Kitchen Design
New This Week: 5 Gorgeous Kitchens That Expertly Mix Finishes
See how coordinating and contrasting metals can lead to a beautifully finished kitchen
Other special features. Alder wood lower cabinets in a midtone stain. Upper cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace. Walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray. Quartz countertops.
Designer secret. “I like to use white on the upper cabinets when doing a darker grounding color or stain in the rest of the kitchen, to keep it feeling light and airy,” Balis says. “The contrast grout on the backsplash really helped to play up the fun pattern in the tile and tie in the warmth of the brass accents.”
Trinsic faucet in champagne bronze: Delta
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Designer secret. “I like to use white on the upper cabinets when doing a darker grounding color or stain in the rest of the kitchen, to keep it feeling light and airy,” Balis says. “The contrast grout on the backsplash really helped to play up the fun pattern in the tile and tie in the warmth of the brass accents.”
Trinsic faucet in champagne bronze: Delta
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2. Gold-Colored
Designer: Sandi Fedorchuk of Cedarglen Homes
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Size: 180 square feet (17 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A modern, fresh kitchen with an unexpected cabinet color.
Finishes. Deep blue cabinets (Rainstorm Blue, from Kingswood Cabinets of Calgary) and gold-colored hardware, fixtures and accents. “The challenge was that every supplier has a slightly different gold finish,” designer Sandi Fedorchuk says. “The furniture is an antique bronze finish, the faucet is a champagne bronze finish, the light fixtures are satin gold and the cabinet hardware is a satin brass finish. In the end, I was very pleased with how all of the finishes blended in this space.”
Other special feature. Marble hexagonal tile backsplash.
Designer secret. “The cabinet layout in this floor plan provides plenty of storage space, and there is a walk-in pantry beside the fridge,” Fedorchuk says. “That being said, I felt we could delete the standard upper cabinets on each side of the hood fan and add the open shelving to give this kitchen even more of an open feel. I love the way it opens up so that more of the hexagon backsplash is featured as well. The blue shelves against the white backsplash is quite dramatic.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “I love the look of open shelves in a kitchen space, but when it comes time to accessorize these shelves, it can be challenging,” Fedorchuk says. “I wanted the kitchen to look crisp and clean and the focus to be on the gold pops, so I did not want the shelves to look cluttered. My first thought was to stack plates, bowls, glasses, etc. to show them as more of a storage shelf, but in the end, the clean look of the jars and the plants worked more with the crisp, clean look I wanted to achieve.”
Stools: Sunpan Modern Home; Carrara series hexagonal backsplash tile in matte finish: Centura Tile; Trinsic faucet in champagne bronze: Delta
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Designer: Sandi Fedorchuk of Cedarglen Homes
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Size: 180 square feet (17 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A modern, fresh kitchen with an unexpected cabinet color.
Finishes. Deep blue cabinets (Rainstorm Blue, from Kingswood Cabinets of Calgary) and gold-colored hardware, fixtures and accents. “The challenge was that every supplier has a slightly different gold finish,” designer Sandi Fedorchuk says. “The furniture is an antique bronze finish, the faucet is a champagne bronze finish, the light fixtures are satin gold and the cabinet hardware is a satin brass finish. In the end, I was very pleased with how all of the finishes blended in this space.”
Other special feature. Marble hexagonal tile backsplash.
Designer secret. “The cabinet layout in this floor plan provides plenty of storage space, and there is a walk-in pantry beside the fridge,” Fedorchuk says. “That being said, I felt we could delete the standard upper cabinets on each side of the hood fan and add the open shelving to give this kitchen even more of an open feel. I love the way it opens up so that more of the hexagon backsplash is featured as well. The blue shelves against the white backsplash is quite dramatic.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “I love the look of open shelves in a kitchen space, but when it comes time to accessorize these shelves, it can be challenging,” Fedorchuk says. “I wanted the kitchen to look crisp and clean and the focus to be on the gold pops, so I did not want the shelves to look cluttered. My first thought was to stack plates, bowls, glasses, etc. to show them as more of a storage shelf, but in the end, the clean look of the jars and the plants worked more with the crisp, clean look I wanted to achieve.”
