a kitchen refresh – lighten and brighten
When Jennifer wrote in for some help with her kitchen, we were more than happy to put our heads together and come up with some fun ideas.
We hope more than anything that it’s a great spring board for a new little redo in their home. As always, we tried to stay in practical areas as far as monetary amounts and options go, and also tried to provide more than one option for certain areas. Kitchens are a very personal thing, and we want them to go with the option that they are most comfortable. At the end of the day, it’s their home. So without further ado, a few ideas for a kitchen refresh!
So here’s a look at the before:
They actually live on an awesome vineyard, and have this amazing house full of charm. She wanted to keep their cabinets, {which, of course she did!} but lighten and brighten the space a bit while working with what they had. She was also interested in adding an island.
I always go out of order so please bear with us…
Here’s a little bit of an inspiration round up…
First of all, we think that their kitchen is off to an incredible start. The cabinets are just gorgeous and we agree with them about not changing a thing. They’re perfect. Their floors are incredible too.
The key with this space, is to bring in some contrast, to help bring interest to these things. This space can make those natural and stained items really pop against the rest of the space. It will bring balance to the entire room as a whole.
1. Paint
We’d love to see their trim updated with a nice, crisp white. Along with this gorgeous minty blue on the walls. We think this will work wonders for their walls, and would love to see them carry that through in the other areas of the house as she mentioned. This will help them appreciate those cabinets more. We think that they’ll be amazed at how much character it can bring to their already gorgeous and existing woodwork, and antiques. We’d love to see what a difference that makes, and hope this is a great springboard for them to begin with.
2. Countertops + Backsplash
We’d love for them to consider a fresh look for the countertops. We included some cabinets with white countertops for the same “feel” and we think this is a great starting point to use these as inspiration. Their cabinets are so timeless and classic, we almost want to see that paired with a simpler, quiet {also timeless} countertop.
We love marble from here for an option, and they offer plenty of samples online if they’d like to order and try them out in real life. They may want to try it out. If they’re opposed to marble {again, we get it… it’s a beast and takes some getting used to but a beautifully organic material} white quartz would also be absolutely gorgeous, and as long as it has the same basic feel, it’s a great place to start if it’s something they’d like to consider. Just something to think about.
We would pair it with a simple, but almost vintage modern feel in these subway tiles. This is a classic piece with a twist, and a bit of an organic feel to it. We’d pair it with a light grout to keep it up to date, fresh and simple. They offer samples as well, and we highly recommend ordering a few to try out.
We’d love to see their backsplash done in this. As far as where, they can always include their own breaking point for the tile. But honestly… we would include the entire area of the kitchen.
Placement
{See kitchen examples 1 & 2 in the inspirations attachment for the look of the tile} To carry it all the way up, on each wall area would be worth the impact. It would make their space feel larger. There isn’t really a natural break, so we’d take it up and around the cabinets on each wall, and even over the window, all the way to the crown moulding. We would wrap it around to the doorway as well, on their left wall where the oven is located. Stopping at the corner. So the natural breaking points would be each actual wall of the kitchen. This would give it a true, timeless feel, and bring a lot of interest to the space.
Then they could carry out your trim, door and wall color to the rest of the house. This makes the tile look more intentional, and while it may be a little more labor intensive, it helps make it look like it has always been there… not an afterthought.
If they decide not to replace their countertops, another alternative would be ordering some samples in various shades. It’s important to get your hands on the actual product and play around first. We would look into some other variations. Here’s a grey option that may blend a little better.
As far as appliances – they mentioned replacing them with white in the future. If they want to lighten up eventually, then we would definitely go with the vintage feel for those to make it look intentional and nicer. This is a look that would definitely tie in nicely with white countertops and a white backsplash. It could be quite charming with the final feel of the space.
3. Wine Rack
Speaking of that wall, to the left of their cabinets where the current piece is mounted, we’d love to see a wine rack there. We noticed they have quite the collection with their natural locale. Which is kind of amazing. We’d just love to see a bit of a natural piece like this brought to their walls as an idea to really integrate something functional and fun. {They may be able to custom build your own for a great fit that isn’t so tight on that wall.}
11. Island – Included are purchased and custom build options:
Purchased Option:
They mentioned an island for their kitchen. I think that the space is so beautiful the way it is now, they almost don’t want to close that space in. It would take away from their existing look.
They’re going for the timeless feel to carry it through with the floors and cabinets. But we totally get the need for more work space. So we chose a piece that would keep the space open, and versatile as an option. This is their easy purchase option.
It’s something that brings in a different material, but still offers a workspace while giving the area room to breathe.
Our favorite {custom built option} is this one:
They can probably swing this one if the husband already built their {gorgeous} dining room table! If they want to ditch their current table, see attachment three for another option for a bar that you could have custom built, that doesn’t take up too much visual space. It could also double as a large table and gathering area. I would definitely go with a contrasting color on the legs… maybe white or a light grey to keep it simple and bright. It brings a little interest beyond all the heavy wood finish.
In a way, this lends to that old world style with a piece that feels older and collected over time. This goes with the feel of a true vintage kitchen, to have a table/bar in the middle of the room to double as an island, as shown in photo no. 4 of the first attachment on the inspiration pics. {I know that’s a blue kitchen, but it still has the same feel.}
It would be beautiful with a wood top, especially if they go with marble as their other countertops.
This would be your custom built option that stays true to that timeless look and feel.
They can truly go with a lot of options for this space, and I hate to give them too many. But a lot of it comes down to personal preferences, and I think the key with all these is keeping it open with the feel of what they do. I’m not sure I would go for a chunky island with the already existing kitchen. As in, keep it open underneath. The key is keeping things light and airy. Like the options we have included. Open is what makes their already charming kitchen so charming, and we don’t want to take away from that existing element.
