Kitchen of the Week: Creamy White Cabinets and More Openness
A designer helps an empty-nest couple transform their 1980s kitchen with a lighter palette, an island and an airy layout
This Oklahoma couple custom-built their home in the 1980s. After raising two kids and living in the home for more than 30 years, they decided the existing kitchen needed a major makeover. Shallow basic white cabinets, aging black appliances, white square tile flooring and red wallpaper on the walls and ceiling all had to go.
Wanting a more open layout with a fresh style and improved storage, the empty-nest couple turned to designer Kirby Foster Hurd. Using Houzz Pro for spatial planning, Foster Hurd reconfigured the layout and opened a wall between the kitchen and living room, giving her room to add a central island. Creamy off-white cabinets and Taj Mahal quartzite countertops join soft greige walls, ceiling and backsplash tile to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wood-look porcelain tile flooring adds warmth and durability, and new appliances give upgraded function to the light and airy design.
Wanting a more open layout with a fresh style and improved storage, the empty-nest couple turned to designer Kirby Foster Hurd. Using Houzz Pro for spatial planning, Foster Hurd reconfigured the layout and opened a wall between the kitchen and living room, giving her room to add a central island. Creamy off-white cabinets and Taj Mahal quartzite countertops join soft greige walls, ceiling and backsplash tile to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wood-look porcelain tile flooring adds warmth and durability, and new appliances give upgraded function to the light and airy design.
After: Foster Hurd knocked the kitchen back to the studs, shifted a doorway over and removed the wall between the kitchen and living room. She then designed a more efficient L-shaped layout with a center island.
Three swivel stools offer seating on the outside of the island, while a custom stool on the end offers an additional spot to sit and can tuck under the countertop out of the way. “As I did the spatial plan on Houzz, I was a little concerned if they put a fourth swivel stool there it might create a tight walkway to the seating area behind the kitchen,” Foster Hurd says.
Warm off-white maple inset cabinets, light beige walls and ceiling (Canvas Tan by Sherwin-Williams) and white Taj Mahal quartzite countertops create a bright and welcoming feel. Polished gray ceramic backsplash tile coordinates with satin nickel cabinet hardware, antique nickel pendant lights, stainless steel appliances and gray upholstery on the custom stool for an elegantly balanced color scheme.
Wood-look 6-by-36-inch porcelain tile flooring adds warmth and durability.
Pendant lights: Goodman in antique nickel, Visual Comfort; counter stools: Dutton swivel stool, Century Furniture; staging: Layton Staging and Redesign
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Three swivel stools offer seating on the outside of the island, while a custom stool on the end offers an additional spot to sit and can tuck under the countertop out of the way. “As I did the spatial plan on Houzz, I was a little concerned if they put a fourth swivel stool there it might create a tight walkway to the seating area behind the kitchen,” Foster Hurd says.
Warm off-white maple inset cabinets, light beige walls and ceiling (Canvas Tan by Sherwin-Williams) and white Taj Mahal quartzite countertops create a bright and welcoming feel. Polished gray ceramic backsplash tile coordinates with satin nickel cabinet hardware, antique nickel pendant lights, stainless steel appliances and gray upholstery on the custom stool for an elegantly balanced color scheme.
Wood-look 6-by-36-inch porcelain tile flooring adds warmth and durability.
Pendant lights: Goodman in antique nickel, Visual Comfort; counter stools: Dutton swivel stool, Century Furniture; staging: Layton Staging and Redesign
Find a kitchen designer in your area
Before: The former kitchen featured an odd corner sink setup: two separate round gray bowls with a pivoting faucet mounted between them. “It didn’t function well, and the homeowners knew they wanted one large single-basin sink,” Foster Hurd says.
The wall above the sink shows the red striped and floral pattern wallpaper.
The wall above the sink shows the red striped and floral pattern wallpaper.
After: Foster Hurd relocated the sink to the island, removed the former peninsula and created a symmetrical range wall. “This becomes a focal point from the living room now, so we knew we wanted to relocate the range to that back wall,” Foster Hurd says. “When I designed the hood, I was inspired by the new arch we have on the new wall that separates the kitchen and living room. I took that arch and used it here.”
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Shop for kitchen counter stools
The backsplash is polished gray 2-by-20-inch ceramic tiles set in a herringbone pattern. “I thought these tiles coordinated perfectly with the wall color,” Foster Hurd says.
