7. An L-shaped layout wraps around a large maple island painted gray. An extra-wide farmhouse sink sits beneath a window overlooking a backyard. Warm wood floors and nickel accents give the space a traditional feel. Backsplash: white subway tile, 3 by 6 feet, in white gloss; island: cherry with Flint stain, Woodharbor; range hood: Monogram 48-inch stainless steel professional hood, GE; floor: tongue-in-groove oak in a stain similar to Minwax’s Jacobean
8. Slate gray painted alder cabinets join distressed oak cabinets, open shelves on vintage brackets, concrete brick floors and an antique mounted plate rack for a look that feels pulled together over several generations. Sink: farmhouse sink, Rohl; floor: cement brick, Arto; cabinets: William Ohs See more of this home
10. Talk about an entertainer’s dream. You could park a car on this extra-large island, although you’d probably prefer to use it as prep and serving space during holiday meals and parties. Rough, raw and rustic wood beams add heft to the soaring ceiling, while wood floors provide a warm complement to the creamy-white cabinets.
Style: “The kitchen was so dark and chopped up, it just wasn’t them,” Mathe says. So she got to know what was. “They loved the idea of a French bistro-inspired look.” She brought in black and white contrast, classic white subway tile, cafe-style furniture and the encaustic cement tile her clients loved, as a tile “rug.” She also used the existing cabinet next to the fireplace to create a coffee and tea station.Must-haves: In addition to the cement tile, the homeowners wanted open storage under the range for their pots and pans so that they can easily find and grab what they need. Mathe gave them stained-wood pullouts there.Layout: Of course, function was the most important part of the design. The tile rug marks the heart of the work triangle, with the range, large sink and double ovens within easy reach. A dishwasher and trash and recycling bins are tucked into the island, with seating on the other side. The refrigerator is just around the corner, and there’s a reason for that.Cabinets: Mathe, Vaughan and Dawson collaborated to recompose the original cabinets in an arrangement that worked. “I always have my clients take an inventory of everything they have before we plan out the ca...
Photos by Ansel OlsonKitchen at a GlanceWho uses it: A family of five and two dogsLocation: Richmond, VirginiaSize: 300 square feet (27.9 square meters)Design team: Interior designer Melissa Mathe, architect Melissa Vaughan and carpenter Chopper DawsonBefore: The kitchen in this 1966 Cape Cod-style home hadn’t been touched since it was built — olive-green appliances and all. It was divvied up into four separate rooms: kitchen, small eat-in dining area, laundry room and back entrance. The kitchen had linoleum flooring, while the small dining room had hardwood. The walls were covered in the original 1960s dark-stained paneling. Scope of work: “The architect, Melissa Vaughan, figured out which walls could come down structurally,” says interior designer Melissa Mathe. This opened and brightened the room, gave them loads of space to work with, and allowed room for a large kitchen island. Then the two women and contractor Chopper Dawson took stock of the existing cabinets and figured out a way to reuse them in the new kitchen.Though this was a big makeover, the team saved and reused as much as possible — not just the cabinets, but also the paneled walls and hardwood floors. They were ab...
Rush-seat stools. Like Hanson, Kandler also opted for counter stools with traditional rushed seats. These are Papa Bear stools from Mulligan’s; their seat cushions are covered in fabrics from Donghia and Kravet. The designer chose blue to carry the color over from the blue range backsplash.Rustic wood flooring. The flooring is European oak that has been aged to look like reclaimed barn wood.MoreHomeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen12 Great Kitchen Styles — Which One’s for You?
