Kitchen Tour Spectacular

Heidi Dockter, Allied Member ASID
6617 Promontory Dr., Eden Prairie
When this Eden Prairie home was built in 1989, the kitchen featured black formica countertops, white cabinets, a black-and-white tile fireplace, and vinyl floors. But the styles of the eighties haven’t exactly withstood the test of time. As a designer, Heidi Dockter knew her kitchen could use a style update; as a frequent cook, she also wanted it to be more functional. She had been using the landing in the basement stairwell as a makeshift pantry, and the dining room more often served as an office than a formal room for entertaining.

The real hotspot of the house was an eating nook off the kitchen that looked out over a nature preserve. “People love to be right here,” she says sitting at the kitchen table. “No one moves from this space, but it was very, very tight.” The logical solution was to expand the kitchen into the dining room and make the eating space off the kitchen roomier for casual and formal entertaining. Dockter now has a wealth of cupboards for storage, including two pull-out pantries and two large file drawers. The countertops and full backsplash are a warm golden granite with prominent darker seams that are illuminated by under-cabinet lights. A new stone fireplace, faux finish on the walls, and bamboo floors give the kitchen a classic feel, while stainless steel appliances and pendant lights over a new breakfast bar add a modern touch. Finally, Dockter’s colorful art collection pulls it all together into a warm and vibrant mix. “When you’re a designer, you know what you want,” she says. “This is a clean kitchen. No mess, no fuss.”
Resources:
Appliances: GE Monogram
Cabinets: Dynasty by Omega
Countertops: Juparan Florista granite
Flooring: Bamboo
Lighting: Murray Feiss

Amy Kos, Allied Member ASID
7935 South Bay Curve, Eden Prairie
The lure of this Eden Prairie house was its large lot on Mitchell Lake in an appealing neighborhood. While the kitchen wasn’t in bad shape, it did need new appliances along with some updating to open it up and take advantage of the abundant natural light. Working with Bremen Builders, Amy Kos chose a buttery yellow hue for the walls to bring a warm element into the kitchen. They got rid of the laminate countertops and chose a vibrant granite in Imperial Gold along with modern stainless steel appliances.

Tying together the colors are blown-glass pendant lights with shades of brown, gold, and rust. “The kitchen is not super contemporary but not traditional; a transitional style really fit the bill,” Kos says.

While the cabinets stayed, Kos had a custom cabinet-maker insert glass panels into a bank of small cupboards running along the ceiling, as well as a corner cabinet door, to add visual interest to the space. The most significant structural change to the kitchen was the elimination of cupboards over the peninsula to open up the space and let in the light from the window. Finally, a highlight of the new room is the two-tone American walnut flooring, which the homeowner says is probably her favorite part of the kitchen for its beauty and durability with a dog and three kids. “I really wanted something that I didn’t have to be neurotic about,” she says.
Resources:
Appliances: GE
Cabinets: Fritz Cabinetry
Countertops: Paramount granite
Flooring: Schaefer Hardwood Floors
Lighting: Filament Lighting