Oh My Styled Life

A Kitchen that Sets a New Standard for Flow, Function, and Style 

After collaborating for years, O’Hara Interiors senior designer Gabe Lindberg and Dorian Thompson of Thompson Construction are well-established partners on projects ranging from major remodels to new home construction. So, when Dorian’s longtime clients came to him for an update to their Shorewood home with a kitchen remodel, he knew to call Gabe.  

Gabe and Dorian partnered together on her personal custom home on Lake Minnetonka. Learn more about this award-winning project here.

How To Plan a Kitchen Remodel  

The kitchen remodel plan started by defining some goals. It was less about checklists and more about vision, so when the project began, Gabe attended the first walk-through to ensure that she could partner closely with the Thompson Construction team and align on executing the homeowner’s design requests.   

The heart of the home had long been shaped by a patchwork of past renovations, leaving the kitchen hemmed in by a structural beam, a too-small island, and a peninsula that cut it off from the rest of the house. Gabe and Dorian started by imagining what could be possible within these bones, then set about dissolving boundaries. By opening the kitchen to the dining room, reworking cabinetry across three walls, and stretching the island to its full potential, they conjured a space that feels both expansive and intimately connected to the main floor’s shared rhythms. 

Curious to experience an O’Hara Interiors Bathroom Remodel? O’Hara Interiors Transforms a Primary Bath from Dated to Delightful

Classic Style Meets Bold Color

For this kitchen remodel’s design, the homeowner’s affinity for moody, classic style set the tone for the kitchen’s new identity. Cabinetry in Lafayette Green, deep and enveloping, mingles with custom dark-stained wood, while pale white oak floors and ceiling beams lend a gentle counterpoint. A new ceiling beam brings a sense of order, quietly smoothing out the kitchen’s six-inch height shift. Open shelving at the sink and window wall makes room for brass-finished sconces to frame the view, all without giving up precious display space. 

For more paint color recommendations, read our 2026 paint color guide! 

Island chairs, dressed in woven textures and blue plaid, echo the warmth of the wood underfoot and overhead. The backsplash, a nod to classic bistro style, layers white subway tile and dark grout behind the coffee station and the heart of the kitchen’s daily rituals. 

This kitchen stands as a testament to the power of a designer and builder working in unison, every choice shaped by a shared vision. The result is a space that feels both considered and effortless, ready to welcome muddy boots, morning coffee, and the rhythms of daily life.  

Reach out to O’Hara Interiors to discover how our team can help bring your next project to life.