Designer Tips for Updating a Historic Home for Modern Life

As part of a down-to-the-studs remodel of a foursquare in the historic Cheesman Park neighborhood of Denver, the team at Annabode Interior Design reimagined how the home could function for a growing, modern family. The goal was clear: honor the character and feel of the 1906 home while maximizing flow and creating visual interest. Annabode Principal Designer and Creative Director Camille Muhtar shares a few principles that guided the project—and how to create a similarly stunning, timeless look in any kitchen.

Take Your Lifestyle into Consideration

Before any design project, Muhtar and her team ask big-picture questions about how a space functions day-to-day. Who uses it, and how? Do the acoustics and lighting work? What’s stored there? What’s not working, and what’s the vision?

Whether you prefer a kitchen triangle or a zone method of arranging a kitchen space, there should be plenty of consideration given to how you use your kitchen, how many people need to be in the space at the same time, and how best tasks will flow before you finalize your renovation plans.

Think Through the Traffic Flow

In this kitchen, Muhtar’s team arranged work zones around an extra-large “circulation path” that can easily accommodate multiple family members. When you design using specific work/task zones, for example, where you envision chopping vegetables and washing dishes, and you create space between the zones, you minimize bumping into one another when there are multiple cooks in the kitchen or if someone wants to grab a snack while you’re working on the week’s food prep. They started with solid, thoughtful basics—including high-end appliances and Cambria Ironsbridge countertops, backsplash, and shelving—and layered up from there. 

Create Strategic Storage

Real life means stuff. And when you’re working within the footprint of an older home—or allocating space in a new one—it can quickly create visual clutter. For this minimalist look, Muhtar’s team incorporated ultra-deep drawers for pots and pans, hidden vertical racks for cookie sheets and cutting boards, and a corner garage that conceals bulky appliances. 

Prioritize a Warmer Color Palette

“A lot of clients want to tone down the black hardware and stark whites,” Muhtar says, noting that creamy whites and sage and olive greens can be used on walls or cabinetry. “Like the new denim of a kitchen, these colors go with everything, and you can use them with cool or warm hardware.” Two current favorites are Benjamin Moore Hampshire Gray and Farrow & Ball Off-White No. 3. 

Choose Long-Lasting Materials

Muhtar often urges clients to consider low-maintenance quartz surfaces, both for their sustainability and enduring beauty. “It wasn’t until the counters went in that it all felt real!” write homeowners Alex and Anna of their home remodel. “We were impressed by the ability to work with the stone, particularly crafting the backsplash and shelves.”

Incorporate Timeless Metal Finishes

Muhtar has been gravitating toward antique brass, polished nickel, and finishes that develop patina over time—and says this is one of the quicker and more affordable ways to update a space. “And when you choose classic profiles like this, you can kind of transcend time,” she says. 

Embrace Natural Textures and Imperfections

Home design is moving away from stark looks. “We’re seeing more grass cloth and plaster and those subtle, warmer textures,” Muhtar says. Handmade tile can also add subtle imperfections that can make a kitchen feel like it’s been there forever. 

Incorporate Personal Touches

Spaces come alive when clients include possessions they love and that tell their stories. Here, open Cambria shelving provides space for vignettes for antique pieces. “Consider accessories like hand-hewn ceramics, moody glassware, a charming cloche, or brass salt and pepper mills with great patina,” says Muhtar. “They really soften the space and bring you into the current day without huge changes.”