Kitchen Design
Before and Afters
Kitchen of the Week: A Dream 17 Years in the Making
A Virginia couple work with a design-build team to create the open, modern-rustic family kitchen they’d always wanted
Heather Phillips spent 17 years thinking about her dream kitchen. “I used to sit in the family room and stare into the kitchen and think of the things I wanted to do to it,” she says.
She and her husband, Tom, purchased their Colonial-style home in suburban Washington, D.C., in 2001 before they had kids. They wanted to wait until their two sons became teenagers before making major changes to their difficult kitchen. Those years gave Heather time to consider what to do about the angled island and three-sided fireplace that impeded traffic flow. She wanted a more user-friendly space that reflected her style, which she describes as between modern-rustic and “granny chic.” But she also wanted to incorporate the more contemporary tastes of her husband and older son.
To help her execute and refine her plans, the couple hired kitchen designer Shelley Vilov and project manager David Jordan, both of Jordan Design-Build Group. Using Houzz to buy products and exchange design ideas, the team worked with the couple to create a more functional layout with smart storage and a blend of black, brass and wood elements that hit all the diverse style requirements. It was worth the wait.
She and her husband, Tom, purchased their Colonial-style home in suburban Washington, D.C., in 2001 before they had kids. They wanted to wait until their two sons became teenagers before making major changes to their difficult kitchen. Those years gave Heather time to consider what to do about the angled island and three-sided fireplace that impeded traffic flow. She wanted a more user-friendly space that reflected her style, which she describes as between modern-rustic and “granny chic.” But she also wanted to incorporate the more contemporary tastes of her husband and older son.
To help her execute and refine her plans, the couple hired kitchen designer Shelley Vilov and project manager David Jordan, both of Jordan Design-Build Group. Using Houzz to buy products and exchange design ideas, the team worked with the couple to create a more functional layout with smart storage and a blend of black, brass and wood elements that hit all the diverse style requirements. It was worth the wait.
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After: Vilov stripped the space, removing the angled island, cabinets, fireplace and bulkheads to create a simpler rectangular footprint in which to work.
The new U-shaped layout promotes more efficient traffic flow in and out of the kitchen, both from this side as well as through the door in the back corner that connects the space to the garage. “I now have a defined workspace and there’s a defined walk space now,” Heather says. “There was never a clear line or straight path between the garage and the rest of the house before.”
The refined color and materials palette includes black enamel Shaker-style cabinets with touches of rustic wood on the peninsula back and range hood. “Black can be very heavy and feel weighted,” Vilov says. “Heather had some other details in her house with stained wood, so it made sense to bring that element in here. We saw photos on Houzz and elsewhere with this kind of wood detail and thought it was a nice way to lighten up the room.” The walls are a coordinating light brownish, warm beige color (Oyster Bar by Sherwin-Williams).
Heather wanted to eliminate upper cabinets and keep the countertops uncluttered. So Vilov used spacious base cabinets and reconfigured a walk-in pantry to include storage for small appliances such as the microwave and toaster.
Cabinets: Madison door style in black enamel paint, Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry
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The new U-shaped layout promotes more efficient traffic flow in and out of the kitchen, both from this side as well as through the door in the back corner that connects the space to the garage. “I now have a defined workspace and there’s a defined walk space now,” Heather says. “There was never a clear line or straight path between the garage and the rest of the house before.”
The refined color and materials palette includes black enamel Shaker-style cabinets with touches of rustic wood on the peninsula back and range hood. “Black can be very heavy and feel weighted,” Vilov says. “Heather had some other details in her house with stained wood, so it made sense to bring that element in here. We saw photos on Houzz and elsewhere with this kind of wood detail and thought it was a nice way to lighten up the room.” The walls are a coordinating light brownish, warm beige color (Oyster Bar by Sherwin-Williams).
Heather wanted to eliminate upper cabinets and keep the countertops uncluttered. So Vilov used spacious base cabinets and reconfigured a walk-in pantry to include storage for small appliances such as the microwave and toaster.
Cabinets: Madison door style in black enamel paint, Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry
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Heather found the matte black-and-white ceramic tiles with a star pattern on Houzz. “The floor tile was actually the first thing I found,” Heather says. “I loved it because of the vintage look. We based the other selections for the kitchen on that floor.”
The tile helps the kitchen stand out from the other rooms on the first floor of the two-story home. The rest of the flooring was updated with refinished oak hardwood in a custom stain.
Floor: Royals Estrella ceramic tile in Nero pattern, SomerTile
The tile helps the kitchen stand out from the other rooms on the first floor of the two-story home. The rest of the flooring was updated with refinished oak hardwood in a custom stain.
Floor: Royals Estrella ceramic tile in Nero pattern, SomerTile
Cushioned stools with tall backs at the bar counter give the family a spot for eating casual meals and doing homework. “It was also a way to keep the space a bit more defined, so Heather could work but also communicate with her family,” Vilov says.
Marble-look quartz countertops — light gray veining on an ivory base — and a backsplash of 2-by-9-inch glazed white clay tiles offer contrast to the black cabinets and range hood. “It was a way to bring in more of the rustic look I like without being too heavily distressed,” Heather says.
A pair of of brass pendants over the peninsula combine with recessed LED lights in the ceiling, decorative wall sconces on either side of the range and a fixed sconce over open shelves to provide layered lighting.
The door to the left of the refrigerator leads to the reconfigured walk-in pantry.
Pendants: Alden one-light pendant in warm brass, Savoy House; stools: Garden swivel stool, Amisco
Marble-look quartz countertops — light gray veining on an ivory base — and a backsplash of 2-by-9-inch glazed white clay tiles offer contrast to the black cabinets and range hood. “It was a way to bring in more of the rustic look I like without being too heavily distressed,” Heather says.
