Kitchen of the Week
Kitchen Design
Kitchen of the Week: Stylish White Kitchen With Improved Storage
A designer found on Houzz helps a North Carolina couple create bright transitional style with hardworking cabinets
At first glance, there wasn’t anything really wrong with Michael and Megan Beaver’s kitchen. Maybe the light blue walls, beige ornamental cabinets and basic granite countertops looked a little out of date. But everything functioned fine, right? Not so much. “You would walk by that ornamental cabinetry, bump it, and a piece would fall off,” Megan says. Plus, the cooktop had broken burners. And the drawers didn’t close properly, the doors squeaked and the cabinets weren’t roomy enough for everything the couple had. “The space was just tired,” Megan says.
The couple wanted a more functional kitchen with a brighter feel that combined Megan’s love for modern-day design and Michael’s preference for traditional elements. They searched Houzz for designers and found Jena Bula of Delphinium Design. Bula ditched the worn cabinets and tired finishes and added white custom cabinets that create a bright look and maximize every available inch. Dark quartzite countertops, black hardware and other black details give the space high-contrast style.
The couple wanted a more functional kitchen with a brighter feel that combined Megan’s love for modern-day design and Michael’s preference for traditional elements. They searched Houzz for designers and found Jena Bula of Delphinium Design. Bula ditched the worn cabinets and tired finishes and added white custom cabinets that create a bright look and maximize every available inch. Dark quartzite countertops, black hardware and other black details give the space high-contrast style.
After: Bula removed all the cabinets and finishes but kept the layout relatively the same. She placed the new fridge to the left a little to free up space for a hardworking pantry wall, where a wall oven and microwave once were. A pullout in the pantry now holds the microwave, and a new range combines the oven and cooktop function.
Custom soft white Shaker-style cabinets join greige walls (Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore), greige porcelain backsplash tile and a soft white ceiling (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) to create a bright and airy space. “We wanted something that felt welcoming and warm,” Bula says. (The recessed ceiling lights were removed from these photos by the photographer.)
The dark quartzite countertops and matte black hardware and other black finishes, as well as a darker stain on the refinished wood floors, add a touch of contrast.
Shop for kitchen island lighting
Custom soft white Shaker-style cabinets join greige walls (Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore), greige porcelain backsplash tile and a soft white ceiling (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) to create a bright and airy space. “We wanted something that felt welcoming and warm,” Bula says. (The recessed ceiling lights were removed from these photos by the photographer.)
The dark quartzite countertops and matte black hardware and other black finishes, as well as a darker stain on the refinished wood floors, add a touch of contrast.
Shop for kitchen island lighting
Nine-inch crown molding softens the look of the cabinets, fits the traditional style of the house and gives the kitchen an elegant, finished look.
What look like panels on the back of the island are actually pop-lock cabinets that store seasonal items. Matte black island pendants coordinate with the other black details.
A new single-basin stainless steel sink features a pulldown stainless faucet with touch technology. “I love a single basin,” Megan says. “I can throw a big pan or cookie sheet in there to clean and it all fits.”
A custom white linen Roman shade with taupe-y beige trim replaced the valance. A paneled Miele dishwasher sits to the right of the sink, with a paneled trash and recycling pullout on the left. A paper towel holder above it can pull out to reveal drawer storage for rolls of plastic wrap, foil and parchment paper.
What look like panels on the back of the island are actually pop-lock cabinets that store seasonal items. Matte black island pendants coordinate with the other black details.
A new single-basin stainless steel sink features a pulldown stainless faucet with touch technology. “I love a single basin,” Megan says. “I can throw a big pan or cookie sheet in there to clean and it all fits.”
A custom white linen Roman shade with taupe-y beige trim replaced the valance. A paneled Miele dishwasher sits to the right of the sink, with a paneled trash and recycling pullout on the left. A paper towel holder above it can pull out to reveal drawer storage for rolls of plastic wrap, foil and parchment paper.
Need a pro for your general contracting project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
A 48-inch pro-style stainless steel gas range with six burners has a coordinating stainless hood and backsplash. “There are no grout lines, which gives [the couple] easy cleanup,” Bula says.