Stools: Sunpan Modern Home; Carrara series hexagonal backsplash tile in matte finish: Centura Tile; Trinsic faucet in champagne bronze: Delta
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3. Bronze, Zinc and Nickel
Designer: Amanda Teal Design
Location: Orinda, California
Homeowners’ request. A new-build home “durable enough for everyday family life while also being elegant and gracious to entertain friends,” designer Amanda Teal says.
Finishes. Bronze light fixtures. Zinc range hood. Polished-nickel faucet. Brushed-nickel cabinet hardware. “So many people think their finishes need to match, but that can leave a home feeling a bit one-note,” Teal says. “When you layer in different metals and materials that coordinate instead of match exactly, it feels more natural, as if the elements of the home evolved over time.”
Designer: Amanda Teal Design
Location: Orinda, California
Homeowners’ request. A new-build home “durable enough for everyday family life while also being elegant and gracious to entertain friends,” designer Amanda Teal says.
Finishes. Bronze light fixtures. Zinc range hood. Polished-nickel faucet. Brushed-nickel cabinet hardware. “So many people think their finishes need to match, but that can leave a home feeling a bit one-note,” Teal says. “When you layer in different metals and materials that coordinate instead of match exactly, it feels more natural, as if the elements of the home evolved over time.”
Other special features. Handmade terra-cotta tile backsplash. Limestone slab island countertop. White oak island base.
Designer secret. “One thing I hear from clients all the time when selecting materials is that they don’t want anything to wear or look like it has been used, particularly when it comes to marble, woods and metals,” Teal says. “Natural materials are like living creatures. They age, [develop a] patina, change color and improve over time. This should be celebrated and not avoided. Walk into a church in Europe with Calacatta floors that have been there for 500 years. Sure, they show wear, but in a way that tells the most beautiful story.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Right around the time the framing of the home was complete, but before the roof was completely sealed, it poured with rain,” Teal says. “It hadn’t rained in California for a couple years, and right at the worst moment in time for this project, it poured with rain for weeks. In multiple rooms there were mini waterfalls cascading into pools of standing water. As Californians, we had mixed emotions. We were so happy to have the rain, but the ramifications for the build were severe. It took a long time to dry the house out, and it set the project back many months. There was no quick or easy fix. It’s just one of those moments where you say, ‘Well, that happened,’ and you move on to work on the things you do have control over.”
One More Counter Stool by Philippe Starck for Kartell: Design Within Reach; Chisholm Hall lights: The Urban Electric Co.; backsplash tile: Tabarka Studio; cabinet hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware; kitchen faucet: Dornbracht
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Designer secret. “One thing I hear from clients all the time when selecting materials is that they don’t want anything to wear or look like it has been used, particularly when it comes to marble, woods and metals,” Teal says. “Natural materials are like living creatures. They age, [develop a] patina, change color and improve over time. This should be celebrated and not avoided. Walk into a church in Europe with Calacatta floors that have been there for 500 years. Sure, they show wear, but in a way that tells the most beautiful story.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Right around the time the framing of the home was complete, but before the roof was completely sealed, it poured with rain,” Teal says. “It hadn’t rained in California for a couple years, and right at the worst moment in time for this project, it poured with rain for weeks. In multiple rooms there were mini waterfalls cascading into pools of standing water. As Californians, we had mixed emotions. We were so happy to have the rain, but the ramifications for the build were severe. It took a long time to dry the house out, and it set the project back many months. There was no quick or easy fix. It’s just one of those moments where you say, ‘Well, that happened,’ and you move on to work on the things you do have control over.”
One More Counter Stool by Philippe Starck for Kartell: Design Within Reach; Chisholm Hall lights: The Urban Electric Co.; backsplash tile: Tabarka Studio; cabinet hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware; kitchen faucet: Dornbracht
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4. Steel, Chrome and Nickel
Designers: Scott Paterek and Tammie Weaver of Massimo Interior Design
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Size: 308 square feet (29 square meters); 14 by 22 feet
Homeowners’ request. Clean and simple with an industrial twist.
