The original 1980s kitchen in this homeowner-designer’s three-story townhouse was dark and the old laminate surfaces were deteriorating.  Using clean lines, with a focus on natural materials and quality lighting for warmth, she accomplished a bright, mid-century aesthetic, while sticking to a budget.  The smooth profile of the cabinets are emphasized by omitting hardware.  Upper cabinet doors are painted bright white, while base cabinets are rift cut white oak, creating warmth with the natural vertical wood grain. The linear mosaic backsplash in a mix of honed and polished Carrara marble tiles adds texture and horizontal contrast to the vertical lines of the cabinetry.  Work surfaces are white anti-microbial quartz for easy maintenance and a clean, spacious look. Large rectangular porcelain tiles in a soft grey are neutral and make for easy clean up.  Modern space-saving conveniences, like the slide out hood and fan, maintain a sleek line without scaling back on functionality. Under-cabinet recessed LED strip lighting is economical and goes virtually unseen. The recessed fixtures in the ceiling are cone-shaped, to mimic soft, natural lighting and reduce glare.  A fun artichoke pendant fixture hangs off-center over the island dining area, that seats six.  This project included the renovation of an adjacent powder room.