Photography by Alise O'Brien
“We believe in celebrating what’s already great about a house or space and then upgrading it for a modern lifestyle,” says architect and interior designer Jessica Senne, co-owner of Studio Lark with her husband, Aaron Senne.
In the case of this Midcentury Modern ranch in Kirkwood, the Sennes found many things to love, including the vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, and stunning backyard view. Their task was to preserve these features while implementing necessary upgrades.
The ambitious plan called for reconfiguring the ground floor to give as much space as possible to the kitchen and opening up the walls to create flow among the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Another “bold move,” says Jessica, was replacing a floor-to-ceiling window with a 16-foot span of glass that turned a corner. By starting the window at counter height, they were able to add lower cabinets and a work surface to the north wall. To accomplish this feat, Studio Lark relied on the expertise of Webster Window and Door. Full Circle Design Works served as the general contractor and built the walnut cabinets.
After numerous conversations, the homeowners decided to bleach the wood floors to achieve a more modern look and install a two-level island where the couple’s two children can sit as their parents prepare meals. At the homeowners’ request, the Sennes added a niche for coffee preparation.
In the renovation, the Sennes examined every detail of the space—from the storage of pots and pans to how the homeowners might pivot when taking a heavy dish from the oven. “At one point, we took blue tape and put it on the floor and scrutinized the distance in fractions of inches from the back countertop to the island,” Jessica recalls.
The goal, as always, was to make sure the kitchen was as functional as it is beautiful.
“We start with broad strokes, and get finer and finer with the detail.” In the end, all the hours of work resulted in a space that “seems so simple and effortless.”
Standout Feature: The kitchen’s 16-foot window overlooks the backyard and is the focal point, no matter the season. “You have an entire plane that’s constantly changing,” says architect Jessica Senne. “We really tried to celebrate that with the design.”