The tiles also complement tones found in the quartzite counters. “We did spend quite a bit of time sourcing the countertops,” Foster Hurd says. “We actually located a slab in Tulsa and had it shipped to Oklahoma City. When it arrived, we went and selected which piece would be the island and the surrounding countertops and then had it cut exactly how we wanted to have it placed.”
A 33-inch drop-in single-basin granite composite sink includes a pull-down faucet in a stainless steel finish.
Backsplash tile: Carolina in Fog Gray, 2 by 20 inches, Tile Bar; sink: Grandis in Truffle, 33 inches, Blanco; faucet: Artifacts in Vibrant Stainless, Kohler; cabinet hardware: Serene Kara knob and Serene Kara pull in brushed satin nickel, various sizes, Top Knobs
The tiles also complement tones found in the quartzite counters. “We did spend quite a bit of time sourcing the countertops,” Foster Hurd says. “We actually located a slab in Tulsa and had it shipped to Oklahoma City. When it arrived, we went and selected which piece would be the island and the surrounding countertops and then had it cut exactly how we wanted to have it placed.”
A 33-inch drop-in single-basin granite composite sink includes a pull-down faucet in a stainless steel finish.
Backsplash tile: Carolina in Fog Gray, 2 by 20 inches, Tile Bar; sink: Grandis in Truffle, 33 inches, Blanco; faucet: Artifacts in Vibrant Stainless, Kohler; cabinet hardware: Serene Kara knob and Serene Kara pull in brushed satin nickel, various sizes, Top Knobs
A pullout to the left of the new 36-inch slide-in range holds steel canisters for utensils. The cabinet to the right of the range is a faux pullout front that opens to a divider for cookie sheets and cutting boards. A 24-inch stainless steel microwave drawer sits nearby.
A brushed stainless steel dishwasher sits beside the sink in the island. A paneled pullout trash and recycling center is to the right of the sink.
10 Dos and Don’ts of Designing a Kitchen Island
10 Dos and Don’ts of Designing a Kitchen Island
A tall, slim pullout next to the counter-depth fridge holds spices. “They didn’t want to have to reach down to find what they need,” Foster Hurd says.
The angled cabinet is a broom closet. Upper cabinets store seasonal items.
The angled cabinet is a broom closet. Upper cabinets store seasonal items.
This wide view shows the adjoining updated eating nook. “Since they’re empty nesters now, they just needed a smaller space to drink their coffee or have a quick bite to eat,” Foster Hurd says.
Before: In the former nook area, a built-in bar could open to the living room.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
After: The updated bar features a stainless steel ice maker, drawers and glass-front cabinets.
The traditional-style dining chairs have French linen upholstery and nailhead trim. The round distressed wood table with pedestal base has leaves that can drop down so the couple can push the table against the window if they want to.
The custom shades combine a light-filtering fabric and a room-darkening fabric in a single shade.
Chairs: Colleen, Essentials for Living; shades: Duolite, Hunter Douglas
The traditional-style dining chairs have French linen upholstery and nailhead trim. The round distressed wood table with pedestal base has leaves that can drop down so the couple can push the table against the window if they want to.
The custom shades combine a light-filtering fabric and a room-darkening fabric in a single shade.
Chairs: Colleen, Essentials for Living; shades: Duolite, Hunter Douglas
Before: This view from the living room shows the closed-off nature of the kitchen, partially seen through the doorway.
After: A large arched opening creates a stronger connection between the spaces. The consistent color palette helps keep things light and airy.
Foster Hurd used Houzz Pro to create this floor plan to help with spatial planning. “Which really helped my clients understand the new layout for their home,” she says.
The island (center left) promotes good traffic flow in the now-open plan. “The kitchen is now beautiful and functional and has simplified their lives,” Foster Hurd says.
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The island (center left) promotes good traffic flow in the now-open plan. “The kitchen is now beautiful and functional and has simplified their lives,” Foster Hurd says.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Shawnee, Oklahoma
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Kirby Foster Hurd of Kirby Home Designs
Builder: Bryan Lee Builds
Before: The couple had grown tired of everything in their previous kitchen, including the red wallpaper on the ceiling, basic cabinets, black countertops, black appliances and white square floor and matching backsplash tiles with dark grout.
The refrigerator wall on the right separated the kitchen from the living room.