Increased functionality. Elevated design. Future returns. Limited budget. These were all factors that the team at Proud House Studio juggled and considered as they undertook a unique kitchen renovation in North Boulder’s Holiday neighborhood. But according to principal designer Megan Daughtry, it’s a challenge that the team welcomed with open arms and their signature collective “hive mind.”
“At Proud House Studio, we pride ourselves on our communication,” says Daughtry. “We truly listen to our clients’ goals and take their style and the home’s architecture and location into consideration. From there, we all work together to style the space until it sings, focusing on all of the details to bring it to life.”
Proud House Studio is the brainchild of Daughtry, who grew up in the Bay Area as the daughter of an architect/builder. Frequently visiting construction sites throughout her childhood, the vocabulary of the design and construction trades became second nature to her. Beginning her design career in California in 2004 before moving to Colorado in 2006, Daughtry returned to her design roots in 2015, quickly transitioning from completing her NKBA certification to starting her first design studio and business in her backyard. Today, Proud House Studio serves its clients as a one-stop shop—specializing in kitchens and bathrooms—for all of their interior design needs at their Wilderness Place showroom.
The Proud House Studio experience includes not just its stunning design showroom, but also an interactive cabinetry showroom in which the team uses 3D design software to collaborate with clients, co-creating new spaces and allowing them to experience them as if they were actually walking through them. It’s an element of the design development process that was especially key in this North Boulder project.
Daughtry notes that, as construction costs in Boulder have skyrocketed in recent years, staying within the budget for the project was a particular challenge. Deploying their approach of focusing on high-impact details that would truly “level up” the space without breaking the bank allowed for a major transformation with an impressively efficient bottom line.
The kitchen renovation—which also includes the dining area and upgrades to the nearby powder and laundry room—is a brilliant example of purposeful design and expert execution of standout details. The radiant yet budget-friendly cabinetry is complemented by pristine quartz countertops with a luxurious soapstone look. The geometric tile backsplash adds a major “wow” factor to the space, while switching out the doors and creating a two-toned coloring for the everyday dish cabinet was a purposeful choice that elevates the entire area.
The renovation also embodies a number of diverse design styles that work together harmoniously to create a seamless, eclectically beautiful space. There is a touch of mid-century with the Anthropologie bent wood chairs with artistically colored seats. The sconces over the desk area and kitchen sink have a vintage vibe, yet the matte black finishes throughout the kitchen and dining area imbue a farmhouse feel. There’s a hint of the Scandinavian with the floating shelves in the powder and laundry room, yet the space’s cube-shaped mirror is more industrial. The end result is a cohesive look that is at once timeless and ideally suited to the homeowner’s style. Connected by new white oak wide plank flooring throughout, the spaces have been transformed to not only flow and function beautifully, but to be welcoming modern oases for cooking, dining, relaxation and effortless everyday living.
“We have a dynamic team of masterminds here at Proud House Studio,” Daughtry says. “We have an efficiency for zeroing in on the best design possible for a space, and this project was no exception.”