Mixing Countertops, marble, stainless and wood?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

We are totally remodeling our kitchen in a 1927 tudor inspired english manor style home. The house has lots of original, dark stained woodwork, wide plank medium wood floors, original cement tile floors in bathrooms and sunporch, steel casement windows. The original kitchen was most certainly a service kitchen, as it attaches to the back stairs and the "maid's quarters" upstairs. It is in the back of the house, and small compared to the other rooms. While the kitchen was not originally built to eat in or as a public space, we are looking to create a kitchen that looks and feels appropriate to the home but with some eating space (and modern appliances).

The Butler's Pantry will be updated, but the original site built shaker style inset glass cabinets and drawers will remain. The cabinets will be repainted, a backsplash will be added, hardware updated. We originally thought we would get new counter in the BP, but our cabinet maker pointed out that the cabinets are built right into the wood countertop and that changing that would mean we would disturb/damage the original cabinets. So now, the BP countertops will be wood, refinished in a medium stain.

Through the BP is the kitchen, which will have one wall of countertops surrounding the range (about 5 feet on one side and 6 on the other). There will be a table, counter top height, for work and eating.

The sink wall will be in the old breakfast nook just past the range wall. The sink wall has about 7 feet of counter. That's it for counters.

We had wanted marble counters (which we know will stain, etch, etc) but we feel they would fit in this old house. The bathroom and entranceway thresholds are marble as are the fireplace surrounds.

But, I has also wanted stainless steel around the sink. I see stainless as looking somewhat historically accurate in a service kitchen, somewhat mimicking the style of the original German Silver sink with drainboards in the BP. I also feel like an integrated stainless sink/counter would be a great clean up spot! The sink wall is a focal point as you can see it from the main foyer and front door entrance. It will have glass cabinets with the insides wallpapered or painted to match the blue colors in the BP.

So, will it look disjointed to have wood in the BP, marble on the range wall, and stainless on the sink wall? If we go this route should we see about a marble top for the counter height table as opposed to wood so at least two surfaces are matching? Also, with the sink being a bit off in the nook we do want to make it look like one room, is that best done if the counters are the same around range and sink?

Option 1: Refinished wood in BP, light marble on range wall and on counter height table, stainless on sink wall with integrated sink

Option 2: Refinished wood in BP, light marble on range and sink walls, wood counter height table

The cabinets will be a soft white, the backsplash a simple white subway, with a gray grout that lends an industrial feel. The appliances are stainless and will not be hidden/paneled. The floor will hopefully be the original center growth pine stripped of years of tiles and refinished a medium stain to somewhat match the rest of the hardwood floors on first floor.

Thanks for any feedback!

Featured Answer

sebandninasmom
Original Author

9 years ago

Thanks! As for period appropriate, I think given the size and origin of our house (ironically built for a steel co executive in 1927) stainless may just be ok. I will share some pictures, it is a beautiful old home with incredible detailing and materials. We were lucky to have the chance to live here!

Yes, stainless DW with be by the sink.

We were thinking carrara marble. Had not considered wood around the sink because of water concerns. We use the kitchen a lot! We often eat late after kids' activities and dirty dishes wait on the counter or in the sink, sometimes until morning. We are not pristine kitchen people!

Pictures are from real estate listing before we moved in. It's furnished and lived in now! Current Butler's Pantry (will still be blue, slightly different shade, new lighting, subway backsplash, refinished countertops darker wood, flooring will hopefully be original wood refinished, german sink to stay, new cabinet hardware.) You can see the a bit of current kitchen through BP and the orange wall with horrible track lighting is the nook where the sink will be.

Current 1980s kitchen, very bad layout, very narrow aisles, unusable counter space. The double oven wall will become the range wall. Approximately where DW is now is where counter height table will be.

Foyer entering from front door, all the way straight at the top left the orange wall you see will be the sink wall. LR is immediately to the right, the other room on the right with light common through is DR.