Kitchen of the Week: New Layout With White-and-Wood Style
A designer adds more work surface and entertaining space with a large island and creates a warm and welcoming look
Brian and Amanda Johnson tried making a few adjustments to alleviate the problems they had with their 1990s kitchen. But after eight years of applying fresh coats of paint and switching out appliances, the couple, who have two teenage daughters, realized those minor tweaks weren’t going to fix the angled peninsula and sliver of an island that prevented the kind of look and feel they wanted. “I envisioned a kitchen where many people could gather around,” Amanda says. “The space limited the type of activities I wanted to do, like cooking with my girls or having people over.”
Once the couple determined they would stay in the home for the long haul, they embarked on a major kitchen update. They first looked at inspiration photos on Houzz, then hired designer Tara Lenney for help. Lenney eliminated the angled peninsula and small island, opening up the layout to create room for a large island with seating and plenty of work surface. The kitchen style got a refresh too. Crisp white cabinets, shiplap ceiling, marble-look quartz countertops and zellige-style backsplash tile give the space a light and bright look, while wood details and a soft beige island base add warmth.
Once the couple determined they would stay in the home for the long haul, they embarked on a major kitchen update. They first looked at inspiration photos on Houzz, then hired designer Tara Lenney for help. Lenney eliminated the angled peninsula and small island, opening up the layout to create room for a large island with seating and plenty of work surface. The kitchen style got a refresh too. Crisp white cabinets, shiplap ceiling, marble-look quartz countertops and zellige-style backsplash tile give the space a light and bright look, while wood details and a soft beige island base add warmth.
After: Lenney removed the cabinets, countertops and most of the appliances. (The couple kept their dishwasher.) She also eliminated the peninsula, partition wall and small island (see next photo) and in their place created a large center island with seating for four. “They definitely wanted as big of an island as we could do that would make sense for the space,” Lenney says. “Going wide allowed us to put so much function in there.”
Bright white Shaker-style cabinets, shiplap ceiling and trim paint (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) join white walls (White Dove by Benjamin Moore) and white zellige-style backsplash tile for a fresh look. A wood beam and tall arched wood pantry door add warm touches, as does the beige island base (Shiitake by Sherwin-Williams). “They liked the white cabinets before but had a lot of wasted space,” Lenney says. “We were able to add display space in her new cabinetry for her beautiful kitchenware in the high cabinets with lights inside.”
Large lantern-style pendant lights fill the space over the island without obscuring sightlines. “I think those were one of the first things I picked out,” Amanda says. “I wanted that old-world look and Southern aesthetic, and love that antiqued brass finish.”
Lenney partially enclosed the entrance on the right that leads to the main bedroom, creating an arch detail that coordinates with the pantry door.
Pendant lights: Riverside lantern in burnished brass, Visual Comfort
Find kitchen remodelers near you
Bright white Shaker-style cabinets, shiplap ceiling and trim paint (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) join white walls (White Dove by Benjamin Moore) and white zellige-style backsplash tile for a fresh look. A wood beam and tall arched wood pantry door add warm touches, as does the beige island base (Shiitake by Sherwin-Williams). “They liked the white cabinets before but had a lot of wasted space,” Lenney says. “We were able to add display space in her new cabinetry for her beautiful kitchenware in the high cabinets with lights inside.”
Large lantern-style pendant lights fill the space over the island without obscuring sightlines. “I think those were one of the first things I picked out,” Amanda says. “I wanted that old-world look and Southern aesthetic, and love that antiqued brass finish.”
Lenney partially enclosed the entrance on the right that leads to the main bedroom, creating an arch detail that coordinates with the pantry door.
Pendant lights: Riverside lantern in burnished brass, Visual Comfort
Find kitchen remodelers near you
Before: This look at the former kitchen shows the small and narrow island, which offered minimal work surface while impeding traffic flow. “That island was just in the way,” Lenney says. “The sink wasn’t near the fridge, and it was almost like a pinball machine where they kept bumping up against the island.”
After: The new island offers plenty of work surface with a durable engineered quartz slab countertop. “I wanted something that was light-colored and I love marble, but wanted something that would not stain as easy and be more functional,” Amanda says. “For me, the quartz was the perfect mix of form and function. I wanted to keep the kitchen as bright as possible.”
The marble-look quartz has gray tones that coordinate with the soft beige island base, which subtly contrasts with the perimeter cabinets. “Because we knew the island was giant and was already going to be a focal point, we didn’t want to do something like black or navy,” Lenney says. “We went with this tonal mushroom color to give it a little bit of depth and interest without stealing focus from the lighting and hood.”
Cabinets on the exterior part of the island, in front of the whitewashed seagrass stools, store seasonal items.
In addition to the pendants, the kitchen features LED recessed ceiling lights, undercabinet lighting and in-cabinet lighting for the glass-fronted areas. “Making it feel bright across the span of the room was a big goal,” Amanda says. “Tara was able to help us put layers of light to make it work.”
