Flat-panel, White Oak cabinetry with white quartzite countertops and green accents make up the U-shaped kitchen and large island in Thornhurst Modern, located in Carmel, Indiana. A wet bar, wine glass storage, and a full-size wine fridge with stainless steel hardware, sit across from the island in the Thornhurst Modern kitchen, located in the historic Thornhurst neighborhood of Carmel, Indiana. Thornhurst Modern in the historic Thornhurst neighborhood of Carmel, Indiana, includes an open-concept, U-shape kitchen and dining space, with White Oak cabinets, white quartzite countertops, and two wall ovens. Views of the Thornhurst Modern sunroom are visible through a glass door and windows in the renovated Thornhurst Modern kitchen, located in Carmel, Indiana.

Thornhurst Kitchen Revival: Midcentury Modern Kitchen Overhaul

Carmel, IN

The HAUS team was asked to revive the kitchen of our clients’ Midcentury Avriel Shull home. The home, located in Shull’s renowned Thornhurst neighborhood of Carmel, IN was in need of both modern functionality as well as a redesign that is more fitting of the homes original architecture. The goal of this midcentury modern kitchen revival was to honor Shull’s original design while also creating a modern functioning kitchen for our clients to use.

Client:  Private Residential Client
Architecture, Interior Design, Photography and Styling:  HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles
Construction Management:  WERK | Building Modern
Millwork/Cabinetry:  Carpe Diem Design Co
Honored:  AIA Indiana 2024 – Merit Award for Interior Architecture
Original Designer:  Avriel Shull

A woman in a yellow dress opens an overhead cabinet with an awning-style glass door to grab a wine glass in the Thornhurst Modern kitchen, located in Carmel, Indiana.

In 1958, Avriel Shull, a renowned female home designer and builder, crafted the Thornhurst neighborhood, a unique collection of architectural masterpieces that embody her distinctive midcentury modern style. Among these, lot number 36, a cherished home, was poised for a sympathetic yet modern renovation. The current homeowners, deeply committed to preserving Shull’s legacy, were eager to restore their kitchen to its midcentury origins while optimizing it for contemporary living and entertaining.

Thornhurst Modern, located in the historic Thornhurst Neighborhood of Carmel, Indiana, features White Oak, flush-panel cabinetry with white Quartzite countertops and open shelving with green accents.

Thornhurst Modern in the historic Thornhurst neighborhood of Carmel, Indiana, includes an open-concept, U-shape kitchen and dining space, with White Oak cabinets, white quartzite countertops, and two wall ovens.

The original kitchen, once the heart of the home, had lost its charm and functionality due to previous renovations. The low ceilings, outdated finishes, and poorly designed layout were significant obstacles. Despite its size, the kitchen could have been used more efficiently, but the refrigerator was placed away from the main work area. The connection between the kitchen and the beautiful private garden, with its mature trees providing a peaceful setting, was limited to a single slider patio door that replaced the original door and sidelight. The dining area, devoid of its views and covered in wall paneling, needed a refresh and a reconnection with the outdoors.

White Oak cabinetry, an induction cooktop, and a bowl of fruit are illuminated by midday sun in the renovated Thornhurst Modern kitchen, located in the historic Thornhurst neighborhood of Carmel, Indiana..

Our team, entrusted with the task of reviving Shull’s midcentury vision, embarked on a journey to reimagine what a modern Avriel would have created for this Thornhurst gem. We carefully selected materials that Shull herself might have favored: natural woods, cork flooring, and expansive glass elements to bring the outdoors in. We restored a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces by incorporating large, strategically placed windows. The dining area now offers panoramic views of the garden, and the new kitchen layout improves flow and functionality while also providing scenic views. The refrigerator, now conveniently located within the main work area, and the overall spatial reconfiguration ensure that multiple people can easily navigate the kitchen. The result is a testament to our successful reimagining, a bright, functional space that pays homage to Avriel Shull’s midcentury legacy while meeting the modern needs of its residents.

A dining room credenza sits in front of a floor to ceiling windows, showcasing the view of the background from the Thornhurst Modern dining space, located in Carmel, Indiana.

An Eames Hang-It-All coat rack, with green knobs, hangs in a storage cubby in Thornhurst Modern, located in Carmel, Indiana.

Please check-back later for updates to Midcentury Modern Kitchen Revival!  We’ll be sure to share details of the design and construction process.

Categories
Interiors Projects Major Renovations
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