Kitchen Redo Gives Empty Nesters a Fresh Start With Charm
A mix of blue, white and natural wood pairs with dramatic stone for a welcoming, cottage-inspired look
After raising their kids in their 1980s suburban Austin, Texas, home, these empty nesters were ready to give the house — and especially the kitchen — new life. A past storm had prompted a quick, functional repair, but the result fell short: Basic white cabinets, a cramped island, makeshift pantry storage and inadequate lighting left the space feeling disjointed and uninspired.
The homeowners turned to designer Amanda Buckley to rework the kitchen with smarter storage, a more functional island and a timeless look layered with warmth and charm. Buckley brought depth and character through custom cabinetry in three finishes, collaborating with millworker Kleighton Westphall to introduce graceful curves and fine detailing. Appliance garages, a built-in dog-feeding station, a rustic wood island, a vintage-style plate rack and dramatic Black Pearl granite countertops and backsplashes complete the space, offering a clean, modern take on cozy cottage style.
The homeowners turned to designer Amanda Buckley to rework the kitchen with smarter storage, a more functional island and a timeless look layered with warmth and charm. Buckley brought depth and character through custom cabinetry in three finishes, collaborating with millworker Kleighton Westphall to introduce graceful curves and fine detailing. Appliance garages, a built-in dog-feeding station, a rustic wood island, a vintage-style plate rack and dramatic Black Pearl granite countertops and backsplashes complete the space, offering a clean, modern take on cozy cottage style.
Before Photo
After: Buckley removed the cabinetry, counters, lighting, sink, window and most of the appliances, keeping only the homeowners’ range and the original wood flooring that runs throughout the house.
Although the updated sink and existing range remained in place, eliminating the reach-in closets opened up room for a rustic wood island. The piece was purchased online and refinished onsite by Buckley and the homeowners. “The driving point was budget, but we also knew we wanted a piece that felt like an old piece of furniture that lends itself to a cottage style,” Buckley says. “We also knew we wanted openness on one side so it wasn’t as heavy as the island they had before. Also, sometimes with aging in place it’s easier to sit down when doing meal prep. We gave them the opportunity to have stools there so they can work and enjoy the view out the window.”
A layered color palette adds depth and personality. Overlay Shaker upper cabinets are painted a warm beige with a subtle green-gray undertone (Sandbar by Sherwin-Williams), while the lower cabinets are a dark, moody slate gray-blue (Granite Peak by Sherwin-Williams). Inset Shaker tower cabinets crafted from rift-sawn white oak and finished with a custom stain bring warmth to the design. “The several color tones on the project, the mix of paints and stains, complement and balance each other well,” says cabinetmaker Westphall.
Buckley says the curated palette helped elevate the compact space. “It was really to create depth and interest in such a small space,” she says. “The layers we have allowed us to have dimension and coziness. We knew we wanted that wood island, so it made sense to bring in some wood cabinets.”
A pair of pendant lights with fluted white ceramic shades and black chains hang above the island. “They add that sweet cottage and homey feel,” Buckley says. “We wanted to have a cute moment above the island without having it be too dominating.” (Added recessed LED ceiling lights were digitally removed from these photos by the photographer to help highlight other design details.)
Wall, ceiling and trim paint: Aesthetic White, Sherwin-Williams; island lights: Cally ceramic pendant, Regina Andrew
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Although the updated sink and existing range remained in place, eliminating the reach-in closets opened up room for a rustic wood island. The piece was purchased online and refinished onsite by Buckley and the homeowners. “The driving point was budget, but we also knew we wanted a piece that felt like an old piece of furniture that lends itself to a cottage style,” Buckley says. “We also knew we wanted openness on one side so it wasn’t as heavy as the island they had before. Also, sometimes with aging in place it’s easier to sit down when doing meal prep. We gave them the opportunity to have stools there so they can work and enjoy the view out the window.”
A layered color palette adds depth and personality. Overlay Shaker upper cabinets are painted a warm beige with a subtle green-gray undertone (Sandbar by Sherwin-Williams), while the lower cabinets are a dark, moody slate gray-blue (Granite Peak by Sherwin-Williams). Inset Shaker tower cabinets crafted from rift-sawn white oak and finished with a custom stain bring warmth to the design. “The several color tones on the project, the mix of paints and stains, complement and balance each other well,” says cabinetmaker Westphall.
Buckley says the curated palette helped elevate the compact space. “It was really to create depth and interest in such a small space,” she says. “The layers we have allowed us to have dimension and coziness. We knew we wanted that wood island, so it made sense to bring in some wood cabinets.”
A pair of pendant lights with fluted white ceramic shades and black chains hang above the island. “They add that sweet cottage and homey feel,” Buckley says. “We wanted to have a cute moment above the island without having it be too dominating.” (Added recessed LED ceiling lights were digitally removed from these photos by the photographer to help highlight other design details.)
Wall, ceiling and trim paint: Aesthetic White, Sherwin-Williams; island lights: Cally ceramic pendant, Regina Andrew
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A quartz composite farmhouse sink delivers classic character in a dramatic black finish that blends seamlessly with the Black Pearl granite used for the countertops and backsplash. “We were leaning into a moody cottage aspect for this space, so I liked the idea of bringing that darker granite,” Buckley says. “It really gives it that old-world feel.”
A bridge faucet in a vibrant gold finish reinforces the timeless look. A larger sliding window above the sink brings in more natural light and frames views of the back patio and garden.
