Kitchen of the Week: Creamy White, Rustic Wood and Blue
For the most popular kitchen of spring 2021, a designer helped a Texas couple create a bright space full of character
Jeannie Matteucci
August 19, 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
Travis and Jami Turner were excited to find a house on a tree-lined street in Austin, Texas, that had a backyard and views of a creek. It seemed like the perfect place to start their next chapter together as a family with two young sons.
But major issues with the existing home required the couple to knock the structure down to the slab. Taking the opportunity for a fresh beginning, the couple hired designer Ariel Bleich and builder Clint Carson to help create the modern farmhouse of their dreams, with a family-friendly kitchen at the heart of everything.
Bleich came up with a timeless design that includes creamy white Shaker-style cabinets and touches of rustic wood. A few moody blue-green cabinets add a pop of color, while a spacious island, cozy breakfast nook and adjoining butler’s pantry give the family a functional space it can enjoy for years to come. And the Turners aren’t the only ones enjoying the result. Their kitchen was the most-saved kitchen photo on Houzz in spring 2021.
But major issues with the existing home required the couple to knock the structure down to the slab. Taking the opportunity for a fresh beginning, the couple hired designer Ariel Bleich and builder Clint Carson to help create the modern farmhouse of their dreams, with a family-friendly kitchen at the heart of everything.
Bleich came up with a timeless design that includes creamy white Shaker-style cabinets and touches of rustic wood. A few moody blue-green cabinets add a pop of color, while a spacious island, cozy breakfast nook and adjoining butler’s pantry give the family a functional space it can enjoy for years to come. And the Turners aren’t the only ones enjoying the result. Their kitchen was the most-saved kitchen photo on Houzz in spring 2021.
Photos by Avery Nicole Photography
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Travis and Jami Turner and their two young sons
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 320 square feet (30 square meters)
Designer: Ariel Bleich Design
Builder: Clint Carson of Tofka
An abundance of creamy white paint sets the breezy tone in the kitchen. The Shaker-style, full-overlay custom cabinets, drawers and island base, along with the walls, ceiling and trim, were all painted Marshmallow by Sherwin-Williams. “It’s a color I use a lot,” Bleich says. “Here we used it in a semigloss finish for the cabinets, ceiling and trim and in a flat finish for the walls and base of the island.”
The kitchen floor is 7-inch-wide white oak planks with a wire-brushed matte finish and ash stain that provide warm contrast to the lighter cabinets and walls. Reclaimed ceiling beams from a lumber mill that salvages old wood from barns and buildings give the space additional warmth and texture. “The beams are my favorite,” Jami says. “I really wanted rustic-looking beams that were truly used at one point in time. The tough part was getting enough of them that were long enough and had the right texture, color and look. Clint went all over and found some in Fort Worth.”
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Travis and Jami Turner and their two young sons
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 320 square feet (30 square meters)
Designer: Ariel Bleich Design
Builder: Clint Carson of Tofka
An abundance of creamy white paint sets the breezy tone in the kitchen. The Shaker-style, full-overlay custom cabinets, drawers and island base, along with the walls, ceiling and trim, were all painted Marshmallow by Sherwin-Williams. “It’s a color I use a lot,” Bleich says. “Here we used it in a semigloss finish for the cabinets, ceiling and trim and in a flat finish for the walls and base of the island.”
The kitchen floor is 7-inch-wide white oak planks with a wire-brushed matte finish and ash stain that provide warm contrast to the lighter cabinets and walls. Reclaimed ceiling beams from a lumber mill that salvages old wood from barns and buildings give the space additional warmth and texture. “The beams are my favorite,” Jami says. “I really wanted rustic-looking beams that were truly used at one point in time. The tough part was getting enough of them that were long enough and had the right texture, color and look. Clint went all over and found some in Fort Worth.”
Find a kitchen designer near you
The island holds the kitchen’s main sink, a fireclay apron-style. The faucet has a luxe gold finish. “I love to do bridge faucets in general because it gives more presence to your faucet and sink,” Bleich says.
Waxed wood island seats complement the ceiling beams and other wood details, such as the range hood trim and the door to the butler’s pantry to the left of the range. The seats can swivel on the natural iron bases, allowing the family to face the kitchen or turn toward the TV in the adjoining family room. “The fact that they swivel was important to her, for the kids,” Bleich says.
Two lantern pendants hang over the island. “I wanted to do something round to bring in a contrasting shape,” Bleich says. “I also love that they’re a lantern style. It’s an updated look but still classic.”
LED recessed lights in the ceiling (removed by the photographer in these photos) also provide illumination for the kitchen. All the lights are on dimmers, so the family can adjust the level of light for different activities.
