Project Goals

• Fit a full kitchen and improved laundry into the existing upper levels.
• Respect the Romanesque Revival shell and the family’s art-filled history while adding playful color.
• Thread new plumbing to an adequate stack without disturbing lower floors.
• Deliver a layout that feels airy, cheerful, and ready for everyday cooking.

Design and Implementation

Layout / Plumbing Work

• Kitchen placed at the rear of the top floor; extra supply and waste lines routed across the ceiling below after locating a larger stack.
• Laundry room rearranged to hold a vanity and ample storage.
• No structural changes — crown mouldings and high ceilings kept intact.

Materials and Finishes

• Face-frame cabinets painted in three harmonizing hues that echo the terrazzo counters.
• Stocked-in-USA terrazzo slabs combine chips matching the cabinet palette and existing floor tones.
• Exposed steel range hood duct keeps the ceiling line clear.
• Laundry cabinets finished in a mirrored laminate with acrylic pulls for depth and sparkle.
• Smart lighting controls and an internet-enabled oven add convenience.

Key Elements

• Horizontal-sliding uppers reduce door swing and maintain sightlines.
• Pull-out compost bin beside the sink and pull-out blind corner optimizer and carousel upper cabinets carousel for pots and pans.
• Custom filler drawers beside the refrigerator sized during construction.
• Elements such as the island are built to be removable for the family’s next move.

Challenges

• Original vent stack proved undersized; ceiling of the unit below opened, protected, and restored after new piping was run.
• Several fixtures remained unselected at start of construction, requiring agile coordination to hold the $250 k budget.
• Period trim and artwork demanded careful protection throughout.

Outcome

The renewed duplex now greets visitors with color, warmth, and artful cabinetry that fits the family’s creative spirit. Cooking flows smoothly for the avid-chef husband, while laundry chores share a bright, organized corner. Guests remark on the Memphis-tinged palette that still feels at home in an 1880s interior, and the owners credit the remodel with making the upper floors their favorite place to gather.