Lighting and countertops update needed

last year

last modified: last year

Hello All,

Looking for an advice on how to best update this somewhat a Spanish hacienda type home living room and kitchen. The walls were bright yellow and orange two weeks ago, and we just finished painting them in a warm off white/very light beige color (Benjamin Moore white sand on walls and white down on trim). Here are some before and after pictures. The color could have been a little cooler, but it is done now.

For lighting, I think I am looking to get rid of all the tiny lights, and place two large chandeliers instead of a fan and the dining light, and 2-3 massive pendant lights over the coutner.

For countertops, Im leaning two directions:

put nice white/cream with gold tone veining countertop and wrap it as a backspalsh, or, 2. put dark black with white veining and spanish colorful tile as a backsplash. I want it updated but it must retain Spanish elements of style in it.

Thank you for the help!

Featured Answer

Kendrah

last year

Thanks for posting before and afters. It is nice to see how things turned out.

I love having the island nearest the range painted a sagey green. It looks fabulous with terra cotta.

I'd do the splash in a simple Spanish looking tile that is large-ish format so it reads from far away. These are 9"x9". That is over doing it. But I'd like to see something big. Remember, this is a kitchen area, but the room has to read as a whole connecting both living and cooking. I like a simple geometric. Traditional finish but more contemporary motif.

Cut the second island down to one level top. Then hang these wonderful honking big Visual Comfort Morris pendents hanging over the island. (@chispa was on to something!) They can be the big delineation between the two spaces. Sure, there isn't a height from the floor that you would get from the tall counter. But they are beautiful and the two height countertop looks so very dated. And, kinda odd because you have a window with a bar in it not far away.

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Comments (12)

Lyn Nielson
last year
last modified: last year
lovely refresh! I personally would choose the black and colorful tile backsplash.

I would also paint the front of the island a cobalt blue (hopefully your backsplash tile will have some vivid blues in it as well) Bigger lights would be great, you have plenty of room for oversized fixtures. I hope you post the finished look, I would love to see it.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1736027842/vibrant-mexican-talavera-style-art?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_ps-d-home_and_living&utm_custom1=k_EAIaIQobChMIsIGzxtytjgMVkzlECB3j6yh_EAQYBCABEgJDovD_BwE_k&utm_content=go_22198874050_171324927061_731690077594_pla-303628061699_c__1736027842_5589801425&utm_custom2=22198874050&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22198874050&gbraid=0AAAAADtcfRL-7i58nOMhw3skL2gmVpPmA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsIGzxtytjgMVkzlECB3j6yh_EAQYBCABEgJDovD_BwE
Maria R0250
Original Author
last year
I was thinking to leave the wood as is, except the middle island as it has been painted in the past and I think it looks awful. I was thinking to paint it dark shade of green, and do the same for the bar cabinet which is to the side and may not be pictured in my photos.
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HU-227959171
last year
You are a professional designer using houzz to collect ideas?
Lyn Nielson
last year
I meant to paint the arc currently white, just the non wood part.
Maria R0250
Original Author
last year
@HU-227959171 - please go home.
PRO
Debbi Washburn
last year
last modified: last year
@HU-227959171 - there are many pros on here who come and ask for help. Sometimes we can't see the forest through the trees! I have often asked for help in areas that aren't my strong suit and the wonderful folks here have been nothing but gracious.

Find something better to do with your time.

I think a dark green or sage green would look great with the wood cabinets. It looks so much better already just being painted. I think I would try to lower that second island so it is one level. Not sure if that can be done. I would paint both islands the same color and paint the back of the second one the same as well.

I know a lot of people like the counter as a splash. But I feel like that is best when there is a great feature cooking area. I'm just not a fan. I would love to see a cool patterned tile to lean into the Spanish style of your home.

Just some thoughts!

Good luck
Maria R0250 thanked Debbi Washburn
chispa
last year
For the long hallways, which you don't want to clutter with furniture and make them feel crowded, look into doing repeating pendants.

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Maria R0250 thanked chispa
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year
Haven't we answered this before?

https://www.houzz.com/activities/user/mpurple
Maria R0250
Original Author
last year
@Debbi Washburn - I love your advice. I will order some sample Spanish tiles and get new granite samples to see what it would look like. Im not sure if I am going to paint the cabinets but definitely at least the center island. And I am so on the fence about cutting the second island to one level. Part of me likes a little break in these one level two giant countertops, but part of me is leaning to a more simplistic look of the one level. Also, we will likely leave the space for a formal table where the current dining light fixture is (which will be repalced), so I am worried if I cut it to one level it will look too monotone. But I will do some more research and thinking. It is not getting done tonight. :-)

@chispa - I agree with your comment on the hallway lights. I will be adding pendants there instead of the current ones.

Im not sure though if I want to keep it with the tone of the home and stay with rustic/wrough iron light fixtures or maybe add chandeliers and pendants that offer off white shades for a softer feel. However, this will not add to the Spanish feel of the home.
anonforthis
last year
My previous house was Spanish style and it had very frilly wrought iron lights when we bought it ... I called it Pirates of the Caribbean theme! I went with Spanish inspired, but more modern versions when I updated the lighting. Unless you have a 1920's Spanish house with original fixtures, there is nothing wrong with giving things a slightly more updated and lighter look.
Maria R0250
Original Author
last year
What do you all think about going with solfter pendants that have white/off whiteshade for a softer look or the metal ones with clear glass. Also lantern style, considering these are very tall ceilings, or something a little more interesting and newer like the one suggested in the prior comment or the cone style (Ralph Lauren Cannes)?

And how about the chandeliers I have found so far ? And would you get rid of the 4 pendants in the living room, dining light and the fan, and put 2 large chandeliers instead (placed over the sitting area and one what would be over the dining table) or put one massive chandelier and 3-4 massive pendants over the island? I dont like to overdo it but I feel the room is large and could handle it.