5. Barstools
We would pair this area with some simple barstools that can stack up and out of the way. Islands are a natural gathering place for visitors and family members, and these would be a great option without taking up too much space. We like them in the lighter metal finish.
4. Lights
If they do bring in an island, we would love to see one or two of these lights over head, to anchor it in the space, and bring a little classic versatility in the way of lights and another way to bring interest to the room.
6. Table
If they decide they’d like to keep their table, we’d love to see it in a different finish. Another opportunity to lighten, and really highlight it against all that stained wood. We grabbed something for the board to show how yours might look if it were redone. This option would work with the metal island choice.
If they go with the custom built island option, we would lose the table. ;}
8. Rug
Another opportunity to bring in some color would be in this round rug. We found an alternative piece, here that may also work. But when they lighten everything else, their existing rug is super adorable as well… we just wanted to give them some options for a little color. ;}
Please note: if they go with an island option in the middle of their kitchen, ignore the round rug recommendation. ;} I might skip it all together or find a small colorful runner later, to keep things simplified.
9. Chairs
We’d love to see it paired with chairs like these for another opportunity to bring in some lighter and brighter color.
7. Curtains
They mentioned curtains, and we think that this custom company is pretty great and their prices seem totally doable for custom, if sewing isn’t what they want to take on. We’d choose a lighter fabric with a liner to offer privacy and protection from the sun, while keeping it light and airy.
Another great source for linen in the DIY route, is here.
Maybe we’re biased but we’d love to see our plaid fabric on your curtains over that gorgeous sink. Just for a hint of something light and fun.
10. Cow Creamers
Because they added a little character to their board, and we love the look to go with the rest of your vintage feel. {They have so many fun pieces for those shelves – the strawberry sign is my fave in their space!} You can find them here.
12. Dining room Fabric
We love the look of this fabric for their dining room chairs in a sweet refresh. They may also want to change their color on the wood to lighten them up. Just something to consider that will bring major character to the space.
We would order a sample of that fabric- but try this gray with that wood to see how it all works together – it should help bring all their pieces together with the fun, new bright colors on your walls.
Just wanted to throw a few ideas your way in lieu of the dining room area to get you started since they are so tied together. ;}
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Obligatory Dislaimer
Please note, out of respect for our paying clients we can no longer share all of our sources here, with the exception of an independent artist or small business {because we love supporting small businesses!} Or something from our own site. To share all the sources here, would be unfair to our clients who have paid for these services. We do share all of our own sources for our own home, along with any additional sources that we possibly can. That adds up to a lot of sources.
We share the boards here with the permission of the client, because we do hope this still inspires our readers to create from your own ideas, and to discuss the space along with our design services. So thank you in advance for your understanding.
If you’re interested in design solutions and sources for your very own space, we’re more than happy to help. Read more about our e-services here, or if you live locally in Nashville, our in-person services, here.
An affordable, great way to work with us. We’d love to hear from you!
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Do you have a link for the rug option you show for #8? I love it!
I know ads help you make money blogging, but I find your blog practically unviewable (is that a word? Haha) I’ve always loved your blog and even used your backyard makeover as inspiration for mine, buying the fabric you linked and painting my backdoor the same sunny yellow!! I look at blogs using Bloglovin’ and I have to click through to view your blog. I don’t know anything about blogging, but many blogs don’t make me click to view. And then when I do click through, the screen is mostly taken up with ads, making it pretty impossible on my phone, and then the pop ads OHMY!! Just wanted to let you know, surely I’m not the only one not clicking anymore. Just wanted to let you know! Seriously if I could send you a screenshot of just how hard it is to type this comment right now! Anyway love your blog, hope it becomes easier for mobile users in the future.
Hey!
Thank you so much for the feedback…yes we have a code in place that does force you to click through instead of reading in bloglovin. Simple reason is that bloglovin essential places the content in what is called an iframe which prevents us from making money with most of the ads we use. This is true for any other blog you view through their platform, essentially they are stealing from bloggers. Since we provide free content we have to use ads to feed the kids. Ha!
As far as the mobile version, I am sorry you are having issues with it, it is a responsive system and so it is changing constantly. I wish I could see your screen so I could better understand what you are experiencing. There should only be one pop up that ever displays. I tweaked the comment section a bit so maybe that will help with that issue. Again thank you for the feedback.
I love this! It’s beautiful!
Are you ever able to share the afters? That would be amazing!!
When clients send them in, we do try to share the afters. Unfortunately these things take time, so they are slow going and sometimes they forget… ;} BUT we LOVE to see them when people send them in – and we do try to share.
Beautiful….
http://jristicline.com/en/
I love seeing your design plan but so wish you could share your sources. I keep clicking on something, anything, to see if it’s a link, and then I remember that you’re not sharing sources. Is it possible to include similar, but not exact, links? I guess I want in on the action too.
Hey Angie! We do not share the sources of our clients, since they paid especially for our design services. We try our very best to share what we can, but this would be unprofessional and unfair to take everything they requested in a special paid design and share it with everyone else. We have their permission to share the boards, and to share the sources of small artists and businesses that we may include, along with our own sources for each board. We also share every single source for our own home. So we are mindful to share everything that we can… and this adds up to a lot of sources. We share the boards here, because we want to inspire anyway in the way of color schemes or ideas, and get the conversation started about our e-design and personal design services here that we offer. In short, it’s great advertisement for us as well, since we are a design business and this is a large part of our income to support our business and family. You can check them out here and here! I hope this helps. Thank you for your understanding.
I love the rug in #8, is there a link for more information?
Thank you,
Dee