Today we are beginning to reveal the renovation we designed in the #RDHcolonialreno. Our client is a realtor and therefore always on top of the latest home design trends. It made for a collaborative design process which resulted in a beautiful finished space on a restricted budget. For her own home, we chose an updated traditional style that feels clean and modern without being overly trendy. The kitchen was renovated within the last few years, but the couple was ready to add a lounge space in the back of the existing kitchen and more square footage to other areas of the home to improve the overall function of some existing spaces. Our role was to bring a cohesion while carving out intentional, elevated spaces to enjoy their every day.
We originally planned only minor updates to the kitchen, but to accommodate the new layout of the main floor, we decided to reconfigure the cabinetry on the cooktop wall and add a pantry for added storage. The final result feels cohesive and spacious, allowing ample storage room.
The plan called for creating a symmetrical focal point on the wall featuring the stove, removing a wall to open the kitchen to the new lounge space on the left, and updating the dining room on the right to better reflect the style and colors in the kitchen.
Before: The previous kitchen was high in contrast with white cabinets and black counters. In the photo above, the cabinets on either side of the stainless range hood had been removed, and construction had begun on the new lounge space.
After: The clients wished to keep their IKEA + Semihandmade cabinetry; we were able to simply reconfigure the existing boxes and add some new to the layout, then update all doors. We extended the base cabinetry on the right side, allowing us to add a tower of wall cabinets that sits directly on the counter on each side.
We commissioned a custom vent hood and tiled the wall between the cabinets to create a strong, symmetrical focal point. The tile adds the most lovely tonal texture and much needed depth to the feature wall. We sourced new drawer pulls and cabinet knobs and latches in a bronze finish from Rejuventation and installed new quartz countertops in a lighter color.
Thanks in part to the savings from keeping most of the cabinets and appliances — which can account for much of a kitchen’s budget — client was able to splurge on a new brass faucet by House of Rohl, pendants from Circa Lighting, sconces from Etsy, and a spectacular backsplash by Clé Tile from the Zio & Sons zellige collection. As always, our goal was to add warmth and character to this space and focus on the family everyday needs by creating a functional design.
SHOP THE LOOK
Before: The dining space had dark walls and a white wainscot, and the table was surrounded by a combination of white metal and upholstered chairs. In the middle of the room, the island functioned well for added seating and serving space, but lacked style.
After: We reversed the dining space's paint scheme to be white walls over a soft greige board-and-batten wainscot. We kept their dining room table but added an elegant set of caned-back chairs. A new sisal rug and pair of block-print curtains add texture and warmth. The round glass beads on the new chandelier echo the pendants over the island, and give the dining space a note for formality.
To give the large island more presence and style, we added legs and an apron and surrounded it with tongue and groove paneling painted to match the cabinets.
Opposite the stove wall is a new pantry that easily makes up for cabinetry lost when we took out the wall behind the sink, and a recessed refrigerator/freezer (just out of frame to the right). Formerly a coat closet that opened around the corner in the foyer, the pantry is also clad in vertical paneling and has a charming set of double doors with porcelain knobs. We opted for wood shelving with brackets to elevate the style of the utilitarian space.
The sink — where the unlacquered brass faucet gleams against the lighter finishes — now overlooks the new lounge space. We finished the back of the cabinets here with more tongue and groove planks, which bring continuity throughout the open room.
In the new lounge space, we repeated the cabinetry style (though opted for black with brass hardware), quartz counter, and tile backsplash found in the kitchen to form a bar and serving space on one end. Above it, the television is flanked by a stylish pair of sconces to keep the counter clear. Wood beams on the ceiling add warmth and architectural detail, and are in keeping the colonial style of the home.
In the end, we were thrilled to improve both the function and the aesthetic of our clients' most-used spaces. We hope you will check back in the coming weeks, as we will be revealing the full tour of this beautiful home.