Light fixture: Parker Alabaster flush mount in natural brass, Regina Andrew; bridge faucet: Artifacts in vibrant French gold, Kohler
Before and After: 4 Fresh-Faced Kitchens With Vintage Flair
A bridge faucet in a vibrant gold finish reinforces the timeless look. A larger sliding window above the sink brings in more natural light and frames views of the back patio and garden.
Light fixture: Parker Alabaster flush mount in natural brass, Regina Andrew; bridge faucet: Artifacts in vibrant French gold, Kohler
Before and After: 4 Fresh-Faced Kitchens With Vintage Flair
To the right of the sink, a custom rift-sawn white oak tower cabinet sits where the former main refrigerator was located. Its lower appliance garage features a flip-up door that recesses for easy access, keeping small appliances neatly tucked away. Across the kitchen, a dual-cabinet appliance garage further helps maintain clutter-free counters. “The appliance garages turned out exceptionally well,” Westphall says.
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The induction range is topped with a custom-painted wood hood, accented with a white oak band hand-drawn by Buckley and fabricated by Westphall. “The custom cabinetry gave us the freedom to design unique, tailored features that truly fit the space instead of being limited by it,” Buckley says. “We developed the custom curves and millwork details together in his shop.”
A sleek shelf added above the backsplash on the range wall offers a spot for decorative items. “When I presented that to my clients, the husband said no matter what it cost, that’s what they wanted to do,” Buckley says. “It was a dream feature. It lit a spark in him when he realized he could have it.”
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A sleek shelf added above the backsplash on the range wall offers a spot for decorative items. “When I presented that to my clients, the husband said no matter what it cost, that’s what they wanted to do,” Buckley says. “It was a dream feature. It lit a spark in him when he realized he could have it.”
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To the right of the range is the dual-cabinet appliance garage. The cabinet beneath the tower includes a pullout with custom sheet pan dividers.
“When I meet with clients, I take a look at their space to understand their needs,” Buckley says. “Then we go into the design phase when we map out what goes in each cabinet. We want to figure out how they can keep the organization and avoid clutter over time. That mapping-out process is so important to many of my clients because it allows them to envision how they can utilize the space and gives us feedback and we can make adjustments to the features.”
The couple’s new refrigerator is to the right, just out of view.
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“When I meet with clients, I take a look at their space to understand their needs,” Buckley says. “Then we go into the design phase when we map out what goes in each cabinet. We want to figure out how they can keep the organization and avoid clutter over time. That mapping-out process is so important to many of my clients because it allows them to envision how they can utilize the space and gives us feedback and we can make adjustments to the features.”
The couple’s new refrigerator is to the right, just out of view.
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The tower cabinets include bifold doors that save space while providing easy access to items. “I love the feature of bifold doors,” Buckley says. “In order to have accessible cabinets in this kitchen, it made sense to create this large cabinet with the bifold doors.”
A vintage-inspired plate rack built into the cabinetry adds farmhouse charm while giving the couple’s china collection a proper home. “They had lots of Grandma’s collection and Mom and Dad’s collection in boxes not being able to be displayed,” Buckley says. “We wanted to take them out of the boxes and give them their own moment.”
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Before Photo
Before: Along the rear wall, the homeowners had created a makeshift storage area. “It was an awkward space,” Buckley says. “They had a tabletop there with a curtain or sheet. They had their small appliances there because they didn’t have space in the rest of the kitchen for their everyday items. This was their solution. It really came down to them outgrowing their space.”
After: A furniture-style display cabinet with custom curves now makes far better use of the rear wall. Long open shelves with a brass railing provide space for collectibles, photos and plants, while beadboard backing defines this updated area. Painted the same warm beige as the upper cabinetry, the section feels cohesive, and the granite from the perimeter counters is echoed here. The tall pantry cabinet on the right features rollouts, while a cafe curtain conceals the custom dog-feeding station.
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The built-in dog-feeding station has routed openings for bowls. “Because this is a smaller home, every inch mattered, even for their pets, so we created a fun, stylish feature behind the cafe curtain where the dog bowls can be tucked away yet still feel intentional within the design,” Buckley says.
The pantry cabinet rollouts provide easy access to dry goods, and a pair of shelves hold the microwave and canisters for cereal, flour and other baking and cooking essentials. “With us taking out that long wall of closets, they didn’t really have a pantry space after that,” Buckley says. “This creates more functional and accessible food storage for them.”
With all the custom features and thoughtful details, the couple now enjoy a kitchen that’s both highly functional and full of charm. “Their property is very quiet and peaceful, and I wanted their kitchen to reflect that,” Buckley says.
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With all the custom features and thoughtful details, the couple now enjoy a kitchen that’s both highly functional and full of charm. “Their property is very quiet and peaceful, and I wanted their kitchen to reflect that,” Buckley says.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Martindale, Texas
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Amanda Buckley of Bauley Interiors
Cabinetmaker: Kleighton Westphall of Monarch Woodworks of Austin
Builder: Blanco River Construction
Before: Gray walls, short white cabinets and laminate counters gave the former kitchen a flat, utilitarian feel. Shallow upper cabinets flanking the sink window on the left offered little storage and blocked natural light. Ceilings in the small house were less than 8 feet high, Buckley says. “The window wasn’t that big and there wasn’t enough lighting overall. They also had a vinyl-style tile above the sink but that was their only backsplash.”
A long, narrow island with stools felt especially tight, squeezed by reach-in closets along the right wall. “That essentially was their pantry,” Buckley says. “Their small appliances and pots and pans were stacked up on each other in there.” A retro-style red refrigerator sat out in the open with no clear role, while the primary stainless steel refrigerator was tucked into the far back left corner. “The red refrigerator was sort of just there,” Buckley says. “They liked the look of it but didn’t use it much.”