Kitchen of the Week: White and Wood With a Touch of Rustic Style
A designer gives an empty-nest couple a bright and open kitchen with handcrafted details
Jeannie Matteucci
June 17, 2021
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
Todd and Tina Gifford planned to remodel their basic brown 1990s kitchen 17 years ago when they first moved into the home. Then life happened. They put off renovating while they raised their kids. When they became empty nesters, they put their plans back on the table.
They looked at inspiration photos on Houzz and hired Gina Loewer of Northland Design & Build to help update the space. Loewer removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room and ditched the honey brown cabinets, laminate countertops and too-narrow island. She added a two-level peninsula, a larger island and a warm white-and-wood color scheme with a touch of rustic style.
They looked at inspiration photos on Houzz and hired Gina Loewer of Northland Design & Build to help update the space. Loewer removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room and ditched the honey brown cabinets, laminate countertops and too-narrow island. She added a two-level peninsula, a larger island and a warm white-and-wood color scheme with a touch of rustic style.
“After” photos by Justin Krug Photography
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Empty-nest couple Todd and Tina Gifford
Location: Tualatin, Oregon
Size: 330 square feet (31 square meters)
Design: Gina Loewer of Northland Design & Build
Before: The previous kitchen had served the Giffords well, but there wasn’t much worth holding on to. They had grown tired of the muddy brown walls, basic oak cabinets, laminate countertops and plain white tile with a decorative strip used on the short backsplash and narrow island countertop.
The honey brown flooring seemed to blend in with the cabinets, and the placement of the aging electric cooktop in the island felt like an afterthought. Over time, the built-in desk area had become a cluttered drop zone. The refrigerator, which stood on a wall separating the kitchen and dining area, protruded into the traffic flow. “The kitchen just felt drab,” Loewer says. “It was enclosed, compartmentalized and the aisleways were tight.”
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Empty-nest couple Todd and Tina Gifford
Location: Tualatin, Oregon
Size: 330 square feet (31 square meters)
Design: Gina Loewer of Northland Design & Build
Before: The previous kitchen had served the Giffords well, but there wasn’t much worth holding on to. They had grown tired of the muddy brown walls, basic oak cabinets, laminate countertops and plain white tile with a decorative strip used on the short backsplash and narrow island countertop.
The honey brown flooring seemed to blend in with the cabinets, and the placement of the aging electric cooktop in the island felt like an afterthought. Over time, the built-in desk area had become a cluttered drop zone. The refrigerator, which stood on a wall separating the kitchen and dining area, protruded into the traffic flow. “The kitchen just felt drab,” Loewer says. “It was enclosed, compartmentalized and the aisleways were tight.”
After: Loewer removed the back wall to open the kitchen up to the dining area, and she extended the kitchen into the dining room a little to add about 24 square feet to the kitchen. “When you take the wall down, you’re going to increase the natural light for both spaces,” she notes.
A two-tier peninsula now splits the rooms, with tall storage cabinets on the dining side and a new range on the kitchen side. A decorative hickory beam with custom stain over the peninsula gave the homeowners some of the warm rustic style they were looking for. “We were over-the-moon excited when Gina proposed it,” Tina says. “We always wanted warm and neutral with a touch of rustic, but neither of us thought it would be something that would work.”
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A two-tier peninsula now splits the rooms, with tall storage cabinets on the dining side and a new range on the kitchen side. A decorative hickory beam with custom stain over the peninsula gave the homeowners some of the warm rustic style they were looking for. “We were over-the-moon excited when Gina proposed it,” Tina says. “We always wanted warm and neutral with a touch of rustic, but neither of us thought it would be something that would work.”
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Loewer brightened the room with a lighter color scheme that includes white maple cabinets (Extra White by Sherwin-Williams), greige walls (Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore) and crisp white ceiling and trim (Pure White by Sherwin-Williams).
The new island has a hickory base that coordinates with the beam and refinished floors. The countertops are a marble-look quartz. “It’s nice to have that wide-open space for baking pies and entertaining,” Tina says. “It’s so much more functional not having the cooktop there.”
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The new island has a hickory base that coordinates with the beam and refinished floors. The countertops are a marble-look quartz. “It’s nice to have that wide-open space for baking pies and entertaining,” Tina says. “It’s so much more functional not having the cooktop there.”
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The backsplash is 2-by-8-inch white ceramic tiles with a bit of texture. “We tried to look for ways to bring in rustic elements,” Tina says. “I wanted to bring in a handcrafted style of tiles, and this is what Gina and her team brought to us. They’re wonderful.”
