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A Wisconsin family’s late-1990s-to-early-2000s kitchen was renovated with a more open layout, natural walnut cabinetry, deep berry-painted uppers and patterned wallpaper. Apartment Therapy reported that the project took four months and cost about $275,000; designer Emily Winters said the design balanced one client’s preference for wood with the other’s desire for color.
A Wisconsin kitchen renovation replaced a dated, closed-off room dominated by natural maple with a more open design featuring walnut cabinetry, deep berry-painted cabinets and patterned wallpaper, according to a recent Apartment Therapy report. The project, designed by Emily Winters of Peabody’s Interiors, was intended to give a young family both the wood finishes one client wanted and the color and personality the other sought.
The original kitchen had natural maple cabinets, sponge-painted walls, Corian countertops and red oak flooring. Winters described it as “a sea of natural maple cabinetry” and said the combination gave the space a “golden orange glow.” An island set perpendicular to the cabinetry made the room feel divided and closed off, she said.
Winters worked with architect Meg Baniukiewicz of HB Designs on a revised layout. The renovation opened a wall between the kitchen and a bar area, added custom cabinetry with upper cabinets painted Sherwin-Williams “Merlot,” and introduced natural walnut. The work also included new countertops and backsplash, along with updated plumbing, lighting and appliances.
Apartment Therapy reported that the project took four months from demolition to completion and cost about $275,000. The homeowners had purchased the house but had not moved in when the design process began. The report does not provide an itemized budget or further details about the construction schedule.
How Color Solved a Design Divide
The project’s main design decision addressed different preferences within the household rather than imposing a single finish throughout the kitchen. One client wanted wood cabinetry; the other wanted a more colorful, expressive room. Winters said the wallpaper’s colors and pattern prompted her to pair natural walnut with berry-toned cabinets, creating a compromise that gives both materials a visible role.
The renovation also changed how the kitchen connects to the neighboring bar area. Opening the wall made the spaces feel less separate, while Winters said the team retained the bar’s original plaster crown molding. That detail shows how the remodel combined new finishes and layout changes with an existing architectural feature.
For readers considering a renovation, the report offers a specific example of how layout, storage and finish choices can be handled together. The project included an appliance garage intended to keep everyday items off the counters, alongside custom cabinetry and updated services. Its reported cost is tied to this particular home and scope; it should not be read as a general price estimate for kitchen renovations.
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From Maple Kitchen to Open Plan
The home’s kitchen dated from the late 1990s to early 2000s, according to Apartment Therapy. The original arrangement combined maple cabinets, red oak flooring and sponge-painted walls, which Winters said made the room feel visually dominated by warm orange and gold tones. The perpendicular island also interrupted the flow of the space.
The homeowners brought in Winters to modernize the kitchen and improve its function before moving into the house. She collaborated with architect Meg Baniukiewicz on the layout, and the homeowners selected a contractor. Demolition began after permits were accepted, the report says. The description links the design concept to wallpaper selected by Winters, but does not identify its maker or provide a product name.
The resulting palette does not discard wood entirely: natural walnut remains central, alongside the berry-colored upper cabinets. The project therefore shifted the room away from a continuous field of maple without making it a fully painted or single-color kitchen.
“It was a sea of natural maple cabinetry with sponge-painted walls and Corian countertops.”
— Emily Winters, designer at Peabody’s Interiors, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
What the Renovation Report Leaves Open
The available report does not identify the homeowners, give the exact project address, or include an itemized breakdown of the approximately $275,000 reported cost. It also does not specify whether that figure includes every design, construction and appliance expense. The amount is an estimate reported for this project, not a verified total supported by invoices in the article.
Other details are not provided, including the wallpaper’s brand, the full list of materials and appliance models, and the precise measurements of the kitchen. The report describes the work as completed but does not include independent cost verification or homeowner comments beyond the design preferences attributed to the couple.
No Further Project Milestone Reported
Apartment Therapy’s article presents the kitchen as a completed before-and-after renovation and reports that the work took four months. It does not announce another construction phase, a follow-up project or a future inspection. Any further details about the final budget, product sourcing or the homeowners’ experience would need to come from the designers, homeowners or a later report.
For readers using the project as a reference, the next practical step is to treat the reported cost as one case study and seek local estimates based on their own layout, materials and scope. The article does not provide enough information to calculate a comparable per-square-foot price.
Key Questions
What changed in the Wisconsin kitchen?
The renovation replaced a maple-heavy, closed-off kitchen with a more open layout, natural walnut cabinetry, berry-painted upper cabinets and patterned wallpaper. The project also included new countertops and backsplash and updates to plumbing, lighting and appliances, according to Apartment Therapy.
How much did the kitchen renovation cost?
Apartment Therapy reported that the renovation cost about $275,000. The article does not provide an itemized budget, so the figure should be treated as the reported estimate for this project rather than a general renovation price.
How long did the project take?
The report says the work took four months from demolition to the finished project. It does not provide a more detailed construction timeline.
Who designed the renovated kitchen?
Emily Winters of Peabody’s Interiors led the design, working with architect Meg Baniukiewicz of HB Designs on the layout. The homeowners chose a contractor, according to the report.
Why did the design combine walnut and berry-colored cabinets?
Winters said one client wanted wood cabinetry while the other wanted color and personality. She said the wallpaper inspired a compromise using natural walnut and berry tones.
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