Kitchen of the Week: Airy Layout in a White, Wood and Blue Style
A couple reunite with a designer to create a warm and cheerful kitchen with a large island and contemporary details
Fed up with their tired and confined kitchen, Ken and Nikki Gill — busy parents of middle-school twins — reached out to the person they were confident could help. Designer Tara Lenney had renovated the couple’s equally dated primary bathroom years ago; pleased with the makeover, they hired Lenney to update their kitchen as well.
Lenney eliminated a peninsula and absorbed a breakfast area to expand the footprint, freeing up space for a large island with seating. The fresh palette features light white oak cabinets combined with white painted cabinets and a soothing blue island base. A geometric tile backsplash adds a pop of pattern, and a new walk-in pantry improves storage and is spacious enough to keep small appliances from cluttering up the countertops in the main kitchen.
Lenney eliminated a peninsula and absorbed a breakfast area to expand the footprint, freeing up space for a large island with seating. The fresh palette features light white oak cabinets combined with white painted cabinets and a soothing blue island base. A geometric tile backsplash adds a pop of pattern, and a new walk-in pantry improves storage and is spacious enough to keep small appliances from cluttering up the countertops in the main kitchen.
After: Lenney stripped the former kitchen back, eliminated the soffit and raised the ceiling a foot to 9 feet to give it a more airy feel. She tweaked some wall portions on the range side to open the kitchen to the dining room (see floor plans below) and ditched the peninsula to expand the footprint into the former breakfast area. “We needed both width and length to fit that island,” Lenney says.
The generous 5-by-11-foot island offers seating, storage and a home for a sleek induction cooktop. The island base was painted a contemporary blue-gray (Blustery Sky by Sherwin-Williams).
The slab-front perimeter cabinets mix custom rift-cut white oak units with units painted a soft white (Simply White by Benjamin Moore). “We knew we wanted some warm color cabinetry because modern can get real cold, real fast,” Lenney says. “We went with a warm wood that would work with the floors, but not be too heavy. We mixed in some white to keep things bright.”
The updated flooring is engineered hickory hardwood.
Lenney rearranged the appliance layout too. A 30-inch smart double oven sits in place of the old fridge while a new counter-depth four-door French door refrigerator stands on the sink wall. “We also were able to locate the coffee maker over there, and create a beverage zone,” Lenney says.
Lenney used Houzz Pro software to manage invoices and review product selections with the homeowners for this project. “From a customer point of view, it’s great,” says Nikki, the homeowner. “I like the easy user interface and the ability to see detailed information about our project to track expenses.”
Cabinets: Stauffer Custom Kitchens; refrigerator: Professional 21.4 cubic foot counter-depth four-door French door, Frigidaire; wall and ceiling paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams
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The generous 5-by-11-foot island offers seating, storage and a home for a sleek induction cooktop. The island base was painted a contemporary blue-gray (Blustery Sky by Sherwin-Williams).
The slab-front perimeter cabinets mix custom rift-cut white oak units with units painted a soft white (Simply White by Benjamin Moore). “We knew we wanted some warm color cabinetry because modern can get real cold, real fast,” Lenney says. “We went with a warm wood that would work with the floors, but not be too heavy. We mixed in some white to keep things bright.”
The updated flooring is engineered hickory hardwood.
Lenney rearranged the appliance layout too. A 30-inch smart double oven sits in place of the old fridge while a new counter-depth four-door French door refrigerator stands on the sink wall. “We also were able to locate the coffee maker over there, and create a beverage zone,” Lenney says.
Lenney used Houzz Pro software to manage invoices and review product selections with the homeowners for this project. “From a customer point of view, it’s great,” says Nikki, the homeowner. “I like the easy user interface and the ability to see detailed information about our project to track expenses.”
Cabinets: Stauffer Custom Kitchens; refrigerator: Professional 21.4 cubic foot counter-depth four-door French door, Frigidaire; wall and ceiling paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams
Find kitchen remodelers near you
Before: This view of the former kitchen shows the tight range setup on the right and the breakfast area in the background. “There was enough space for the breakfast area but not for counter stools at the peninsula,” Lenney says.
A double-wide sliding glass door connected the breakfast area to the yard but took up a lot of wall space.
A double-wide sliding glass door connected the breakfast area to the yard but took up a lot of wall space.