An adjustable warming shelf attaches to the backsplash. “We warm up loaves of bread for dinner there,” Megan says.
Pullouts that flank the range hold spices and utensils. Glass-front cabinets lighten things up in the corner and give a peek at the family’s favorite glassware. The countertop cabinet hides a coffee station.
An adjustable warming shelf attaches to the backsplash. “We warm up loaves of bread for dinner there,” Megan says.
Pullouts that flank the range hold spices and utensils. Glass-front cabinets lighten things up in the corner and give a peek at the family’s favorite glassware. The countertop cabinet hides a coffee station.
The accent backsplash consists of 5-by-8-inch porcelain tiles. “The tiles have a greige color that’s slightly darker than the walls,” Bula says. “These tiles have a handmade look, and because the countertop is so distinctive, I wanted something that would let the countertop shine but also have some personality.”
Before: This look at the previous kitchen shows how the refrigerator, microwave and wall oven were squeezed together on one wall. “With the double ovens there, there wasn’t much room for storage,” Bula says.
The top drawers on the island didn’t close properly and the two deep island cabinets offered limited access. “You had to sometimes crawl in there to get items in the back,” Megan says.
The top drawers on the island didn’t close properly and the two deep island cabinets offered limited access. “You had to sometimes crawl in there to get items in the back,” Megan says.
After: Bula removed the wall oven and moved the microwave. The new pantry wall she now had room for includes a cabinet with a dry-erase board for the family’s schedule, slots for homework and a charging station. “I needed a place for things but I didn’t need a desk,” Megan says, “I saw something like this on Houzz and thought that’s exactly what I need. It allows us to stick all our stuff away, everything we need to run our family.”
The upgraded island includes three soft-close drawers with pegs for storing dishes and glassware, plus a large cabinet with three pullouts for pots, pans and lids. Open shelves on the end offer display space.
Glass-front doors at the main entrance to the home bring natural light into the kitchen through the opening at the left.
The upgraded island includes three soft-close drawers with pegs for storing dishes and glassware, plus a large cabinet with three pullouts for pots, pans and lids. Open shelves on the end offer display space.
Glass-front doors at the main entrance to the home bring natural light into the kitchen through the opening at the left.
This view of the kitchen from the living room shows an adjoining dining area and a new custom bar that gives the family an easy way to entertain outside of the main kitchen work zone.
Light above table: Etoile linear chandelier in Gilded Iron, Visual Comfort
Light above table: Etoile linear chandelier in Gilded Iron, Visual Comfort
Bula designed the bar and had it painted a custom black. “They were really open to doing an accent in black, and that gives it more personality,” Bula says. “It’s cohesive in the space but also has its own moment.”
The bar features brushed gold hardware and cabinets with pullouts for storing bottles, including Michael’s bourbon collection.
Now the homeowners have the more functional kitchen they wanted, with a style that reflects their love for both modern and traditional design. “Michael and I genuinely love having people over to the house,” Megan says. “By making the kitchen much more useful and adding that bar, we can have everyone over and they can enjoy themselves.”
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Now the homeowners have the more functional kitchen they wanted, with a style that reflects their love for both modern and traditional design. “Michael and I genuinely love having people over to the house,” Megan says. “By making the kitchen much more useful and adding that bar, we can have everyone over and they can enjoy themselves.”
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: Michael and Megan Beaver and their two kids
Location: Ballantyne, North Carolina
Size: 180 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Jena Bula of Delphinium Design
Builder: Ekren Construction
Before: The couple felt the beige ornamental cabinetry had to go. “I would be working in the kitchen in a big, cozy sweater, and it would get snagged,” Megan says. Plus, a decorative valance over the window blocked light. “I don’t like unnecessary pieces and didn’t want that there,” Megan says. “We have this great big window, so let’s enjoy it.”
In fact, none of the finishes passed muster. And the couple didn’t feel the space was living up to its full potential. “There was a lot of wasted space, and it was not conducive to how they live,” Bula says.
Find a kitchen remodeler near you