Floral White by Benjamin Moore Interior designer Jenni Leasia calls this shade “under the radar.” She’s found that it works well in the Pacific Northwest, where gray skies are common. In this photo, she used it on all the trim and cabinetry. “I have used it on ceilings in a house where we wanted to keep them bright but soft,” she says. “It’s perfect for cabinetry, where clients want white, but not bright white. Sometimes when we show a swatch to a client, they will think it is too creamy, but it really reads as white — a soft, creamy, easy-to-live-with white.” Depending on the light, the designer says, sometimes it reads a little more white, sometimes a little more creamy, but it never looks yellow or washed-out gray.
Tapered blue-gray tile goes from countertop to ceiling on two walls. The tiles offer a bit of color that complements the warm wood tones, and their shape recalls that of leaves, which connects the kitchen to the backyard. The White Macaubas quartzite countertop features a linear grain that works well with the patterns on the cabinets. The angled island top offers something different, in a shape befitting the midcentury era. Orange cords on the pendant lights add a little burst of color.
Distressed turquoise. The renovation on this historic Massachusetts farmhouse included a large dream kitchen for the restaurant-owning homeowners. A pleasing turquoise with a distressed finish works beautifully against the exposed brick wall. And we’ll give them bonus points for all the wonderful colors of the ingredients in the Mason jars
like the open cabinets
lights
Midcentury modern style.
Peninsula cabinets: Deveron by KraftMaid in cherry with Peppercorn stain; microwave: GE; lights: Portfolio bronze pendants; light shades: Portfolio swirl glass; wall paint: Metro Mist CI35, Valspar; ceiling paint: Cliveden Gray Morning 6001-1B, Valspar
Ceiling and colors
light
LIght
Lights are perfect.
This whisper-soft hue (C2's Vex) is about as un-green as you can get and still be green. And who would have thought of combining green and orange? But here it works
12 inches for the trash pullout
Wall paper above microwave is great
. Open shelves. Bulk storage of dry ingredients like flour and sugar is easily accessed from convenient open shelves
Chevron pattern curtains in the kitchen mix with a Duralee faux snakeskin fabric backsplash finished with nailheads painted black.
Pure white is White Dove OC-17, by Benjamin Moore. This white, shown here in this gorgeous kitchen, is crisp with no undertones. It looks great against any color.
Amerock Stainless Steel T-Knob - $5.97 » Freshen up your drawers and cabinets with stainless T-knobs. I love how simple the lines are!
Dechard removed a wall between the dining room and the kitchen to open things up. "The backsplash tile has a Mondrian effect," she says. The mix of woods on the breakfast bar brings in more mod style. A wine refrigerator and drawers are tucked on the other side. The oak cabinets were already there, and reusing them saved a lot of money. Dechard had them sandblasted and added translucent panels to the doors to lighten them up
Instead, she came up with an impromptu, stylish and inexpensive collage made of Polaroids, Instagram prints and other photos. Including the tape, the whole thing cost less than $35.
Ceramic Tile Ann Sacks' Savoy series (with "Eco-Thinking" products), is made from 21 percent postindustrial recycled content, including ceramic waste material from discarded clay and tableware pieces. The refined Savoy series is broad, affordable and goes easy on the environment. Cost: $12 to $15 per square foot
Neat clean subway title.
Keep an eye open for bamboo certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which means it meets criteria for environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Interesting colors.
Tile. Tile can be one of the most cost-effective partial backsplash and counter materials. Line up your favorite tiles in a single row for instant kitchen character and a very functional partial backsplash. You can find all sorts of great tiles left over from bigger jobs at tile showrooms or stores — just call and ask. Even mismatched tile can create a big impact for little money
This mellow shade of green is Farrow & Ball's Ball Green 25.
Installing tongue and groove in an old home is a smart renovation choice, because it covers less-than-perfect surfaces.
glass cabinet doors
Shades
vent
New rift-sawn white oak cabinets were custom-made locally in Halsey, Oregon. Finished with a custom stain, they give a warm glow that fits the midcentury vibe the couple was aiming for. Dodge ran the wood grain vertically on the perimeter cabinets and horizontally on the island, for added visual interest. A raised portion of the island allows for everyday messes to be hidden from the adjacent open living and dining room. Dodge had the insides of the upper display cabinets painted white; along with LED puck lights, they highlight some of the homeowners’ art collection.
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