Shop for bar and counter stools
The marble-look quartz has gray tones that coordinate with the soft beige island base, which subtly contrasts with the perimeter cabinets. “Because we knew the island was giant and was already going to be a focal point, we didn’t want to do something like black or navy,” Lenney says. “We went with this tonal mushroom color to give it a little bit of depth and interest without stealing focus from the lighting and hood.”
Cabinets on the exterior part of the island, in front of the whitewashed seagrass stools, store seasonal items.
In addition to the pendants, the kitchen features LED recessed ceiling lights, undercabinet lighting and in-cabinet lighting for the glass-fronted areas. “Making it feel bright across the span of the room was a big goal,” Amanda says. “Tara was able to help us put layers of light to make it work.”
Shop for bar and counter stools
The custom-built and -stained wood pantry door has a polished nickel knob and a window that adds a decorative touch. “We knew we wanted to do something special,” Lenney says. “We couldn’t find any vintage or salvaged doors that were the right fit.”
The inside of the pantry was also updated and now includes built-in shelves for dry goods and small appliances.
7 Big-Picture Kitchen Remodeling Trends Happening Now
The inside of the pantry was also updated and now includes built-in shelves for dry goods and small appliances.
7 Big-Picture Kitchen Remodeling Trends Happening Now
An area between the pantry and fridge features a paneled “nugget” ice maker on the bottom left. “Brian and I grew up going to a drive-in in our hometown with that ice,” Amanda says. “We absolutely love it, and it’s one of our favorite updates.”
This view also highlights the 2-by-6-inch terra-cotta zellige-style backsplash tiles, which are handcrafted and vary in color, shade and tone. “I love the handcrafted quality to the tiles,” Amanda says. “They have such an artisan appeal.”
Backsplash: Snow White zellige, 2 by 6 inches, Riad Tile
This view also highlights the 2-by-6-inch terra-cotta zellige-style backsplash tiles, which are handcrafted and vary in color, shade and tone. “I love the handcrafted quality to the tiles,” Amanda says. “They have such an artisan appeal.”
Backsplash: Snow White zellige, 2 by 6 inches, Riad Tile
A 48-inch dual-fuel range with six burners and infrared griddle gives the family a pro-style upgrade from its previous 30-inch gas cooktop. The custom wood vent hood includes a 46-inch hood liner that cleans the air and keeps grease from building up.
Lenney refinished the existing red oak flooring in a lighter custom stain. “To pull it up and put in white oak would take up a big chunk of our budget,” Amanda says. “Tara was a huge resource helping us work with it.”
A large white farmhouse-style sink sits opposite the range in the island. The existing stainless steel dishwasher is to the lower left of the sink. A flat-panel stainless microwave drawer (partially seen on the right) sits to the right of a bank of drawers. A paneled trash and recycling pullout is on the end of the island near the breakfast area.
Sink: Whitehaven, Kohler
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Lenney refinished the existing red oak flooring in a lighter custom stain. “To pull it up and put in white oak would take up a big chunk of our budget,” Amanda says. “Tara was a huge resource helping us work with it.”
A large white farmhouse-style sink sits opposite the range in the island. The existing stainless steel dishwasher is to the lower left of the sink. A flat-panel stainless microwave drawer (partially seen on the right) sits to the right of a bank of drawers. A paneled trash and recycling pullout is on the end of the island near the breakfast area.
Sink: Whitehaven, Kohler
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The upgraded breakfast area overlooks the backyard and pool. The existing banquette got a new cushion with sand-colored performance fabric. A new custom solid wood table from a local furniture shop mixes with midcentury-style oak dining chairs that offer a contemporary spin on the classic Windsor chair.
Lenney extended the new kitchen cabinetry into the breakfast area to create a coffee and beverage station with open wood shelves and a beverage fridge and wine fridge. “We kind of created a butler’s pantry over here,” Lenney says. “So now they have a refrigerator for grab-and-go beverages and one for the more adult beverages.”
These floor plans show the former layout on the left and the updated space on the right.
In the “before” layout, the kitchen (center right) has an angled peninsula extending from a partition wall, as well as a small island, creating awkward traffic flow.
In the “after” layout, the kitchen (center right) has a large rectangular island with easier circulation. “It finally functions as the center of the house, which is what they always wanted,” Lenney says.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
In the “before” layout, the kitchen (center right) has an angled peninsula extending from a partition wall, as well as a small island, creating awkward traffic flow.
In the “after” layout, the kitchen (center right) has a large rectangular island with easier circulation. “It finally functions as the center of the house, which is what they always wanted,” Lenney says.
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: Brian and Amanda Johnson and their two teenage daughters
Location: McKinney, Texas
Size: 325 square feet (30 square meters)
Designer: Tara Lenney Design
Before: In the previous kitchen, the angled two-level peninsula and partition wall forced a constricted layout and cut the kitchen off from the living room, foreground, and breakfast area, right. “The goal was to extend the kitchen and make it all one big space,” Lenney says.
Basic cabinets didn’t add much style or maximize storage. And while the homeowners liked the hardwood flooring and the walk-in pantry, they wanted to give both a fresh look along with the rest of the space. “I became so obsessed with this project and was on Houzz every day,” Amanda says.