After: Lenney replaced the double sliding door with a single glass door to gain more wall space to expand the cabinetry. “Going from a double door to a single door gave us 3 feet and space to add the refrigerator,” she says.
The island now extends into the former breakfast area. A hardworking wall of storage features several glass fronts to lighten the look. A 50-inch LED 4K TV allows the family to watch while working in the kitchen or sitting at the island.
Above the island, two 17-inch steel-and-glass pendants in a soothing blue include a glass diffuser that gently filters light. The kitchen also has new LED recessed ceiling lights on dimmers.
A flush vent hood exhausts air above the new 36-inch drop-in smart induction cooktop on the island. “Normally, especially if we add an island, homeowners want a sink in it,” Lenney says. “But Ken does a lot of the cooking and wanted to be able to cook and spend time with people and not face a wall.”
Pendant lights: Ray, 17 inches, Schoolhouse
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The island now extends into the former breakfast area. A hardworking wall of storage features several glass fronts to lighten the look. A 50-inch LED 4K TV allows the family to watch while working in the kitchen or sitting at the island.
Above the island, two 17-inch steel-and-glass pendants in a soothing blue include a glass diffuser that gently filters light. The kitchen also has new LED recessed ceiling lights on dimmers.
A flush vent hood exhausts air above the new 36-inch drop-in smart induction cooktop on the island. “Normally, especially if we add an island, homeowners want a sink in it,” Lenney says. “But Ken does a lot of the cooking and wanted to be able to cook and spend time with people and not face a wall.”
Pendant lights: Ray, 17 inches, Schoolhouse
Shop for bar stools and counter stools
Blue counter stools have painted ash frames, curved seats and woven cane backs. “We loved the tone-on-tone with the blue stools against the blue island,” Lenney says. “The stools are just a bit darker, so they add an interesting depth. The caned back complements our rift-cut wood here too.”
Lenney enlarged the window over the sink to bring in more natural light. “The kitchen before was really dark,” she says. “A large window like that also feels luxurious and modern.”
A woven roller shade controls light and provides privacy. “This window faces east and gets a lot of morning sun, which is wonderful, but it can be blinding,” Lenney says. “This gives us more solar control.”
A pull-down faucet in matte black and gold keeps things looking sleek and uncluttered.
Sink: Stages, Kohler; sink faucet: Litze in Matte Black/Luxe Gold, Brizo; island stools: Domino in Ocean Blue, Industry West; window shade: Inspired collection in Cruz Natural, Budget Blinds
15 Ways to Kick Your Kitchen Island Up a Notch
Lenney enlarged the window over the sink to bring in more natural light. “The kitchen before was really dark,” she says. “A large window like that also feels luxurious and modern.”
A woven roller shade controls light and provides privacy. “This window faces east and gets a lot of morning sun, which is wonderful, but it can be blinding,” Lenney says. “This gives us more solar control.”
A pull-down faucet in matte black and gold keeps things looking sleek and uncluttered.
Sink: Stages, Kohler; sink faucet: Litze in Matte Black/Luxe Gold, Brizo; island stools: Domino in Ocean Blue, Industry West; window shade: Inspired collection in Cruz Natural, Budget Blinds
15 Ways to Kick Your Kitchen Island Up a Notch
The backsplash features white porcelain geometric mosaic wall tiles with a glossy sheen and a blue-gray grout. “We wanted to do something different from subway tile and thought the geometric shape was interesting,” Nikki says. “It was Tara’s team that suggested the blue-gray grout that makes it pop a bit.”
The island and perimeter countertops are a durable, glossy marble-look white quartz with dramatic gray veining.
Backsplash: Influence geometric mosaic wall tile in white, 10 by 12 inches, Emser Tile; cooktop: 36-inch smart smooth induction touch-control in stainless steel with five elements, GE Cafe
Pros Share 6 Must-Have Kitchen Design Features
The island and perimeter countertops are a durable, glossy marble-look white quartz with dramatic gray veining.
Backsplash: Influence geometric mosaic wall tile in white, 10 by 12 inches, Emser Tile; cooktop: 36-inch smart smooth induction touch-control in stainless steel with five elements, GE Cafe
Pros Share 6 Must-Have Kitchen Design Features
The family’s dog, Milo, enjoys a moment on a new easy-care polyester runner.
