/ ATOMIC KITCHENS /
Back to the Future
Written by Lauren Hofer
TAKING THIS EICHLER KITCHEN BACK TO ITS MID-CENTURY ROOTS HELPED HOMEOWNER AND DESIGNER K AREN NEPACENA DISCOVER A NEW CAREER PATH.
Photographed by John Shum
TO KEEP THE KITCHEN BOTH LOW COST AND AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, THE COUPLE CHOSE AN IKEA KITCHEN AND ORDERED WALNUT CABINET FRONTS FROM SEMIHANDMADE. “EVEN THOUGH WALNUT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ORIG-INAL TO AN EICHLER, MANY MID-CENTURY HOMES HAD SLAB WOOD CABINETRY,” KAREN EXPLAINS.
Designed by Karen Nepacena
SEE THE FULL HOUSE TOUR AT ATOMIC-RANCH.COM!
WHILE THE HOMEOWNERS DIDN’T MOVE ANY PLUMBING, THEY REORIENTED THE SPACE ENTIRELY AND MOVED THE KITCHEN FROM THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE TO ONE SIDE. “WE NOW HAVE A FAIRLY OPEN PLAN. IT’S OPEN TO A CONNECTED DINING ROOM, AND IT OVERLOOKS OUR FAMILY ROOM.”
KAREN AND HER HUSBAND HAND-POURED THESE COUNTERS THEMSELVES. “A LOT OF THESE HOMES WOULD HAVE HAD LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A FLECK IN THEM. WE WERE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY WHERE WE COULD, SO WE ACTUALLY MADE CONCRETE COUNTER-TOPS IN OUR BACKYARD INSTEAD.” THE RESULT GROUNDS THE KITCHEN WITH ORGANIC TEXTURE. “THERE ARE NICE IMPERFECTIONS IN THE COUNTERTOP, AND IT HAS KIND OF JUST EVOLVED WITH US AS WE’VE USED THE KITCHEN AND GROWN INTO THE HOUSE,” KAREN SAYS.