We loved the classic nod to Spanish design punched up with some fun color and prints. Our clients for this kitchen renovation are also my friends, so when it came time for them to expand their teeny galley kitchen I'd been squirreling away all kinds of ideas in my head and was so excited and honored to help them do it.
They are a stylish family of four who appreciates good design and as we worked through their kitchen we all agreed upon a compromise of really classic elements like the cabinets, the zellige tile, and stunning quartzite counters mixed with some more bohemian elements like fun textiles, natural fibers and bright colors.
The first piece decided upon was the beautiful slate blue range. Luckily in the living room open to the kitchen they had a similar toned Cisco Brothers sofa purchased at Golden & Pine a few years back, so the base of our palette was set.
We knew we wanted the range wall was to be a showstopper, so the homeowners and I walked the slab yard (one of my favorite things to do!) at Carthage Stoneworks to find a classic, heavily veined stone that would look as pretty on the countertops as it did turning upward into the backsplash and range shelves. We opted to drywall in the hood and cover the other appliances with cabinetry so we could really let the stone and range shine.
For the cabinets, we designed medium toned simple cabinetry with just a bit of a bevel at the edge to give a nod to the Spanish inspiration. We used some lovely skinny brass pulls and at the island opted for cutouts instead of hardware just to mix it up. Can you believe there is a fridge hiding behind that tall section to the right?
We didn't have quite enough room to do a four foot deep island as we hoped (it's always nice to have two sided cabinetry there for extra storage), but the happy outcome was we got to do a statement zellige tile on the underside. Since this side faces the living room, we felt like it was a fun way to add some interest there. We opted for simple leather barstools with airy open legs tucked up underneath.
Since there was so much going on with the half moon window and exposed beams, we really went back and forth lighting...where to put it and how much to use both. In the end, we opted for a gold boho chandelier dropped low over the dining table and we skipped island pendants all together. We made sure there was enough light with strategically placed can lights over the workspace. I think it was the right decision to not make the line of sight too cluttered. We also wanted to make sure you could see those amazing St. Frank textile roman shades we had custom made.
The clients requested a coffee and bar setup complete with wine fridge and we were able to tuck that, and a whole lot of extra storage, into the third side of the kitchen. The homeowner herself suggested switching up the tile from plain zellige to the pattern with little diamonds, and it turned out so awesome. The bar is actually my surprise favorite section of the room!
Over on the living room side, the homeowners had been collecting pieces from Golden & Pine for awhile already, so we had a great start. We added our Billie rug, camel sherpa swivel chairs and styled it up with fresh pillows, books and objects. We love the way the two rooms vibe together now.
Keep scrolling below to see the before pics. Let us know what you think of this kitchen transformation! If you're interested in having us help redesign your home, contact us here. We would love to work with you too!
