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Transforming Tradition: Inside the Award-Winning Kitchen Renovation by McCroskey Interiors
Why an award-winning design team chose engineered Carlisle White Oak floors for a prestigious assignment with House Beautiful.
Some kitchen designs leave you speechless. You know the kind — drop-dead gorgeous but incredibly functional. Full of stunning details, elegant materials, and ingenious practicality. The type of spaces where morning coffee tastes better, guests can’t stop offering compliments, and where you could happily cook every meal for the rest of your life.
When you come across one of these kitchens to die for in the pages of some design magazine, there’s a good chance McCroskey Interiors created it.
Led by award-winning designers Laura McCroskey and Leann Lynn, this Kansas City-based design firm has been turning heads with its trademark style, which combines form and function to create exceptional spaces that tangibly enhance homeowners’ lives. Their sophisticated use of color, texture, and architectural details has wowed readers in magazine spreads in Elle Décor, Traditional Home, Luxury Portfolio, and many others. So, when House Beautiful needed a kitchen design for its Whole Home 2023 project, it was no surprise they turned to McCroskey.
House Beautiful’s Whole Home 2023
House Beautiful’s annual Whole Home project showcases the latest trends, innovations, styles, and ideas in home design and construction. The magazine collaborates with leading builders, architects, designers, and brands each year to build or renovate a house that exemplifies thoughtful living, embodies sustainability, and highlights new materials, color schemes, and technology trends.
For the sixth annual Whole Home project in 2023, the editors chose a 13,000-square-foot home in Hinsdale, Illinois. This gem was built by David Adler, an early 20th-century architect renowned for his traditionalist work in and around Chicago. The project aims to update this aging beauty for a contemporary lifestyle while honoring its historic bones, European roots, and quirky charm.
House Beautiful partnered with Julie Laux and her build-design team, J. Jordan Homes to lead the overall renovation and selected 13 women-led teams from around the country, including the designers from McCroskey. “The editors of House Beautiful asked us to be involved because they had to have a McCroskey kitchen in this historical home!” said Laura and Leann.
This fantastic collaboration resulted in a home with color-filled spaces for lounging and conversations, with a big focus on cooking and cocktails — thanks to McCroskey’s design.
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A full-scale gut renovation was done in order to bring the 1906 kitchen into the 21st century. McCroskey wanted to make the room work for a contemporary family and “open up the entire space so people can be milling about and not be underfoot while you’re cooking.” By removing two walls that separated the kitchen from the pantry and a window-filled hallway, the McCroskey team doubled the size of the kitchen, added natural light, and made the space bright, airy, and welcoming.
When designing the renovation, the McCroskey team wanted something special. “The European feel of this home is so unique and rich, with a bit of quirkiness. We knew we could not do a typical kitchen.”
Two show-stopping islands added stunning visuals and highly organized cooking areas — a must for any McCroskey kitchen. A secondary prep station lets guests enjoy happy hour cocktails while chatting with the chef. A Gothic-inspired arch above the cooking area frames one of the kitchen’s visual centerpieces: a backsplash of Calacatta Turquoise Antique marble veining in plum and gold. And here’s the kicker: it slides to reveal a hidden countertop pantry that puts spices and oft-used items within easy reach.
Overall, the knockout design stays true to the home’s unique European charm—the inspiration for this full-scale renovation.
Tying It Together with a White Oak Wide Plank Floor
And, of course, the star of the show, the floor.
“Once we added the Calacatta turquoise antique marble to the mix, we knew we needed a timeless and beautiful floor,” said Laura and Leann. “While we originally debated adding tile to the project, once we saw the gorgeous marble, we knew a clean and classic flooring option would better suit the space.”
McCroskey selected an engineered White Oak wide plank floor from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. For the designers, the White Oak hardwood accented and complemented the design without competing with the marble’s bold purple and gold coloring. “When selecting a floor, one can never go wrong with a White Oak. It’s a timeless, beautiful solution that fits the entire space while enhancing our design.”
For the project, Carlisle craftsmen prepared 863 square feet of Heirloom Grade Engineered White Oak floorboards in 8″ widths and random lengths of 2′ to 12′ with 3/4″ thickness. The boards were crafted with softened edges and a smooth, clear, extra matte finish.
The Versatility of an Engineered Floor
The unique needs of a kitchen call for highly durable materials. “First, we look for flooring materials that are resilient to moisture and spills, given the frequent presence of water and food. Another crucial consideration is the comfort of standing for extended periods, especially for those who spend a lot of time cooking or baking.” It was determined a Carlisle engineered floor would be the best solution given the environmental conditions of the project.
Carlisle was a natural choice for this team since engineered flooring is its specialty. Featuring the highest-quality core, the substrate’s 11-layer construction provides industry-leading stability and durability. In addition, Carlisle’s hands-on production process produces higher-quality boards, while a thicker wear layer means the engineered planks can be refinished several times, just like standard hardwood floors.
Exceptional Design and Outstanding Materials: A Perfect Partnership
House Beautiful’s Whole Home project is a triumph of collaboration, and McCroskey’s partnership with Carlisle was no exception.
“Working with Carlisle Wide Plank Floors on this project was a collaborative and rewarding experience for us at McCroskey Interiors. Their team’s support throughout the design and implementation process was invaluable in bringing our vision to life.”
The McCroskey team was most impressed with Carlisle’s commitment to excellence and customization. “Their extensive selection of high-quality wood flooring options allowed us to find the perfect fit for the project, ensuring that the flooring complemented the overall design aesthetic while meeting our client’s specific needs. Their team’s expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence significantly impacted the project’s success.”
For the team at Carlisle, the accolades from McCroskey are both gratifying and a testament to Carlisle’s mission. The extraordinary quality of Carlisle Wide Plank Floors is matched only by that of the customer experience. Carlisle wide plank specialists help customers choose from various wood types, textures, colors, and other characteristics to design a custom wood floor. Offering unparalleled service and expert guidance at every turn, Carlisle aims to make creating a one-of-a-kind floor a true pleasure.
McCroskey’s Perspective on the New Trends in Flooring
So, where does this award-winning design team see flooring threads heading in the near future? “We feel sustainability, inclusivity, and an appreciation for nostalgia are some values that will inspire flooring choices in the coming year and into 2025.”
The designers see trends toward warmer tones in cream and beige while moving away from gray. They’re also seeing an increase in medium and darker woods and brown earth-toned flooring.
“We also expect smooth surfaces, raw wood tones, and wide planks to lead the trends. We’re big fans of the classic herringbone pattern, which is trending because it creates visual movement and texture while forging an elegant and classy appearance.”
Of course, all of that is music to the ears of the folks at Carlisle, who love to partner with ambitious and talented design teams like McCroskey to create floors that are masterpieces in hardwood. And it seems like the feeling is mutual.
“We look forward to collaborating with them on future projects and continuing to create stunning spaces that showcase the timeless beauty of wide plank flooring.”
McCroskey Interiors Honored with Luxe RED Award
McCroskey Interiors has been recognized for its exceptional work on this project with a Luxe Interiors + Design RED Award for Residential Excellence in Kitchens. This prestigious award celebrates McCroskey Interiors’ commitment to innovative design and dedication to creating beautiful and functional spaces. To learn more about this award-winning project, visit Luxe RED Awards.
Interested in transforming your space with the timeless elegance and unmatched durability of wide plank flooring? Explore our collections and speak to a Carlisle specialist to learn how Carlisle Wide Plank Floors can bring your vision to life.
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