When BHD decided to take on a “Faux-Sho” House for our blog, I was so excited to show my personal style in my designated rooms. I’ve been very lucky in my design career to have worked on a lot of kitchen projects and each one has taught me some very valuable lessons. One of the lessons that I learned very early on is that a kitchen needs to have longevity that goes beyond paint color choices and fabric selections. Building a kitchen is a lot like putting together a really great outfit because you need a solid foundation before you layer on the fabulous.
I started at the floor and worked my way up when I started on this kitchen. Antique, chestnut hardwood flooring was my first selection in this space and I haven’t wavered on it for a second. I love the look and feel of painted cabinets so I combined a painted island, in a bold color, with walnut perimeter cabinets. Love, love, love this combo. I wanted durable and timeless for my countertops so white quartz was a no-brainer for me when it was time to select. All of these selections came together very quickly and I truly believe that first inclinations are the right ones.
Left to Right:
Antique, Chestnut Hardwood Flooring
Island Color: Sherwin Williams SW6425 Relentless Olive
Quartz Countertop: Cambria , Whitehall
Perimeter Cabinets: Natural Walnut
I’m an unapologetic tile addict. There are so many options out there and it sets my little designer's heart to pounding. I looked at so many different options for the backsplash in this kitchen but I kept coming back to this particular one from New Ravenna Mosaics. It is a water jet, glass mosaic and is part of the Erin Adams collection. It’s simply called Clouds and I adore it.
I like the juxtaposition of industrial with classic in a space. Combining the Kohler Karbon faucet with a traditional apron sink created the balance of opposing styles that I wanted. Not to mention the faucet has three articulating pivot points that make it very user friendly.
Good lighting can make or break a space. Lighting is truly the earrings on the outfit. I didn’t want to do a traditional island pendant that was small and glass so I went in the opposite direction and went large and burlap. I wanted my lighting to anchor the space and these bad boys were perfect!
Curry and Company, Wiggins Orb Pendant.
There is no rule that says only one hardware style per kitchen so I decided to mix it up. I wanted hardware that looked old and worn- in so I used a variety of brass/bronze finishes.
Left to Right
Anthropologie: Antler Melody Knob
First Dibs: Antique Cabinet Latches
Chinese Brass Hardware
I appreciate a lot of different design styles. This became very evident when I was selecting the furniture, fabrics, and floor coverings for this kitchen. I selected the items that I truly love and I couldn’t be happier with the compilation.
Right to Left
Dining Chair: Indulgy, Modern Windsor Chair
Dining Table: DWR, Saarinen Dining Table
Area Rug available through Beth Haley Design
Bar Stool Fabric: Schumacher
Bar Stool available through Beth Haley Design
Kitchens are my passion. I talk about them, draw them, and select for them almost everyday and I never get tired of the process. A kitchen needs to stand firm in the face of ever changing design trends, new technologies, and growing families. Think longevity on the big stuff and have fun with the rest. That’s how I approach all the kitchens I’ve ever worked on and this one was no exception.
