Home Tour: Inside Our Soft Kitchen Remodel

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Interior Design: Kate Bendewald
Photos: Jeff Jones & AJ Canaria

Photo: Jeff Jones

This project is the most personal one I’ve ever touched — literally. It’s my own cottage-sized home, the one my family bought sight-unseen during the pandemic.

What began as a 1950s ranch that lacked any character has slowly transformed into a deeply personal sanctuary, thoughtfully shaped to support the way we actually live. We knew we’d be renovating the kitchen, but the moment we finally stepped foot inside, it became clear the basement was also begging for attention. Like many families, we weren’t in a position to renovate everything all at once, which meant I had three full years to design (and redesign) our kitchen. Hundreds of sketches and more than 2,000 Pinterest pins later… here’s where we landed.

BEFORE

Functional Kitchen Layout Design: Creating a Space That Truly Works

Every good project begins with a thoughtful layout, and this kitchen was no exception. The original plan was, frankly, baffling — half the kitchen didn’t even have cabinetry. (I am still recovering.) All the major utilities — sink, stove, fridge, dishwasher — were crammed into a single tiny corner.

This led to many cranky mornings stepping over each other just to unload the dishwasher, and testy evenings prepping dinner elbow-to-elbow in one cramped slice of space.

So… we changed everything. 

We started by removing the sheet vinyl and filling in new oak flooring

Custom Cabinetry & Storage Solutions: Maximizing Every Inch in a Small Kitchen

To start, we raised the sill of the opening to the dining room, which allowed us to run a full wall of cabinetry beneath it. I skipped upper cabinets there entirely to preserve sightlines to the backyard — more light, more breathing room, more calm.

I treated that entire wall like a furniture piece, adding “feet” to the base cabinets and creating visual symmetry.

We relocated the oven to the far wall to establish a focal point as you walk into the kitchen. Then we moved the refrigerator and added a pantry to the adjacent wall, which created… wait for it… five whole feet of uninterrupted prep space.

(Y’all, did you catch that?! Five. Feet.)

3D Model of Kitchen Design

Thoughtful Material & Finish Selections for a Warm, Timeless Kitchen

Once the layout was dialed in (finally), it was time for the finishes — the part where personality shows up.

The original kitchen had sheet vinyl flooring (no words), so that was the first thing to go. The rest of the house had oak floors — great bones, but they’d yellowed over time. We laced in new oak and stained everything to match, and today you’d never know what’s original and what’s new.

Photo: Jeff Jones

I beefed up the millwork with 6" baseboards, vertical tongue-and-groove paneling, and custom window trim. Instead of defaulting to bright white, we painted all of the mouldings a warm taupe (BM Weimaraner, if you’re curious). It instantly added warmth and age in the best way.

Photo: Jeff Jones

I knew from day one that I wanted soapstone countertops, and I upgraded the edges to an ogee profile — a feminine, sculpted detail I’ll never regret.

Photo: Jeff Jones

For cabinetry, I designed a custom gray-blue-green inspired by the Blue Spruce outside our windows. We added a light glaze over it, and depending on the time of day, the color shifts in the most magical way.

Photo: Jeff Jones

Integrated Appliances & “Soft Kitchen” Design for a Seamless Look

This kitchen embraces what has become known as a “soft kitchen” — a space layered with tactile, gentle materials that avoid visual clutter and utilitarian appliance vibes.

To keep everything streamlined, we used:

• An integrated refrigerator
  Unlike standard “counter-depth” models (which still jut out 4"+), an integrated fridge is truly 24" deep. It sits flush with cabinetry and lets your eye glide through the room instead of stopping abruptly at a bulky appliance.

• A panel-ready dishwasher
  Again — quiet, seamless, cohesive.

• A 5-in-1 Advantium oven tucked under the counter
  This allowed us to ditch both the countertop microwave and toaster oven, freeing up precious surface area.

Photo: Jeff Jones

The eat-in kitchen was designed with slow mornings in mind. After months of searching, I finally found the perfect banquette to nestle under our window. Now that it’s there, my kids actually linger—using the table for everything from breakfast to crafts and homework.

Photo: AJ Canaria

Every decision in this space was rooted in softness, clarity, and visual ease — a kitchen that feels calm and lived-in rather than busy or overdesigned.