Kitchen of the Week: Bright and Open With a Warm Walnut Island
Light gray-blue cabinets, a classic plate rack and shiplap paneling freshen up the look of a dark and dated kitchen
This New England couple bought their Grand Cape-style house knowing they’d eventually remodel the dated kitchen. The parents of three daughters thought the overall layout worked, but they disliked the visually heavy aging wood cabinets and awkward two-level island. They wanted something light and bright, but specifically not a white kitchen.
For help, they hired designer Jackie Friberg of Granite State Cabinetry and interior planner Shayne Mitchell of Orchard Hill Interiors. Now, perimeter cabinetry in a pale gray-blue adds sophisticated and soothing style. A new one-level streamlined island in natural black walnut visually warms the space and provides enough seating for the whole family. Concrete-look perimeter countertops and a quartzite island countertop add interest. Painted nickel-gap paneling and a classic open plate rack cabinet bring charming touches. Updated appliances and a revamped bar area enhance function.
For help, they hired designer Jackie Friberg of Granite State Cabinetry and interior planner Shayne Mitchell of Orchard Hill Interiors. Now, perimeter cabinetry in a pale gray-blue adds sophisticated and soothing style. A new one-level streamlined island in natural black walnut visually warms the space and provides enough seating for the whole family. Concrete-look perimeter countertops and a quartzite island countertop add interest. Painted nickel-gap paneling and a classic open plate rack cabinet bring charming touches. Updated appliances and a revamped bar area enhance function.
After: The design team got rid of everything but the red oak flooring and a beverage fridge in the bar area. New custom perimeter cabinets painted a light gray-blue brighten and freshen the space. “They knew they wanted to brighten it up but also didn’t want just another white kitchen,” Friberg says. “We went the route of finding just the right color by getting a custom color match to [Benjamin Moore’s] Boothbay Gray, which the homeowner loved, as she is from Maine originally.” (Boothbay Harbor is a town in Maine.)
On the left, a paneled refrigerator is surrounded by pantry storage and other cabinets. “It gives them ample storage, and it’s all uniform and symmetrical and gives them a nice sleek look,” Friberg says. “It also gave us a chance to separate the wet bar and make it its own unique area.”
A large natural black walnut island now anchors the room in warmth. It can seat six people and has a Super White quartzite countertop that offers plenty of uninterrupted work surface. “They have busy lives with three daughters, so having more seating at the island was important,” Friberg says.
Cabinetry: Cabico Custom Cabinetry
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On the left, a paneled refrigerator is surrounded by pantry storage and other cabinets. “It gives them ample storage, and it’s all uniform and symmetrical and gives them a nice sleek look,” Friberg says. “It also gave us a chance to separate the wet bar and make it its own unique area.”
A large natural black walnut island now anchors the room in warmth. It can seat six people and has a Super White quartzite countertop that offers plenty of uninterrupted work surface. “They have busy lives with three daughters, so having more seating at the island was important,” Friberg says.
Cabinetry: Cabico Custom Cabinetry
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A pair of large white metal pendant lights with antique brass hardware hang over the island. (The kitchen also has new LED ceiling lights that were digitally removed from these photos by the photographer to highlight other design details.)
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Gray quartz forms the perimeter countertops. Straight ahead in this photo is an energy-efficient 36-inch induction cooktop with an easy-to-clean glass surface that sits almost flush with the countertop. Above it, a painted wood hood coordinates with the cabinetry. “She just wanted it to look like cabinetry and not be too overwhelming,” Friberg says.
A pullout utensil rack sits to the lower right of the cooktop. A top drawer to the left has tiered spice storage. A brass rack with S-hooks over the cooktop provides hanging storage for often-used pans and utensils. Painted nickel-gap shiplap paneling that matches the house trim creates a classic look for the backsplash on the cooktop and sink walls, as well as for the wet-bar area. A new microwave sits in the interior side of the island. Cabinet knobs, pulls and cup pulls in a honey bronze finish add touches of warmth.
Induction cooktop: Cafe Appliances; cabinetry hardware: Holden pulls and knobs and Channing cup pulls, all in honey bronze, Top Knobs
3 Fantastic Kitchens Designed for Entertaining
A pullout utensil rack sits to the lower right of the cooktop. A top drawer to the left has tiered spice storage. A brass rack with S-hooks over the cooktop provides hanging storage for often-used pans and utensils. Painted nickel-gap shiplap paneling that matches the house trim creates a classic look for the backsplash on the cooktop and sink walls, as well as for the wet-bar area. A new microwave sits in the interior side of the island. Cabinet knobs, pulls and cup pulls in a honey bronze finish add touches of warmth.
Induction cooktop: Cafe Appliances; cabinetry hardware: Holden pulls and knobs and Channing cup pulls, all in honey bronze, Top Knobs
3 Fantastic Kitchens Designed for Entertaining
Before: In the former kitchen, double-hung windows with muntins over the sink offered limited views outside. A tall and bulky double pantry cabinet loomed on the right. “It just blocked any of the natural light coming in and made the room feel small,” Friberg says.
After: Now, two upgraded casement windows flanking a large picture window extend to the countertop to enhance views of the lush landscape. A paneled trash and recycling pullout sits to the left of the white 30-inch apron-front fireclay sink. To the right is a panel-ready dishwasher.
Relocating pantry storage to the fridge wall allowed the design team to ditch the former bulky pantry cabinet and extend the run of lower cabinets and countertop. A classic plate rack cabinet now hangs on the wall. “It adds to the charm of the kitchen,” Friberg says.
Wall paint: Accessible Beige, Sherwin-Williams; wall sconce: Modern glass adjustable, Laluz
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Relocating pantry storage to the fridge wall allowed the design team to ditch the former bulky pantry cabinet and extend the run of lower cabinets and countertop. A classic plate rack cabinet now hangs on the wall. “It adds to the charm of the kitchen,” Friberg says.
Wall paint: Accessible Beige, Sherwin-Williams; wall sconce: Modern glass adjustable, Laluz
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
In the updated wet-bar area, walnut cabinets and shelves complement the kitchen island. The quartz countertop is the same used for the perimeter counters in the kitchen. Nickel-gap shiplap paneling also coordinates with the kitchen. “The color is what makes this kitchen,” Friberg says. “But it’s also laid out better, with better storage and use of space.”
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three daughters
Location: Groton, New Hampshire
Size: 255 square feet (24 square meters)
Designers: Jackie Friberg of Granite State Cabinetry and interior planner Shayne Mitchell of Orchard Hill Interiors
Before: In the former kitchen, the locations of the appliances, sink and island worked fine for the homeowners. But the couple felt the wood cabinets overwhelmed the space and looked heavy and dated, especially paired with the natural red oak flooring, which they wanted to keep. “All the wood made it feel dark and much smaller than it was,” Friberg says. The cabinets also stopped short of the ceiling, creating open areas that collected dust.
The compact island had seating for only three people. It also had an awkward raised section on the end across from the wall ovens that broke up the work surface. A large stainless steel refrigerator dominated the left side of the kitchen. A small microwave sat on a shelf to the left of the fridge. Cabinetry on the refrigerator wall wrapped around the corner to a wet bar. The arched cased opening to the right of the fridge connects the kitchen to the family room.