Kitchen Design
Thoughtful Style and Storage in a Gray-and-Blue Kitchen
This North Carolina kitchen features a marble-and-brass backsplash and carefully planned cabinet organization
White kitchens may be trending in Charlotte, North Carolina, but the owners of this home asked designer Kimmie Rokahr of Design Loft Cabinets specifically for a kitchen that was not all white, she says. Rokahr chose gray cabinets and a blue island base that — combined with a distinctive marble backsplash — earned this space a slot among the top 10 kitchens recently saved to ideabooks by the Houzz community.
Contractor Derick Jones of Addison Building Group added the window above the sink so the homeowners can see out over their backyard. The custom kitchen cabinets are made from maple wood. The doors themselves are flat panels with 2¼-inch rails and stiles that have a beaded edge. The cabinetry hardware from Richelieu Hardware has a warm metallic finish (champagne bronze).
Design Loft Cabinets works with homeowners on kitchen layout and cabinet design, and clients then work with other pros — in this case a contractor — to select other items like tile and countertops.
This photo shows the elegant gray-and-white marble backsplash the homeowners selected; each marble tile is edged in brass. The homeowners also chose the glass pendants over the island and purchased them through their contractor.
In the gray perimeter cabinetry, the stack of three drawers to the left of the sink contains oven mitts and towels. To the right of that stack is a knife drawer, and below it a trash and recycling pullout.
This end of the kitchen island houses a cabinet with dividers for storing trays and cookie sheets.
Work with a kitchen designer near you
Design Loft Cabinets works with homeowners on kitchen layout and cabinet design, and clients then work with other pros — in this case a contractor — to select other items like tile and countertops.
This photo shows the elegant gray-and-white marble backsplash the homeowners selected; each marble tile is edged in brass. The homeowners also chose the glass pendants over the island and purchased them through their contractor.
In the gray perimeter cabinetry, the stack of three drawers to the left of the sink contains oven mitts and towels. To the right of that stack is a knife drawer, and below it a trash and recycling pullout.
This end of the kitchen island houses a cabinet with dividers for storing trays and cookie sheets.
Work with a kitchen designer near you
Here’s a closer look at that spice drawer. The kitchen countertop is white marble with gray veining.
Find spice jars and racks in the Houzz Shop
Find spice jars and racks in the Houzz Shop
This angle shows the side of the island facing the sink. There is a microwave drawer across from the sink as well as more storage cabinets. The dishwasher stands to the right of the sink.
At the far end of the kitchen is the refrigerator; above it are cabinets with dividers for corralling muffin tins and baking trays. To the right of the refrigerator is an upper cabinet for oils and vinegars, and a base cabinet that holds small pots and pans. Other cabinets have a space for flours and spices and another for plastic bowls. The base cabinet on the corner contains heavy items like glass dishes — “stuff that I don’t want falling on my head or cracking the countertop,” Rokahr says. Drawers on either side of the cooktop and oven contain dividers for other cooking implements.
Rokahr says her clients love these touches aimed at organizing the kitchen. She finds that her clients who don’t invest in the details tend to regret it. “That’s the most frustrating thing for clients. If they don’t pre-plan or budget for finishing touches, they have this great, beautiful kitchen from the outside and can’t seem to get organized.”
At the far end of the kitchen is the refrigerator; above it are cabinets with dividers for corralling muffin tins and baking trays. To the right of the refrigerator is an upper cabinet for oils and vinegars, and a base cabinet that holds small pots and pans. Other cabinets have a space for flours and spices and another for plastic bowls. The base cabinet on the corner contains heavy items like glass dishes — “stuff that I don’t want falling on my head or cracking the countertop,” Rokahr says. Drawers on either side of the cooktop and oven contain dividers for other cooking implements.
Rokahr says her clients love these touches aimed at organizing the kitchen. She finds that her clients who don’t invest in the details tend to regret it. “That’s the most frustrating thing for clients. If they don’t pre-plan or budget for finishing touches, they have this great, beautiful kitchen from the outside and can’t seem to get organized.”
Who lives here: Two doctors and their two boys
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 322 square feet (30 square meters)
Designer: Kimmie Rokahr of Design Loft Cabinets
The homeowners wanted their space to work well for entertaining and have plenty of storage, which happens to be a special focus for Rokahr’s kitchens and bath firm. “Our main goal with our customers is to find a place for everything in the kitchen,” Rokahr says.
This means maximizing space and planning precisely. For example, Rokahr placed 12-inch-deep cabinets on the side of the kitchen island with the bar stools, offering an out-of-the-way place to store items not used everyday. The cabinet doors have touch latches so they blend in like panels. Plus, each island end features a 12-inch-wide, 23¾ -inch-deep cabinet; the one shown here is used for storing casserole dishes. The island itself is 7 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 3 inches.
Custom cabinets: Unique collection in Dune and Blue Fir, Cabico