'The space felt dark, dingy, and dated' – how a kitchen that lacked natural light became an open and airy space that nails the midimalist style

There's a common misconception that if you're designing a more neutral space, you are limited to a palette of white, off-white, and cream. And as we continue to fall out of love with this pared-back color in the kitchen, it feels like an aesthetic to avoid.

But this midimalist kitchen proves that a neutral scheme doesn't have to be stark and lacking personality. It's the complete opposite, filled with natural materials and a sense of lived-in style, without the visual clutter.

With warm wood tones, statement lighting, and textured decor, it's a kitchen design that makes a case for midimalism in 2025 and beyond. Here's how the designer created this calming, timeless space.

It's not often you come across a home that exudes authentic mid-century style, but this home is a beautiful example. And while many rooms in this home preserved the original charm, the kitchen wasn't in quite as good a condition.

'The kitchen featured original mid-century cabinetry that our clients admired, but unfortunately, it didn’t function well for their family and couldn’t be preserved. The space felt dark and dated, with heavy tone-on-tone brown finishes that always appeared dingy,' explains interior designer Amanda Jacobs.

'Everything was removed, and we started from scratch,' she explains, which meant she had a blank slate to create the kitchen her clients dreamed of. 'We installed plaster floors, brand new white oak custom cabinetry, and gorgeous Taj Mahal kitchen countertops.'

The clients wanted the kitchen to feel light and airy, and white walls were a must, so Amanda was tasked with fulfilling this brief while ensuring the scheme still felt timeless and full of warmth.

'It was all about finding the right balance between the light wood cabinetry, pale plaster floors, and the clients’ desire for white walls. I was determined to ensure the space still felt warm and inviting despite the lighter palette,' she explains.

But there's no denying that the newly remodeled kitchen nails the brief, and has the perfect balance of light colors and warm, characterful details. And the wooden cabinetry is a key feature to add warmth and nod to the mid-century architecture of the home.

'The space feels modern, organic, stylish, and effortlessly refined with touches of mid-century elements. Its openness is truly striking, and the use of softer materials makes it feel warm, welcoming, and approachable,' Amanda notes.

But the open, airy brightness of the space isn't just down to the light colors used throughout the space, but also the transom windows that have been introduced to allow natural light to infuse the very tall room that would otherwise feature no windows.

'This space was a real challenge because its scale had the potential to feel overwhelming. Incorporating transom windows made a significant difference,' she explains.

'They helped preserve the sense of openness while softening the vastness, bringing in more natural light and framing views of the outdoors. It created a connection to the surrounding landscape that made the space feel grounded, airy, and more inviting.'

The overall kitchen layout is simple, but utterly effective for the room. L-shaped cabinetry, a large kitchen island, and open shelving for decor and aesthetic kitchenware fill the space without overcrowding it.

But for Amanda, it's the mix of materials that really stands out. 'The Taj Mahal counters tie everything together, while the smokey glass kitchen backsplash, used as the sole tile, adds just the right amount of contrast with its natural, raw-edged finish,' she explains.

And functionality has not been forgotten, rather combined with beauty to create a space that caters to the clients' needs while remaining stylish. 'A dedicated coffee and tea nook adds daily function, and a brass faucet at the center acts like a piece of jewelry – subtle but striking.'

But it's the decor throughout the kitchen that gives it a personalized, lived-in feel and gives us a glimpse into who the owners are. From the countertops to the open shelving, there are plenty of details to admire.

'This is where the fun begins: layering in unique materials and decorative accents to bring personality and interest to the space. It’s the finishing touch that makes it feel truly complete. The pendants’ smoky glass was such a nice accent and a nod to the previous brown color scheme,' says Amanda.

The countertops have been carefully decorated with art, candlesticks, and elevated kitchenware to ensure the space feels personal yet not at all cluttered. The shelving follows the same theme, with pretty glassware and potted plants taking center stage.

It proves that with the right decor, your kitchen can feel truly characterful without bold colors and busy features, and makes a strong case for embracing more pared-back schemes.

Shop the look

White kitchen cabinets are out, and they are being replaced by warmer, more natural finishes like the wood in this design. It's the perfect balance of clean and pared-back yet still full of style, character, and personality. It proves midimalism is a kitchen trend that's here to stay, and is a great way to introduce timeless kitchen design elements.