A Modern Farmhouse Kitchen, With an Emphasis on ‘Modern’
Clean lines and sculptural pendants combine with shiplap and wide-plank oak floors in this Northern California kitchen
Bryan Anthony
April 15, 2019
Photos by Vivian Johnson
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Ross, California
Size: About 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Designer: Caitlin Jones Design
Caitlin Jones is an interior designer who sometimes buys, fixes up and sells homes herself. Jones considers the process of renovating one of her own properties sort of a “test laboratory for design,” where she can try out new ideas and materials to potentially use with future clients. Her latest project of this type was this classic shingled house in Marin County, California, that she eventually sold to a family of five. These photos of the kitchen were taken before the house was sold.
For the kitchen renovation, Jones says she wanted to push the boundaries of what is typically considered a modern farmhouse kitchen by focusing on the “modern” without losing that classic farmhouse character. As a result, the Shaker-style cabinets feature flush molding rather than traditional crown molding and are painted light gray instead of classic white. The translucent pendant lights above the island are also decidedly more sculptural than the lantern-style pendants found in many farmhouse kitchens.
Cabinet paint: Gossamer Veil, Sherwin-Williams
Find a kitchen designer on Houzz
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Location: Ross, California
Size: About 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Designer: Caitlin Jones Design
Caitlin Jones is an interior designer who sometimes buys, fixes up and sells homes herself. Jones considers the process of renovating one of her own properties sort of a “test laboratory for design,” where she can try out new ideas and materials to potentially use with future clients. Her latest project of this type was this classic shingled house in Marin County, California, that she eventually sold to a family of five. These photos of the kitchen were taken before the house was sold.
For the kitchen renovation, Jones says she wanted to push the boundaries of what is typically considered a modern farmhouse kitchen by focusing on the “modern” without losing that classic farmhouse character. As a result, the Shaker-style cabinets feature flush molding rather than traditional crown molding and are painted light gray instead of classic white. The translucent pendant lights above the island are also decidedly more sculptural than the lantern-style pendants found in many farmhouse kitchens.
Cabinet paint: Gossamer Veil, Sherwin-Williams
Find a kitchen designer on Houzz
Jones says she tries to envision the future homeowners when developing a property. Since this house is in Ross — a San Francisco Bay Area city known for family homes and great schools — she created a kitchen that would be ideal for a family with school-age children.
The kitchen features a large central island topped with family-friendly quartz, and the flooring is weathered wide-plank oak. “Young families tend to gather around the island today, rather than a formal dining room,” Jones says. “This island is large enough to set up a drink station and a cheese board and still have plenty of room for a crowd.”
A special element in this kitchen is the large picture window behind the sink. The bottom of the window lines up with the top of the countertop to create as much viewing space as possible to take in stunning outlooks of nearby Mount Tamalpais.
Shop for wide-plank oak flooring on Houzz
The kitchen features a large central island topped with family-friendly quartz, and the flooring is weathered wide-plank oak. “Young families tend to gather around the island today, rather than a formal dining room,” Jones says. “This island is large enough to set up a drink station and a cheese board and still have plenty of room for a crowd.”
A special element in this kitchen is the large picture window behind the sink. The bottom of the window lines up with the top of the countertop to create as much viewing space as possible to take in stunning outlooks of nearby Mount Tamalpais.
Shop for wide-plank oak flooring on Houzz
The range wall backsplash is made up of classic subway tiles with a modern twist. Rather than the typical 3-by-6-inch tile, Jones selected a more contemporary 2-by-8-inch tile. Also, two-thirds of the tiles have a matte finish, while the remaining third have a glossy finish, creating a subtle visual contrast.
The Italian gas range features stainless steel and brass components. “I love to mix metals in kitchens. The cabinet hardware is brass, but there’s also lots of stainless steel,” Jones says. “The range ties everything together nicely.”
5 Compelling Reasons to Mix Metals in the Kitchen
The Italian gas range features stainless steel and brass components. “I love to mix metals in kitchens. The cabinet hardware is brass, but there’s also lots of stainless steel,” Jones says. “The range ties everything together nicely.”
5 Compelling Reasons to Mix Metals in the Kitchen
On the other side of the island, Jones designed a custom desk with a waterfall edge made of oak stained the same shade as the floor. Behind the desk, a wall covered in shiplap adds a traditional touch. Floating shelves provide storage, as does the center tower of built-in drawers between the two acrylic desk chairs.
A newly renovated laundry room off the kitchen features many of the same materials and touches but with slight variations. The Shaker-style cabinets and shiplap wall are covered in a crisp white paint. A brass wall sconce provides a light source above the sink, while the matte black faucet adds a modern touch.
More on Houzz
Design Recipe: How to Get a Modern Farmhouse-Style Kitchen
Photo Flip: Let’s Go Island Hopping Again
Find a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
More on Houzz
Design Recipe: How to Get a Modern Farmhouse-Style Kitchen
Photo Flip: Let’s Go Island Hopping Again
Find a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
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Who manufactures the tiles? Thanks.