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
The kitchen underwent the most extensive renovation, its layout completely reconfigured. Previously, a curved island and the cabinets were a mere 18 inches apart; the island was replaced with a rectilinear design that now allows ample room for circulation on both sides. The spot where the refrigerator now stands used to hold a door to the garage, which also inhibited flow. Whalen added interest to the cabinets by bumping some out farther than others, mixing shiplap paneling with chiseled-edge subway tile, and interspersing gray and white cabinets with a bank of glass doors to display some of the family’s heirlooms.
he Houzz Kitchen of the Week series offers a wide range of advice and inspiration to help you update or transform the heart of your home. In reverse order, here’s a roundup of the 10 most popular Kitchens of the Week from 2016, as measured by the number of people who have saved these photos to their personal Houzz ideabooks this year. Click on the links for a full tour of each kitchen and more useful ideas for your own place.
3. Hearth-inspired range nook. This homey touch was a chance to add something a little more farmhouse casual into the kitchen. The tile’s small-scale lattice design with a navy border gives the kitchen a more casual feel, Clement says. “It dresses down the elegant marble a bit.”The mantel above the nook also gave the designer a chance to display some farmhouse accessories, like the oil-rubbed bronze lantern and that proud, colorful rooster art piece. By the way, let’s talk more about that rooster. Whether it’s a rooster on a tray, lamp, weathervane, tile, painting, you name it, a rooster in the kitchen not only brings in farmhouse cheer but is also said to bring good luck to a kitchen. Even if you’re not into roosters, hide a rooster around your kitchen somewhere — on top of a wine stopper or referenced on a tea kettle.
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