Kitchen of the Week: Creamy White, Wood and Brass in an Open Plan
A design-build firm helps a Minnesota couple create a roomy L-shaped kitchen with off-white cabinets and a walnut island
Jeannie Matteucci
June 19, 2020
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish spaces, smart lighting and a good decaf dry cappuccino.
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish... More
With four kids and a busy household, this Edina, Minnesota, couple realized their single-story rambler and its compartmentalized rooms were no longer working for them. They hired designer Katie Kath and team at Jkath Design Build + Reinvent to renovate the entire house, using Houzz ideabooks along the way to share design ideas. The couple added a second floor with bedrooms and bathrooms and opened up the ground floor to create a great room.
For the kitchen, featured here, the homeowners and design team incorporated creamy off-white cabinets and a custom walnut island. Brass hardware and light fixtures, a white oak mantel on the range hood and a marble-look slab quartz backsplash complete the inviting transitional-style space.
For the kitchen, featured here, the homeowners and design team incorporated creamy off-white cabinets and a custom walnut island. Brass hardware and light fixtures, a white oak mantel on the range hood and a marble-look slab quartz backsplash complete the inviting transitional-style space.
Photos by Spacecrafting
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with four children
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Katie Kath of Jkath Design Build + Reinvent
In taking the former home down to the foundation and rebuilding, the team relocated the kitchen to a more prominent spot that’s visible to guests when they walk in the front door. The new location also creates better connection to the dining and living areas.
The kitchen’s soothing color palette includes soft white walls and trim (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) and custom Shaker-style maple cabinets painted a creamy off-white with gray and beige undertones (Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore). “They wanted neutral cabinets but not white,” Kath says. “We also talked about their lifestyle and everything they needed to store so we
could maximize all the storage.”
Aged brass knobs and pulls complement the brass finishes on the light fixtures and faucet. Stainless steel appliances offer a contrasting finish. The custom walnut island features a natural finish.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with four children
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Katie Kath of Jkath Design Build + Reinvent
In taking the former home down to the foundation and rebuilding, the team relocated the kitchen to a more prominent spot that’s visible to guests when they walk in the front door. The new location also creates better connection to the dining and living areas.
The kitchen’s soothing color palette includes soft white walls and trim (Simply White by Benjamin Moore) and custom Shaker-style maple cabinets painted a creamy off-white with gray and beige undertones (Balboa Mist by Benjamin Moore). “They wanted neutral cabinets but not white,” Kath says. “We also talked about their lifestyle and everything they needed to store so we
could maximize all the storage.”
Aged brass knobs and pulls complement the brass finishes on the light fixtures and faucet. Stainless steel appliances offer a contrasting finish. The custom walnut island features a natural finish.
The white oak mantel punctuates the custom range hood. “This allowed us to create a focal point in the kitchen,” Kath says. The mantel complements the whitewashed engineered wood flooring.
Slab quartz countertops and backsplash mimic the look of Calacatta Gold marble. “The veining picks up the warm tones of the walnut island,” Kath says.
Backsplash and counters: Et Calacatta Gold, Silestone by Cosentino; flooring: Millennium Whisky, Unique Wood Floors
Slab quartz countertops and backsplash mimic the look of Calacatta Gold marble. “The veining picks up the warm tones of the walnut island,” Kath says.
Backsplash and counters: Et Calacatta Gold, Silestone by Cosentino; flooring: Millennium Whisky, Unique Wood Floors
Niches in the range hood surround hold cooking essentials such as salt and pepper and a butter dish. “There isn’t a ton of accessible counter space on either side of the range so we added these niches,” Kath says. “We’re fans of keeping stuff off the counters.”
The 36-inch pro-style stainless steel gas range has four burners and a chromium griddle. “We loved the look of it, because it feels substantial,” Kath says. “It can hold up to the custom elements we used in this space.”
Range: 36-inch gas pro, Signature Kitchen Suite
Find a design-build firm near you
The 36-inch pro-style stainless steel gas range has four burners and a chromium griddle. “We loved the look of it, because it feels substantial,” Kath says. “It can hold up to the custom elements we used in this space.”
Range: 36-inch gas pro, Signature Kitchen Suite
Find a design-build firm near you
Three black-framed windows above the sink overlook the backyard and bring in lots of natural light. “We were able to go for that wall of windows over the sink to bring in as much natural light as possible because we had plenty of kitchen storage available and didn’t need upper cabinets there,” Kath says.
A paneled trash and recycling pullout sits to the left of the sink. A stainless steel dishwasher to the right includes steam technology that eliminates the need to pre-rinse dishes, helping the family save energy and water.
Windows: Elevate collection, Marvin; dishwasher: model SKSDW2401S, Signature Kitchen Suite
A paneled trash and recycling pullout sits to the left of the sink. A stainless steel dishwasher to the right includes steam technology that eliminates the need to pre-rinse dishes, helping the family save energy and water.
Windows: Elevate collection, Marvin; dishwasher: model SKSDW2401S, Signature Kitchen Suite
Two industrial-style swing-arm sconces in a brass finish extend over the windows. They join the glass dome pendants over the island, recessed lights in the 9-foot ceiling and undercabinet lighting to create layers of light.
Sconces: Morland in warm brass, Savoy House
Sconces: Morland in warm brass, Savoy House
A brushed brass faucet curves over a 26-inch undermount stainless steel single-bowl sink.
Faucet: Oletto in brushed brass, Kraus; sink: Standart PRO series, undermount in stainless steel, Kraus
Faucet: Oletto in brushed brass, Kraus; sink: Standart PRO series, undermount in stainless steel, Kraus
A custom coffee and beverage station is located just off the kitchen.
Cabinet doors fold out to reveal built-in walnut shelves, a coffee machine, microwave, glasses and cocktail supplies. A beverage refrigerator sits below. “There’s a screened porch on the back of the home and this gives the kids a way to grab a juice or soda when they’re playing on the porch,” Kath says.
Refrigerator: Presrv beverage cooler, Zephyr
Refrigerator: Presrv beverage cooler, Zephyr
In the dining area off the kitchen, an iron chandelier hangs over a rustic wood table surrounded by black spool chairs.
The black-framed French doors at the left lead to a front porch.
The black-framed French doors at the left lead to a front porch.
This floor plan shows the L-shaped kitchen layout with center island. (The microwave seen in the island was moved to the beverage station featured in the earlier photo.) “We prioritized flow and designed the kitchen first,” Kath says. “Now they have this custom kitchen that they use from sunup to sundown.”
More on Houzz
See more Kitchens of the Week
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More on Houzz
See more Kitchens of the Week
Get kitchen design ideas
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for kitchen products
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While I would have skipped the walnut island for my own kitchen, when taken in with the rest of their house, which must be used for context in open layouts, all of their accent pieces appear to be walnut/warm woods, so it ties in nicely.
Very nicely done. I like the mix of white with the wood and gold
Love the balance, so clean and well done. Love the range area. Neat zone, great nook for storage and contains a bit of mess which in reality unavoidable. In the process of designing a home myself. Recently left a high end kitchen. Building a semi custom home. At first was disappointing but truth be told any kitchen has a design lifespan. Had furniture grade custom and all the bells and whistles yet still excited to create a new look. Struggle do I do the white kitchen with double stacked cabinets and light floors with matte black accents, keep the island same color? There many answers for my questions. I right one I suppose may also have a lifespan. either way enjoy your beautiful kitchen.