Holy kitchen Porn.
That’s a gold leaf island and corian countertop.
Is Corian back, baby?
Room designed by Jamie Drake
Images: William Waldron, Architectural Digest found HERE
Project Craftsman Kitchen Reveal
I’m so excited to finally share finished shots of Project Craftsman. This was such a great project to work on because the clients are just the nicest people ever and they were down to try something a little different. I’ve long wanted to try a “two-tone” kitchen with wood base cabinets and white wall cabinets and I think the results turned out so great. It’s a great mix of practicality (stained wood base cabinets are more forgiving) and aesthetics (white uppers really help brighten up the space.) We designed a custom 3 panel door for the wall cabinets. I love that it dresses up a simple shaker door but is still clean and classic. The DM team did a great job executing all of the finishing details and turning this once ugly duckling kitchen into the happiest spot into the home.
Cottage Update: Kitchen 90% Done
Ugggg. I pulled my back out this weekend. I think the universe is trying to tell me I’m taking on too much. In preparation for my first house guests next weekend, I’ve been furtively trying to finish up the One Room Challenge early AND pull together the entire house. Too many rooms, too little time, money and physical strength. It ain’t gonna get done.
The idea of entertaining without things being perfect kinda tweaks me out. It’s hard sharing a design mid-process, whether it be on the blog, or in person. I’m fully aware that it’s my own expectations that are too high and my friends will not judge me so harshly. Ultimately, come Friday, I’ll let out a big sigh, pour a glass of wine and relax with my besties. But until then, its obsess, work, and spend my evenings making magic happen.
The good news is the kitchen is functional and 90% complete. My old cabinets are painted and in place, my island is assembled, my countertops are down and tools and food are put away. The dishwasher is broken, (thanks a lot, previous owners,) but at least the sink is working. I still have some finishing touches to do: lighting, hardware, stools, shelf styling,and the whole back wall. Overall though, it’s looking good and functioning well.
I did this kitchen on an extreme budget. The cabinetry, appliances, sink and faucet were re-used from the original kitchen. I hope to be able to upgrade in a few years, but at least I don’t have to live with ugly in the meanwhile. Isn’t it impressive what a coat of turquoise paint can do 80′s laminate cabinet doors? The paint is Benjamin Moore Deep Ocean.
Need I remind you what this wall used to look like?
PS- all you need is a good primer. Ask your paint specialist.
I did a mixture of open shelves and closed cabinetry on the sink wall. I have a great collection of glassware- mostly from my Nana- and I wanted to enjoy seeing it.
The shelf brackets are Ikea, sprayed gold. Still need to fill the screws.
The shelf below my wall cabinet is my mug shelf. I plan to only stock it with blue and white mugs. More on that soon.
For countertops, I did the cheapest thing possible; White Laminate. I like that its clean and simple- it’s not the focal point in this kitchen. Obviously laminate is not great function-wise. I can’t put down hot stuff and its not good to let water sit on laminate counters. Eventually I’d love to have quartzite counters, but for now, it’ll do.
The microwave looks a little lonely hanging out above the refrigerator. It was the best place for it as I definitely didn’t want it on the counter or above the stove, Still, I think I may need to add a shelf above it or utilize the height some how. Also, the dish strainer… the bane of the kitchen. Hoping to come up with something more chic, but at least it functions.
While my perimeter cabinets are blue, I decided to paint the island black. I think it helps the kitchen feel more classic and not too saturated or juvenile. The cabinet and the wood top are stock Ikea pieces. The feet are supposed to be stainless, but I spray painted them gold. The hardware will be brass. No stools yet, so I’ll share them on the next update.
I love this island! This is where I do the majority of my prep work. It has great storage. The wood top sucks though. It needs about two more coats of polyurethane.
From day 1 I knew I wanted my favorite pink and blue tribal rug (a vintage find at a local thrift store) in the kitchen.