The greige walls, gray composite sink, stainless faucet, light pewter grout color and cabinet pulls in a gunmetal finish create cohesive gray-tone elements that provide subtle contrast to all the whites.
Faucet: Sleek, Moen; cabinet hardware: Belcastel in Gun Metal, Hardware Resources
The greige walls, gray composite sink, stainless faucet, light pewter grout color and cabinet pulls in a gunmetal finish create cohesive gray-tone elements that provide subtle contrast to all the whites.
Faucet: Sleek, Moen; cabinet hardware: Belcastel in Gun Metal, Hardware Resources
A stainless steel hood hangs over the new pro-style 30-inch range in the peninsula. “I love the location,” Tina says. “Given the original cooktop was in the island with only one functional burner, having this Wolf range is dreamy.”
Wide drawers on either side of the range keep pots and pans within easy reach. Each top drawer has an integrated spice rack and dividers for utensils.
Wide drawers on either side of the range keep pots and pans within easy reach. Each top drawer has an integrated spice rack and dividers for utensils.
This side of the island has numerous drawers for essentials like mixing bowls and stockpots. “We wanted this island to be heavy on storage,” Loewer says.
Bronze pendants with glass dome shades keep sightlines open through the kitchen. Recessed LED ceiling lights and undercabinet LED tape lighting provide a layered lighting design.
How to Properly Light Your Kitchen Counters
Bronze pendants with glass dome shades keep sightlines open through the kitchen. Recessed LED ceiling lights and undercabinet LED tape lighting provide a layered lighting design.
How to Properly Light Your Kitchen Counters
Loewer relocated the new paneled fridge here. “This refrigerator is great because you have two doors instead of one,” she says. “We had to be careful and not go with a large one-door fridge that would swing into the aisleway.”
Double wall ovens sit to the left, a tall pantry is on the right and a tip-up cabinet above provides storage for seasonal items.
Double wall ovens sit to the left, a tall pantry is on the right and a tip-up cabinet above provides storage for seasonal items.
A cabinet above the ovens divides cookie sheets and serving platters. “It’s so much more efficient, utilizing the space that way,” Tina says.
A drawer beneath the ovens holds baking and roasting pans.
A drawer beneath the ovens holds baking and roasting pans.
The custom pantry cabinet has five deep rollouts for dry goods. “People are nervous when you remove a wall in a kitchen, when it comes to storage,” Loewer says. “This is a great way to have a highly functional pantry with deep rollouts that doesn’t take up lots of space.”
A new beverage center takes the place of the built-in desk. Glass-front upper cabinets show off Tina’s favorite collectibles. Drawers offer storage for napkins, corkscrews and other entertaining supplies. A beverage refrigerator makes it easy for guests to grab a drink without getting in the way in the main work zones.
Before: This wide view of the former kitchen shows an informal breakfast nook on the left. The large, rectangular table created a traffic flow problem. “Previously with the dining room being walled off, we needed that size of table there,” Tina says. “We made it work, but it was definitely too large for that area.”
After: Loewer moved the table to the dining area and introduced a less-imposing round wooden table. An oversize black pendant hangs above.
Before and After: 3 Kitchens With a Great Eat-In Space
Before and After: 3 Kitchens With a Great Eat-In Space
The beam features integrated LED lights. “We went back and forth about it, but I’m so glad we have those added lights there over the peninsula,” Tina says. “They’re fantastic.”
The upper level of the peninsula gives the couple a buffet space when entertaining.
The upper level of the peninsula gives the couple a buffet space when entertaining.
This photo shows the pop-out-style electrical outlets placed around the kitchen. This one is on the end of the island across from the range. When not in use, the gray cube portion can be pushed inside the plate area for a sleek look.
The now-open dining room enjoys a closer connection with the kitchen. “It absolutely reclaims real estate that has been forgotten for years,” Loewer says. “Now this dining room has a connection with the kitchen, and the flow between the spaces is great.”
Lower cabinets in the peninsula include pullouts on the dining room side for things like small appliances. Open shelves above offer display space for decorative items.
“The kitchen changes how we’re living to an extent,” Tina says. “The whole area feels more integrated. It’s just highly functional, but also an aesthetically pleasing place to be in.”
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“The kitchen changes how we’re living to an extent,” Tina says. “The whole area feels more integrated. It’s just highly functional, but also an aesthetically pleasing place to be in.”
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
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Good work and great work
Love this! Can you share what was the budget and the actual cost?