A pair of of brass pendants over the peninsula combine with recessed LED lights in the ceiling, decorative wall sconces on either side of the range and a fixed sconce over open shelves to provide layered lighting.
The door to the left of the refrigerator leads to the reconfigured walk-in pantry.
Pendants: Alden one-light pendant in warm brass, Savoy House; stools: Garden swivel stool, Amisco
The workhorse pantry features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling open shelves. A deep countertop wraps around the middle, providing space for small appliances and utensils. “I love having my microwave in there,” Heather says.
Vilov painted the walls of the pantry antique blue (Vintage Vessel by Sherwin-Williams) to contrast with the light brown walls in the kitchen. “And with the white shelves, they really pop,” she says.
Vilov painted the walls of the pantry antique blue (Vintage Vessel by Sherwin-Williams) to contrast with the light brown walls in the kitchen. “And with the white shelves, they really pop,” she says.
On the other side of the refrigerator, a workstation includes open wood shelves that feature a brass inlay detail and antique brass brackets.
The drawer contains wooden tray inserts for organizing what Heather calls her “mom tools,” such as safety pins, paper clips, pens and scissors. The cabinets store a griddle, extra-long grill tools and a pizza stone. “The items we use frequently, but not frequently enough to use every day,” Heather says. “Shelley and I literally went through everything in my existing kitchen to make sure we had a place for each item. That was important, especially with getting rid of upper cabinets.”
The drawer contains wooden tray inserts for organizing what Heather calls her “mom tools,” such as safety pins, paper clips, pens and scissors. The cabinets store a griddle, extra-long grill tools and a pizza stone. “The items we use frequently, but not frequently enough to use every day,” Heather says. “Shelley and I literally went through everything in my existing kitchen to make sure we had a place for each item. That was important, especially with getting rid of upper cabinets.”
The new black stainless steel 30-inch slide-in gas range with convection oven and six versatile burners has plenty of counter space on each side. “It has the grill all the way across, so it’s an even surface,” Heather says. “The way the burners were spaced on the old cooktop, you couldn’t really use more than one burner at a time.”
Peel-and-stick wood panels with a matte charcoal finish wrap the custom vent hood. A band of stained wood coordinates with the trim on the peninsula. “It was about character and texture,” Vilov says. “You have that full wall with no uppers, so we wanted [the hood] to be a focal point.”
Vilov moved the location of the sink out of the corner to a spot that overlooks the breakfast area. The matte black double-handle bridge faucet and drop-in double-basin stainless steel sink provide two modern design details in the kitchen. “I didn’t just want to follow the trend of doing a farmhouse sink, because everyone has that style,” Heather says. “To me, this is what a sink looks like.”
Faucet: Purist in matte black, Kohler
Faucet: Purist in matte black, Kohler
The peninsula cabinets store baking supplies, mixing bowls and glass bakeware. A corner cabinet features a lazy Susan for a crockpot, immersion blender, hand mixer and other gadgets. The drawers hold napkins, placemats, plastic wrap, lunch bags, foil and more. “This is where I make lunches for the kids,” Heather says.
This view of the kitchen from the adjoining family room shows the open breakfast area with large windows that overlook the backyard.
The breakfast area includes a new mahogany-and-oak pedestal dining table with a circular reeded-edge top with a wood inlay star pattern, plus bistro-style dining chairs with curved details on the back. “I went with a round table because it’s warmer,” Heather says. “There are so many sharp edges and lines in the space already. It’s also better for playing cards, something we like to do.”
The glass door leads to a small back porch with a grill, and stairs that connect to a stone patio in the backyard.
Table: Jacoby dining table, Theodore Alexander
The glass door leads to a small back porch with a grill, and stairs that connect to a stone patio in the backyard.
Table: Jacoby dining table, Theodore Alexander
As these before-and-after floor plans show, the previous kitchen (left) had an angled layout that forced many twists and turn. The improved U-shaped design (right) makes the space more user-friendly. “It eliminates the chaos in the kitchen,” Vilov says. “This new layout creates better flow to the rest of the first floor.”
Heather says her new kitchen was definitely worth the wait. “We wouldn’t have been able to do the kitchen we wanted if we tried too early,” she says. “We got to do exactly what we wanted.”
More on Houzz
Before and After: 5 Kitchen Makeovers in 200 to 245 Square Feet
Get kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer in your neighborhood
Shop for kitchen furniture and other products
Heather says her new kitchen was definitely worth the wait. “We wouldn’t have been able to do the kitchen we wanted if we tried too early,” she says. “We got to do exactly what we wanted.”
More on Houzz
Before and After: 5 Kitchen Makeovers in 200 to 245 Square Feet
Get kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer in your neighborhood
Shop for kitchen furniture and other products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Tom and Heather Phillips, their two teenage sons and their German shepherd
Location: Centreville, Virginia
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters), including the pantry
Designers: Shelley Vilov (kitchen design) and David Jordan (project manager) of Jordan Design-Build Group
Before: In the previous kitchen, an angled island, which contained the cooktop, and a three-sided fireplace impeded traffic flow. “[Heather’s] kids are very active and that old angled island was a constant traffic jam,” Vilov says. Bulkheads over the corner sink and fireplace created more angles in the layout.
Other features that had to go included green walls, laminate countertops and basic oak cabinets.
The couple had updated some appliances — the dishwasher and refrigerator — before the renovation but needed help rethinking the layout and maximizing counter space and storage. “There wasn’t much useful counter space before,” Heather says. “I always wanted a place that was practical for us, but a place that my grandmother would recognize as a kitchen.”