After 25 years of living in her secluded home on Morse Reservoir, this homeowner found that how she lived in her house was changing. “I began making the lower level of the house more of my living space,’ said the homeowner. The spacious walk-out basement was fully finished, and had a gorgeous view of the water. “The kitchen down here was closed and non-functional,” stated the homeowner. “I wanted to create a comfortable and cozy space, a place where you want to come in and sit down.”
Design: The combination of the home’s wooded lot and the lower level’s large windows creates a feeling of being surrounded by nature. Designing a kitchen in harmony with that ambiance made sense for the space, and would compliment the homeowner’s current furniture and decor. “My designer suggested that I go with natural hickory cabinets,” stated the homeowner. “I did not want a contemporary or modern look.” The cabinets set the tone for the space, bringing the farmhouse feel the homeowner was looking for.
A common design element in modern kitchens is to remove bulkheads and raise the cabinets to the ceiling. In many cases, the bulkheads are non-functioning, therefore removing them does not expose venting and allows for a more open feel. For this kitchen, the homeowner wanted an exhaust system for the microwave. Therefore, a new bulkhead was built to hide the needed duct work. In this design, the bulkhead enhances the cozy look the design was intended to create. To balance the room, and additional bulkhead was built along the entrance side wall. Keeping the ceiling at normal height in the middle of the kitchen stops the space from feeling too closed in.
To create a contrast for the natural cabinetry, the island is stained in an espresso finish. Open shelving makes storage for large trays and bowls easy, and adds to the farmhouse design. Black Pearl granite in a leather finish also provides contrast from the White Persia granite on the periphery cabinetry. Seating for four makes the island the true center of the kitchen.
The farmhouse look is continued into the details as well. “I have always wanted a farmhouse sink,” stated the homeowner. A plate rack was installed over the sink, and glass doors in a few of the upper cabinets. A brushed oiled bronze finish on the cabinet hardware and faucet provides a hint of copper that compliments the natural hickory. Copper pendant lights complete that old-time feel. Even though the goal behind this kitchen design was to evoke the feel of times gone by, modern conveniences are not overlooked. New appliances in black and matte stainless steel were installed, as well as wine refrigerator and under cabinet lighting. Updated storage solutions were also part of the final design, including a mixer lift, a built-in spice rack, and double-layered utensil drawers.
Final Result: “I love it,” stated the homeowner. “My favorite part is the functionality of the kitchen. I used to have items on all ends, so I had to go all over the kitchen to use them. This kitchen is compact enough that I do not have to do that anymore. It is not bigger than the original kitchen, it is just more functionally designed. I love the sink too, because it is easy to wash dishes in. I used to have a double sink and it was very hard to wash big pots or baking sheets.”
Would you like more information on this modern farmhouse kitchen remodel? Send us an email, or give us a call at 317-846-2600.
