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My Houzz: Olivia Munn Thanks Mum With the Kitchen of Her Dreams

Using Houzz, the actor hires a professional and buys products to update the kitchen, living and dining areas

Mitchell Parker 9 May 2018

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More

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If you observe actor Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse, Iron Man 2) and her mum, Kim Schmid, for even a moment, you’ll see they have a special bond. They joke often and laugh easily. “My mother and all of her uniqueness has definitely shaped who I am today,” Munn says.

Much of their bond developed over home-cooked meals made by Schmid, a refugee from the Vietnam War. Recently, Munn surprised her 5ft 1in mum with a remodel of her Oklahoma City kitchen to make it easier for her to use. Now she can cook large family meals without the need for a step stool.

Mitchell Parker

Actor Olivia Munn. Photos by Kelli Kroneberger

Project at a Glance
Who lives here Kim and Sam Schmid, actor Olivia Munn’s mother and stepfather
Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Size 675 sq ft (63 sq m)
Designer-builder Travis Morelock of MIDMODERNdesign

Watch now See Olivia Munn surprise her mum with a new remodel

MIDMODERNdesign

Munn found designer Travis Morelock on Houzz and closely collaborated with him on the extensive remodelling project, which included raising the ceiling and adding new cabinets, appliances, flooring, furniture, art and accessories in the kitchen, dining and living areas.

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Before Photo

MIDMODERNdesign

Before The existing kitchen was in good condition, but the standard-height worktops and cabinets weren’t comfortable for Schmid. The step stool seen here in front of the dishwasher became her closest companion when cooking.

Also, while there was adequate cabinet storage, there wasn’t sufficient space for tucking away the small appliances, such as the rice cooker shown on the left.

MIDMODERNdesign

After Morelock ripped out the old flooring to take the new, lower cabinets down to the slab foundation. This, coupled with a slight modification to the plinths, dropped the worktops a couple of inches for Schmid without doing anything too custom to the cabinets themselves. “The goal was to keep her off the step stool as much as possible,” Morelock says.

He incorporated space from wherever he could, even removing a window on the left to extend the kitchen 5ft to gain more cabinet space. He stole space from the living room and a mechanical closet to create a walk-in pantry on the right, behind the new location of the fridge.

Dark-stained faux beams accentuate the new ceiling height. Morelock took space from an unused attic to achieve the vaulted ceiling.

Cranbrooke-style cabinets in Icing, Crestwood, Wilshire Cabinet & Co. Calacatta Verona quartz worktops, MSI, Metro Granite. Wooden tray, A&B Home. Gale pendant lights by Thomas O’Brien, Visual Comfort. Kilgore bar stools, Kathy Kuo Home.

Watch now Check out this new kitchen in action

MIDMODERNdesign

An appliance garage keeps small appliances plugged in and out of the way.

MIDMODERNdesign

A new gas range cooker gives Schmid better control when cooking, while a 1,200 cubic-feet-per-minute range hood takes care of cooking smells from boiling pots and wok-fried dishes. The hood can be controlled with a remote, so Schmid doesn’t have to strain to reach the buttons overhead.

Victorian traditional wall-mount pot filler in stainless steel, Delta Faucet. Malda ceramic metro tiles in glossy white, SomerTile.

MIDMODERNdesign

Similarly, cabinet rack systems allow Schmid to pull down items for easy reach. “I love it,” she says. “Now I don’t have to look for the step stool anymore.”

Pull-down shelf in chrome, Rev-A-Shelf.

Before Photo

MIDMODERNdesign

Before This angle, shot from the corner of the original kitchen, shows the low, flat ceiling and heavy décor that had begun to wear on Schmid.

MIDMODERNdesign

After The raised ceiling, paler palette and new lighting design that includes multiple LED ceiling spots create a bright new space.

An integrated rice cooker in the island allows guests to load up their plates without getting in Schmid’s way in the kitchen. “That’s my happy spot,” she says.

Hardwood-look porcelain floor tiles in Avant Garde Taupe, Classic Tile.

Watch now See Olivia Munn’s mum react to her dream kitchen

Before Photo

MIDMODERNdesign

Before The original living room was laid out in a way that made conversation difficult. If you were sitting on the sofa on the right, you were basically “watching people watch TV”, says Sam Schmid, Kim’s husband. A bulky massage chair took up one side of the room.

MIDMODERNdesign

After The family donated the massage chair to a relative, and many of Kim Schmid’s knick-knacks went into storage boxes or were given to her sister, who lives next door. “I like fewer things around now,” she says.

Moroccan trellis shag rug, RugsUSA.com. Cyrano recycled-wood coffee table, Gabby. Eider White paint on walls, ceiling and woodwork, Sherwin-Williams.

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Before Photo

MIDMODERNdesign

Before The existing dining table was an heirloom from Sam Schmid’s family, so he and Munn decided to work it into the new design.

The fireplace had been capped off and wasn’t functioning. Its awkward location created an unnecessary and uninviting focal point.

MIDMODERNdesign

After Morelock kept the table but added new chairs and artwork. He ripped out the non-working fireplace and created recessed display shelves. The Schmids were so pleased with the outcome of the renovation that they hired Morelock to remodel the bootroom.

“I’m ecstatic that it all came together exactly how we talked about it,” Munn says. “Everything is at her height. She’s not going to have to get on her step stool. Everything has its place. It’s obviously going to make her life so much better. And I’m really excited that she loves it so much.”

Artwork, Brooke Rowlands Art.

Watch now Olivia Munn gives her mum’s home a facelift

Tell us…
What do you think of this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.