Finishes. Blackened-nickel industrial pendants. Stainless steel backsplash and appliances. Chrome hardware. Steel-and-wood bar stools.
Other special features. White lacquered cabinets. Frosted glass uplift cabinets. Polished quartz countertops. Rift-sawn oak island base. “We liked the sheen and sleek finish with the juxtaposition of texture and warmth in this kitchen,” designer Scott Paterek says.
Wood-Mode cabinets: Distinctive Kitchens & Baths; lights: Visual Comfort; bar stools: Four Hands
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Designers: Scott Paterek and Tammie Weaver of Massimo Interior Design
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Size: 308 square feet (29 square meters); 14 by 22 feet
Homeowners’ request. Clean and simple with an industrial twist.
Finishes. Blackened-nickel industrial pendants. Stainless steel backsplash and appliances. Chrome hardware. Steel-and-wood bar stools.
Other special features. White lacquered cabinets. Frosted glass uplift cabinets. Polished quartz countertops. Rift-sawn oak island base. “We liked the sheen and sleek finish with the juxtaposition of texture and warmth in this kitchen,” designer Scott Paterek says.
Wood-Mode cabinets: Distinctive Kitchens & Baths; lights: Visual Comfort; bar stools: Four Hands
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5. Brass, Nickel and Steel
Designers: Terese Messina Designs and Anna Mooney (homeowner)
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Homeowners’ request. Modern farmhouse with Southern roots.
Finishes. Brass cabinet hardware with vintage-style latches. Satin nickel faucets. Vintage metal light fixtures. Black steel-and-wood bar stools.
Designers: Terese Messina Designs and Anna Mooney (homeowner)
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Homeowners’ request. Modern farmhouse with Southern roots.
Finishes. Brass cabinet hardware with vintage-style latches. Satin nickel faucets. Vintage metal light fixtures. Black steel-and-wood bar stools.
Other special features. Painted cabinets with Shaker fronts. Calacatta marble mosaic tile backsplash. Quartz countertops.
“Uh-oh” moment. “Originally the space was much more subdivided,” designer Terese Messina says. “We opened up the whole interior of the house. Right in the middle was a large brick fireplace that we fought hard to keep. However, it was causing all sorts of issues for the layout of the spaces and, most especially, some construction issues. It was cost-prohibitive to move it. I think making the decision to abandon it was a hard decision but in the end makes a more flexible space. Living in Arizona, we have much different fireplace usage than other parts of the country.”
Quartz countertops in Fresh Concrete: Caesarstone; light fixtures: vintage; Repose Gray wall paint: Sherwin-Williams
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More
12 Great Kitchen Styles — Which One’s for You?
19 Kitchen Projects Every Homeowner Should Know About
How to Refresh Your Kitchen on Any Budget
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer
Get ideas and inspiration
Browse kitchen products
“Uh-oh” moment. “Originally the space was much more subdivided,” designer Terese Messina says. “We opened up the whole interior of the house. Right in the middle was a large brick fireplace that we fought hard to keep. However, it was causing all sorts of issues for the layout of the spaces and, most especially, some construction issues. It was cost-prohibitive to move it. I think making the decision to abandon it was a hard decision but in the end makes a more flexible space. Living in Arizona, we have much different fireplace usage than other parts of the country.”
Quartz countertops in Fresh Concrete: Caesarstone; light fixtures: vintage; Repose Gray wall paint: Sherwin-Williams
See more of this home
More
12 Great Kitchen Styles — Which One’s for You?
19 Kitchen Projects Every Homeowner Should Know About
How to Refresh Your Kitchen on Any Budget
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer
Get ideas and inspiration
Browse kitchen products
Designer: Judith Balis Interiors
Location: Boise, Idaho
Size: 225 square feet (21 square meters); 15 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. A new-build home that would be clean, modern, warm, inviting and timeless.
Finishes. “I selected warm brass accents for the hardware, faucet and pendants to keep the white from feeling too stark and cold,” designer Judith Balis says. “And the wood accents from the lower cabinets to the bar stools also helped to keep this space warm and inviting.”
Browse brass pendants