I’m so excited to share our new home’s kitchen today! When we decided to custom build our seventh house, the space I was the most excited about having the opportunity to design was our kitchen. I’ve been collecting images and ideas in my dream kitchen folder for years, so to bring it to life felt like a dream project!
Welcome to my forever kitchen!
I’ve always, always been drawn to classic white kitchens. But I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to have a little fun with color, so I opted to do the island and the pantry in Sherwin Williams Hurricane Blue (which is the same color blue we used on the screen porch ceiling which is right outside these sliding glass doors you see in the next photo below).
Open concept spaces aren’t for everyone, but I’ve come to love the flow for everyday living. And loading the dishwasher while watching tv is basically me living my best life. 😉 But because the kitchen is within view of both the living and dining room, I wanted to keep the design as buttoned up as possible. I wanted to disguise the utilitarian parts of our kitchen without sacrificing on function.
So I did a paneled refrigerator and created a walk-in pantry with a prep sink and enough counter space to house all of our daily countertop appliances. (The pantry isn’t quite ready for her close-up yet, but stay tuned. I’ll be sharing the pantry very soon!)
We’ve been living here now for two months, and this layout and design has been working so well for our family. I love that the countertops in our kitchen stay clutter free because the pantry isn’t just a storage space. And it’s so nice that someone can be making coffee or packing a lunch while I’m unloading the dishwasher, and no one is running into each other. #praisehands
As important as form is, function is so key to daily living. So I’m really glad that I didn’t just focus on making this space pretty. Although I do love how she looks!
The Details
I’m a sucker for details.
Mixing Metals – I’ve always loved mixed metals in a kitchen. I love the way the brass lighting and hardware warm things up in here. And the chrome faucet relates to the stainless range.
The Hood – To tie in the wood flooring and break up the sea of white on this wall, I added a little wood detail to the hood. I love the juxtaposition of the sleek white with the unfinished wood. It feels warm and classic.
Simple Backsplash Tile – I chose plain white subway tile with a very light grey grout because it’s timeless and classic, both in style and color. To make more of a statement with this simple look I had the tile taken all the way up to the crown. Choosing materials that will stand the test of time was really important to me for this home that we plan on living in for a really, really long time, like forever long. 😉
The range – This is the only stainless appliance in our kitchen (besides our microwave which is in the pantry), so to dress her up a bit we opted for blue knobs, which was my husband’s request. And I love this small detail so much!
Horizontal Outlets & Brass Cabinet Hardware – Outlet placement in a kitchen is something I’m a little nutty about. I just prefer for outlets to be as nondescript as possible. So I had them placed horizontally, which matches the subway tile, and as low to the countertops as possible.
Shaker style cabinetry has always been a favorite of mine. It’s simple and classic and works for a range of design styles. But I wanted to dress up the cabinets a bit with hardware that felt more suited for furniture than cabinetry. I’m so in love with these chunky drawer pulls!
I especially love them on the blue island! Because the inset of the top drawers wasn’t large enough for these same pulls I mixed up the hardware, and I love this mixed look so much!
Dishwasher in Disguise – We also paneled the dishwasher, which is to the right of the sink, for a clean look on this side of the island. This way the only thing that stands out is the farmhouse sink and the gorgeous faucet.
My Favorite Detail – I’ve talked about these doorknobs before. They are absolutely my favorite detail in the whole house, but on the pantry door this door knob truly sings! That gold and blue combo with the glass knob is just so gorgeous!
Counter Stools – I fell in love with these. They tie in so well with the black windows and brass elements. And they swivel which makes them so super functional!
Meaningful Art – Our first date was at a Chinese restaurant, and it’s also where my husband proposed, in a fortune cookie. 🙂 And the print is a souvenir from our trip to the Amalfi Coast. I love art in a kitchen, and nothing beats art that has so much heart and meaning.
Quartz Countertops – This was probably the one area where I spent a ton of time doing research. I wanted to be sure to select a material that was not only beautiful but one that would be the right fit for our family. I knew I didn’t want anything with a bold pattern. And I also knew I wanted something that could handle spills, drips and splatters like a boss. I landed on Weyborne by Cambria Quartz which has a very subtle pattern that is really hard to see in these pictures. But it is truly stunning in person. It has a light grey tone that plays well with the blue island. And I chose to do a waterfall edge on the island to give this classic kitchen a modern vibe. It’s sleek and beautiful, and we’ve spilled all the things without a care or worry!
So that’s our new kitchen! I’m so happy with the way it turned out! And I wouldn’t change a single detail! Cooking and cleaning in this kitchen feels like such a dream!
*All photos by Kim Graham Photography
Sources
Island Pendants – Restoration Hardware
Sconces – Rejuvenation
Pantry Door Knob – Grandeur Hardware
Faucet – Rohl
Gas Range – Thermador
Cabinet Hardware Pull – Atlas Hardware
Cabinet Pull – Atlas Hardware
Counter Stools – Restoration Hardware
Vintage Runner – Zuma Imports
Yassssss! It is absolutely stunning!!!! Congrats!!!