The Robbins kitchen had good bones — solid construction, a functional layout, and a generous footprint — but it was visually flat. The original cabinetry stopped at the soffit, the backsplash was a standard subway tile in a standard white, and the fireplace in the adjacent living area was a builder-grade surround that had never made a statement. The homeowners wanted drama. They wanted the kitchen to be the first thing guests noticed when they walked in. MSP Homes delivered.
The Challenge
The Robbins project was primarily a design challenge rather than a structural one. The layout worked — the challenge was to elevate the space from functional to extraordinary within the existing footprint. The homeowners had a clear vision: bold, dramatic, and unmistakably custom. They wanted cabinetry that went to the ceiling, a backsplash that would stop people in their tracks, and a fireplace surround that anchored the living area with the same visual weight as the kitchen. The challenge was to execute that vision with the restraint needed to keep it feeling sophisticated rather than overwhelming.
Project Details
Project Type
Kitchen & Fireplace Remodel
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Year Completed
2023
Interior Design
VictoriaPhotos
11 project photos
Full-height custom cabinetry with glass fronts and dramatic book-matched porcelain slab backsplash
Reimagined fireplace — floor-to-ceiling porcelain slab surround with floating walnut mantel
Our Approach
How we solved it
Maria's design approach for Robbins was to create a strong visual hierarchy: the kitchen island as the anchor, the backsplash as the statement, and the fireplace as the living area's counterpoint. She chose a dramatic book-matched porcelain slab for the backsplash — a material that looks like natural stone but is more consistent and easier to maintain. The cabinetry was designed to go full-height to the ceiling, with glass-front upper cabinets on either side of the range to break up the visual mass. The fireplace surround was reimagined with the same porcelain slab material, creating a visual connection between the two spaces.
Project Highlights
Full-Height Custom Cabinetry to the Ceiling
The most immediately impactful change in the Robbins kitchen was extending the cabinetry from the soffit to the ceiling. This single change — which required removing the existing soffit and reframing the upper cabinet space — transformed the kitchen from standard to custom. The full-height cabinets create a sense of grandeur and provide significantly more storage. Glass-front cabinets on either side of the range display curated dishware and break up the visual mass of solid cabinet doors.
Book-Matched Porcelain Slab Backsplash
The backsplash is the star of the Robbins kitchen. A book-matched porcelain slab in a dramatic gray and white veining pattern runs from counter to ceiling behind the range — a full-height statement that anchors the cooking zone and creates a focal point visible from the living area. The same material was used for the countertops, creating a seamless visual flow from surface to wall. The book-matching — where two adjacent slabs are mirror images of each other — creates a symmetry that elevates the installation from tile work to art.
Reimagined Fireplace Surround
The builder-grade fireplace surround was completely removed and replaced with a custom design using the same porcelain slab material as the kitchen backsplash. The new surround extends from floor to ceiling with a linear profile that frames the firebox cleanly. A floating walnut mantel shelf adds warmth and a natural material contrast. The result is a fireplace that anchors the living area with the same visual authority as the kitchen — and that creates a visual conversation between the two spaces.
Quartz Waterfall Island with Pendant Lighting
The existing island was replaced with a new custom island featuring a waterfall edge in the same quartz as the perimeter countertops. The island seats four comfortably and provides the prep space the homeowners needed. Three oversized pendant lights above the island — a sculptural brass design — make a statement while providing task lighting. The combination of the waterfall edge and the pendant lights gives the island a sculptural quality that makes it feel like a piece of furniture rather than a kitchen fixture.
Project Gallery
The Result
The Outcome
The Robbins kitchen and fireplace remodel is one of MSP Homes' most photographed projects — and for good reason. The combination of full-height cabinetry, the book-matched slab backsplash, and the reimagined fireplace creates a visual experience that feels more like a magazine feature than a typical residential remodel. The homeowners got exactly what they asked for: a kitchen that stops guests in their tracks and a living area that finally lives up to the kitchen's standard.
"We wanted our kitchen to be dramatic and custom — not just updated. MSP Homes understood exactly what we were going for and executed it better than we imagined. The backsplash alone is worth every penny."
Robbins Family
Kitchen & Fireplace Remodel · Minneapolis, MN
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