Runner: CLE-O7 in Gray Multi, Loloi
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Runner: CLE-O7 in Gray Multi, Loloi
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This working side of the island includes a 24-inch flat-panel microwave drawer. A tall pullout to the right stores spices. Four deep drawers to the right of that hold pots and pans. “The top two have shallow drawers inside for the lids,” Lenney says.
An additional pullout to the right of the induction cooktop stores a knife block and canisters for utensils. A bank of drawers holds other items, and a trash and recycling pullout sits on the far side.
Sleek satin brass finger pulls for the cabinets and drawers help give the kitchen a clean and contemporary look. The white paneled door to the left of the double smart ovens leads to the new walk-in pantry. A blackboard by the pantry door gives the family an easy way to keep track of its grocery list and busy schedules.
Wider openings improve connections between the kitchen, dining room and living room. “We widened the dining opening, more than doubled it, and moved it closer to the island so you can see the dining room from the kitchen,” Lenney says. “We also widened the opening to the kitchen from the living room.”
Microwave drawer: Sharp; cabinet hardware: Edge pull in satin brass, 6 inches, Emtek
An additional pullout to the right of the induction cooktop stores a knife block and canisters for utensils. A bank of drawers holds other items, and a trash and recycling pullout sits on the far side.
Sleek satin brass finger pulls for the cabinets and drawers help give the kitchen a clean and contemporary look. The white paneled door to the left of the double smart ovens leads to the new walk-in pantry. A blackboard by the pantry door gives the family an easy way to keep track of its grocery list and busy schedules.
Wider openings improve connections between the kitchen, dining room and living room. “We widened the dining opening, more than doubled it, and moved it closer to the island so you can see the dining room from the kitchen,” Lenney says. “We also widened the opening to the kitchen from the living room.”
Microwave drawer: Sharp; cabinet hardware: Edge pull in satin brass, 6 inches, Emtek
The super organized walk-in pantry includes open shelves for dry goods, counters for small appliances and drawers for bulk storage and vegetables. “We did the routed pulls with air flow so they could store vegetables like onions and potatoes,” Lenney says.
“It’s my second-favorite room in the house, behind my bedroom closet,” Nikki says. “Ken says I’m in there all the time.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
“It’s my second-favorite room in the house, behind my bedroom closet,” Nikki says. “Ken says I’m in there all the time.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
These before-and-after floor plans show the former kitchen layout (left) and the updated space (right).
In the former layout, a peninsula (middle left) divided the room between the kitchen and breakfast area. The range (lower center) sat crammed between a microwave and wall ovens. A tight corner passage (bottom) led to the dining room (bottom right).
The updated layout absorbs the former breakfast area to fit a large island. Widened openings create improved connection to the dining room and living room (top right).
“Just the overall lightness and brightness is so great,” Nikki says. “And all the extra storage that we gained with the pantry, island storage and around the TV is wonderful. We love being in there all the time.”
More on Houzz
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Hire a kitchen remodeler
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In the former layout, a peninsula (middle left) divided the room between the kitchen and breakfast area. The range (lower center) sat crammed between a microwave and wall ovens. A tight corner passage (bottom) led to the dining room (bottom right).
The updated layout absorbs the former breakfast area to fit a large island. Widened openings create improved connection to the dining room and living room (top right).
“Just the overall lightness and brightness is so great,” Nikki says. “And all the extra storage that we gained with the pantry, island storage and around the TV is wonderful. We love being in there all the time.”
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Ken and Nikki Gill and their middle school twins
Location: Dallas
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Designer: Tara Lenney Design
Builder: David Marcus of DSM Construction
Before: The former kitchen featured fading cream-colored cabinets that appeared to have a slightly distressed finish. A lack of variety in the cabinet color and style, including a repeating bank of upper panels covering a soffit, gave the kitchen a dreary look.
Brown and black backsplash tile and dark granite countertops seemed to absorb the limited available light. And a two-tired peninsula divided the kitchen from a breakfast area, forcing a confined layout. With a garbage can on the end of the peninsula, the traffic path felt especially tight.
A gas cooktop sat crammed between wall ovens and a microwave across from the sink and lacked surrounding countertop space. (See “Before” photo and floor plans below.) “This family needed a space that was better suited to how they live,” Lenney says.