produced a digital image of the home with an oval window inserted on the south wall. The photo helped guide the team through the decision-making process as it strived to maintain the integrity of the architecture. In addition, a new window over the sink helped take further advantage of Lake Michigan views.

Curved and circular design elements offered the team a challenge, but resulted in a unique feature that creates a dynamic design. The design of the dining space takes advantage of curved elements in the architecture. A circular soffit was developed with a concentric circular detail duplicated on the floor. Three different types of wood create the circular pattern on the floor, while a decorative mural highlights the ceiling soffit.

A 676-foot expansion and close attention to detail allowed Brian and Judy Moran to achieve a more functional kitchen. A pot filler, hidden bins for garbage, recyclables and laundry and metal front bins for root vegetables as well as special storage for bottled water are some of the amenities.

A coffered detail highlights the remainder of the ceiling. A pale yellow with crisp white moulding creates a classic aesthetic. The yellow walls and white trim combined with the increased amount of natural light gives the space a cheerful atmosphere. White cabinetry, green granites and ceramic tile details of blue, burgundy and yellow infuse more color into the space. These colors are predominant in a variety of area rugs as well as artwork by the couple’s favorite artist.

While the Van Kampens enjoy the space it is also home to their three miniature dachshunds, Oscar, Fred and Ginger. The mural artist painted their likeness onto the dining room wall. An adjacent laundry room, which doubles as the doggy lounge, showcases the Oscar, Fred and Ginger Christmas card collection. Door pulls with dog faces are part of the décor for the storage cabinets within this space. Closets, under-the-counter washer and dryer placement and a drop-off counter are all part of the design. A yellow and white stripe offers continuity to the adjacent kitchen area.

"This was a dated house. This project updated it and gave it a classic style," Kevin says.