Here’s my new range wall. I re-used all of my appliances but I did buy a new hood from Ikea. I love a black hood. Stainless was never an option for me. I don’t mind it for a range or even a refrigerator, but for the hood I wanted some clean and classic that didn’t compete with my brass and gold accents. Black is forever. Plus it goes with my island.
Did you notice there is no backsplash tile, just drywall.? Of course I’d love subway tile here, but it doesn’t make sense right now. Since this is a cheapo-temporary kitchen, we didn’t want to put it up and then rip it down in two years…and take all the new drywall down with it!
The DM team hung shelves in the deep window well. I haven’t organized this area yet. I think it will be a mix of snack in glass canisters, cookbooks, and a few plants. I love that everything here will be in easy reach, but won’t junk up the counter.
I have something special planned for the back wall, but right now its naked. I’m also saving my pennies to replace this door with a 15-lite glass door. This is the south side of the house and it gets great light. I want to brighten up the first floor and enjoy the view of my little back yard.
And that is the kitchen, so far.
I’m planning a post on storage and function soon.
What do you guys think?
See the floor plan HERE.
And full before shots HERE.
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New Kitchen Project
Thought I’d share a little before and after today of a kitchen we recently completed. This job was of note because it wasn’t a full renovation. 95% of the kitchens we do are full gut jobs. Usually they are old, cramped, and need a major overhaul. In this case, the kitchen was pretty functional except for a broken range and a few dated materials.
Due to the extra depth of the range, we needed to re-work things a bit, so we decided to improve this whole side of the kitchen. Cabinets and a custom hood were built to match the rest of the kitchen. Florata granite, a new tile backsplash and updated hardware complete the makeover.
Unfortunately my before pictures are kind of lacking. The old range jutted out from the wall on an angle. There was a downdraft hood and not a lot of counter space on either side.
Off the range was a raised eating counter that jutted further into the room on an angle. It ended up created a bottleneck of traffic getting in and out of the room with stools constantly in the way.
We decided to rework the area, keeping it clean and simple. The range is now straight against the wall with plenty of prep space on either side. The eating peninsula comes out straight into the room, creating more space and easy flow. We also kept the eating area at counter height. Now it can double as an extra prep zone. I happen to hate raised counters for eating. I think they are uncomfortable, unsightly and break up counter space.
Open shelves are a nice place to store cookbooks and vases. I like how the open space allowed us to take the tile all the way up the wall.
Speaking of the tile, I Love the detail we created above the range. Tone-on-tone with a pattern change is subtle, pretty and sophisticated. This isn’t some trendy tile accent my clients will tire of in a few years! (Such a common mistake in kitchen renos.)
Lighting is always a place to have a little fun in the kitchen.
Really happy with how this one turned out. I hope my clients’ enjoy it for many years to come!
Oversized Kitchen Pendants- 12 Statement Makers
When it comes to kitchen lighting, I DO declare blown-glass mini pendants OVER. Instead, I Love to see an oversized fixture above the kitchen island. If space allows, push the limits a little with a 12” diameter or larger piece. Hang it at an appropriate height that won’t interfere with kitchen prep and let it make a statement.
(Depending on the size your island, lights can be hung 30” off the island and higher. For bigger lights I would do at least 36″ above)
I’m shopping pendants for my petite 54″ island and I would happily use any of the ones shown below…
TIP- for layered, collected feel, contrast your lighting with your kitchen style. Meaning- if your kitchen is traditional, mix in some modern lights. Or if your kitchen is more modern, hang up some crystally goodness! If your cabinets, counters and backsplash are all white, why not have a llittle fun with a red lantern?
I was leaning towards the simple glass and brass globe pendants (#2), but since my kitchen is so modern (slab doors, modern stools) I’m thinking about adding a little sparkle with pendant #1 instead.
PS- Continuing with the “mixed theme” I’m planning to do a modern fixture over my dining table, which is open to my kitchen. Favoring #6 for my table.
Examples…
Colorful lighting pops in a white kitchen.
Does anyone know the source for this stunning kitchen?
Urban Grace Interiors/ Coastal Living