Mix of shelving types. “I varied the display options to show off the most pottery possible,” Kandler says. She mixed bracketed shelves, open shelving, cabinet boxes without doors, glass china cabinets and bookshelves. Like the light fixture, these open shelves are a more rustic touch. They are alder wood stained and beaten to look like old wood, and the brackets are heavy wrought iron.Warm, neutral walls. “The overall feel of the kitchen is cozy, warm and vintage due to the super creamy finish,” the designer says. The paint colors were custom mixed, and the cabinets are all antiqued. She papered the walls in a cream-on-white Quadrille wallcovering. “Everything was selected to show off the Bauer pottery collection, so most of the backdrop is neutral,” Kandler says. The 3-by-6-inch cream subway tile around the sink is from Ann Sacks and matches the cabinet color.Quartzite countertops. This particular shade of gray blends well with the neutral backdrop “and was perfect for showing off the Bauer,” Kandler says.
Colorful California Country Who lives here: Carole and Doug Rawson, empty nesters with four grown childrenLocation: Santa Monica, CaliforniaDesigner: Alison Kandler“Carole is a rabid collector of Bauer pottery and Graniteware and wanted a backdrop to show off her collections. She also likes large, overstuffed furniture in comfortable fabrics,” says interior designer Alison Kandler. Additionally, the couple wanted to create a place that their four adult children and future grandchildren would enjoy visiting, and colorful California country style makes for a cheerful, inviting home.Key details: Apron-front sinkBarn-style lightingQuilt-inspired tile backsplash
1. Apron-front sink. The classic fireclay sink with the apron front is the very definition of a farmhouse sink. Fireclay is a clay that’s dried into the sink shape, then coated in porcelain and fired in a kiln, fusing the two together. This makes it very strong and durable, which is practical for a hardworking kitchen. Its simple yet homey style is just right for the look. Kandler chose an exposed plumbing faucet, which means the cold and hot water travel to the spout above the counter. This is also called a bridge faucet. “It is a very utilitarian look that has become an elegant choice in recent years, but it really is based on a practical need,” Kandler says. Apron-front sink: Shaws Original; see more apron-front sinks; faucet: Perrin and Rowe
1. Large windows. The paned windows open the kitchen right up to horse country, bringing pastoral views into the kitchen. This bay window was also an opportunity to bring in a little French farmhouse style via the fleur-de-lis canisters, a topiary, pottery and paisley on the scalloped window treatments. 2. Oil-rubbed bronze fixtures and accessories. The antique look of the oil-rubbed finishes on the bronze faucets and hardware bring in a feeling of age and a rustic touch within the luxe space. Clement repeated the finish on the faucets, pot filler, hardware and decorative lantern to tie everything together. This finish also picks up colors in the marble countertops. The silhouettes on these pieces are elegant in their classic simplicity.
Southern Horse-Country Luxe Who lives here: A couple and their two tweensLocation: Leesburg, VirginiaDesigner: Lauren Clement of Lauren Nicole Designs“These clients are very formal and very traditional and live in the heart of horse country in Loudoun County, Virginia,” Clement says. “Their keeping room and kitchen are the hub of their home, and they wanted this space to feel warm and welcoming while still compatible with their more formal style.” Key details: Large windows that bring nature insideOil-rubbed bronze fixtures and accessoriesHearth-inspired range nook
Shaker-style stools. “Rush seat stools add to the farmhouse feel,” the designer says.Modern departure: “The client decided on some surprising departures from the rest of the kitchen’s more country traditional feel, choosing the unusual glass-front Sub-Zero refrigerator-freezer as well as the elegant black-and-brass light fixture,” Hanson says. These moves help bridge the gap between the home’s 1924 vintage and 2017, incorporating modern updates within its classic style.
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2. Create Multifunctional Spaces An open living space can serve multiple purposes. “Consider adding a desk or study space, fully lit china cabinets to replace old furniture, or a butler’s pantry and wine bar,” Warman says. “This gives you plenty of function for work and play.” In the newly built home in southeast Burlington seen here, overlooking Lake Ontario, the dining space adjacent to the kitchen opens to a large living room. “The second floor is designed as an open game room overlooking the great room,” Warman says. “All of the space is used for entertaining.” See more of this project
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