Modern Bungalow Kitchen

Designer Mark Williams shares how he improved the design of a 1920s bungalow kitchen to blend seamlessly with the rest of the house

Tired of the small, closed-off rooms, an Atlanta couple asked designer Mark Williams of Mark Williams Design Associates to create a kitchen and family room combination. The room is designed for modern living while respecting the detailing and architecture of their 1920s bungalow.

Mark shares the challenges of this project and the design solutions that allowed him to create a "great room" that fits with the homeowners' modern tastes and lifestyle.

Describe the family's wish list.

The space needed to feel open and bright, and combine the overall feeling of being very modern, while at the same time respect the original architecture of the 1920s bungalow. The homeowners wanted us to find the intersection between Corbusian efficiency and Craftsman charm.

What were the major design issues in the space?

This small bungalow had serious traffic-flow issues. You had to move through small rooms to get to other small rooms. We wanted to open the kitchen and family room to give the house a contemporary living style while maintaining the warmth and charm of the original home