Kell Architects
kellarchitects.com

Meghan Kell, AIA; Kelly Kraemmer

North Star

This project is part of our Small Projects Showcase, which demonstrates the value an architect brings to residential projects sized 600 square feet or smaller.

Project Type: Remodel

Project Square Footage: 445 square feet | kitchen remodel

Like the North Star itself, this remodel becomes a central guiding point in the home. The kitchen is the hub, the gathering place—the heart of daily life—so the name subtly reflects how the space now orients and connects everything around it.

This midcentury modern home, built in 1954, originally had a kitchen cut off from the rest of the house by a back entry and cloakroom. The renovation reimagines that space with clarity, openness, and flow—values rooted in Scandinavian minimalism and handmade craft. A large central island invites conversation and shared meals, while the surrounding layout supports effortless daily movement.

New expansive windows bring in natural light and strengthen the connection between kitchen and landscape—framing views and visually extending the living space into the outdoors. Thoughtful details ground the design: custom birch cabinetry echoes the home’s original millwork, and a handmade tile backsplash crafted by the homeowner adds a personal, tactile connection.

A new stair screen wall adorned with playful star cutouts nods to the home’s name and adds sculptural interest and safety. Designed to support main-level living and aging in place, North Star is both transformation and tribute, balancing warmth, function, and timeless simplicity.

AIA Framework for Design Excellence: Design for Integration & Well-being

This remodel reflects Design for Integration through cohesive problem-solving and longterm livability. The reimagined layout supports aging in place with barrier-free circulation and functional main level living. A large island anchors the kitchen socially and spatially, while custom cabinetry and handmade tile create harmony with the original midcentury home. Every element, from the coffee corner to the starry screen wall, feels connected and purposeful. The result is a space that honors the past while adapting gracefully for the future.

The renovation promotes well-being by centering daily life around connection, comfort, and craft. A once-disconnected kitchen is now an open, inviting space that supports shared meals and gathering. Thoughtful materials like birch cabinetry and handmade tile offer warmth and personal meaning. Natural light, improved circulation, and a playful screen wall with star cutouts bring delight and ease to everyday moments. The design encourages calm, creativity, and connection—all essential elements of a healthy home.

What is the AIA Framework for Design Excellence? Learn more »