Case Study: Historic Southside Kitchen & Vanity Renovation

Renovating a historic home requires a delicate balance. When clients in Corpus Christi's Southside approached us to update their 1930s home, the mandate was clear: deliver modern storage and function while respecting the home's architectural heritage.

The Challenge

Historic homes rarely have perfectly plumb walls or level floors. The existing kitchen was small, lacked counter space, and featured outdated, failing cabinets. The primary bathroom had a single pedestal sink with zero storage. We needed to maximize every inch of space while dealing with awkward alcoves and unlevel surfaces.

The Solution

We determined that traditional inset cabinetry—where the doors and drawers sit flush inside the face frame—was the only choice to match the home's historic character.

• Custom Inset Cabinetry: We built and installed custom inset cabinets painted in a soft, historic architectural white. The precision required for inset doors meant our installation team spent extra time scribing everything perfectly to the uneven plaster walls.
• Ceiling-Height Storage: To compensate for the small footprint, we took the upper cabinets all the way to the 9-foot ceilings, adding classic crown molding that matched the home's original trim.
• Custom Primary Vanity: In the bathroom, we designed a custom dual-sink vanity that fit perfectly into an awkward alcove, giving the owners deep drawer storage while maintaining a furniture-like appearance.

The Outcome

The new cabinetry looks as though it has always been there, yet it functions like a state-of-the-art 2026 kitchen. Soft-close hardware, hidden trash pull-outs, and custom utensil dividers brought the home into the modern era without sacrificing its soul.

If you own a historic property in Corpus Christi and need custom cabinetry that respects its architecture, reach out to Duncan Woodworks.

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