Counter stools: Henson, Arteriors Home
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Waxed wood island seats complement the ceiling beams and other wood details, such as the range hood trim and the door to the butler’s pantry to the left of the range. The seats can swivel on the natural iron bases, allowing the family to face the kitchen or turn toward the TV in the adjoining family room. “The fact that they swivel was important to her, for the kids,” Bleich says.
Two lantern pendants hang over the island. “I wanted to do something round to bring in a contrasting shape,” Bleich says. “I also love that they’re a lantern style. It’s an updated look but still classic.”
LED recessed lights in the ceiling (removed by the photographer in these photos) also provide illumination for the kitchen. All the lights are on dimmers, so the family can adjust the level of light for different activities.
Counter stools: Henson, Arteriors Home
Shop for kitchen island lighting
The 48-inch gas range with 1½ ovens includes a cabinet-style custom hood surround with insert. “The wood on the bottom of the hood was added for definition and to break up all the white,” Bleich says. “That band of wood also corresponds with the wood door to the butler’s pantry.”
Upper cabinets flanking the range have clear glass fronts for displaying favorite glassware and dishes. They also help keep the kitchen feeling light and airy. Oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware coordinates with the island pendant finish and counter stool bases.
Long and linear taupe-colored tiles with taupe grout forms the subtle yet impactful backsplash. “I didn’t want the pattern to show up so much,” Bleich says. “But we needed the backsplash to have texture, along with the beams.”
Marble-look quartz counters for the perimeter and island top give the family a durable surface with an elegant look. “I wanted something really simple in terms of the backsplash and counters,” Jami says. “Initially I wanted the same backsplash and countertop, but it didn’t look warm or homey. This countertop isn’t completely white and has some nice veining.”
Counters: Frosty Carrina, Caesarstone
Pros Share Kitchen Countertop Looks That Are Hot Right Now
Upper cabinets flanking the range have clear glass fronts for displaying favorite glassware and dishes. They also help keep the kitchen feeling light and airy. Oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware coordinates with the island pendant finish and counter stool bases.
Long and linear taupe-colored tiles with taupe grout forms the subtle yet impactful backsplash. “I didn’t want the pattern to show up so much,” Bleich says. “But we needed the backsplash to have texture, along with the beams.”
Marble-look quartz counters for the perimeter and island top give the family a durable surface with an elegant look. “I wanted something really simple in terms of the backsplash and counters,” Jami says. “Initially I wanted the same backsplash and countertop, but it didn’t look warm or homey. This countertop isn’t completely white and has some nice veining.”
Counters: Frosty Carrina, Caesarstone
Pros Share Kitchen Countertop Looks That Are Hot Right Now
On the left side of the kitchen, moody blue-gray cabinets (Lead Gray by Benjamin Moore) surround a 48-inch-wide stainless steel refrigerator. “I love blues and greens,” Jami says. “We were trying to figure out a way to add contrast in a room with so much white. That color is also in our entryway.”
The large pantry cabinet to the left of the refrigerator includes pullout shelves for dry goods. Above the refrigerator, open shelves offer space for the family’s favorite cookbooks.
The butler’s pantry straight ahead includes a smaller, secondary fridge in a retro style. “She knew she wanted a second refrigerator, and we thought we could do something a bit more fun,” Bleich says.
The large pantry cabinet to the left of the refrigerator includes pullout shelves for dry goods. Above the refrigerator, open shelves offer space for the family’s favorite cookbooks.
The butler’s pantry straight ahead includes a smaller, secondary fridge in a retro style. “She knew she wanted a second refrigerator, and we thought we could do something a bit more fun,” Bleich says.
A wood-and-glass door opens to the butler’s pantry. Next to the retro-style smaller fridge is a secondary sink area. The engineered wood flooring features a painted blue-and-white pattern. “That was Ariel’s idea and I love it,” Jami says. “It’s unexpected to walk in there and see that floor. It makes the house much more custom-looking.”
Floor: Mirth Studio
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Floor: Mirth Studio
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A pull-down faucet has a luxe gold finish that coordinates with the main kitchen sink finish. Travis often uses this secondary sink area to prep brisket and ribs to grill in the backyard. A stainless steel dishwasher sits below and to the right of the sink.
The family uses the open shelf above to display decorative items but also to store often-used items and wire baskets for limes, avocados and potatoes.
The family uses the open shelf above to display decorative items but also to store often-used items and wire baskets for limes, avocados and potatoes.
The interior side of the island includes a stainless dishwasher and paneled pullout trash and recycling center.
On the range wall, generous-size drawers offer easy-access storage for pots and pans.
Sink: Shaws, Rohl
On the range wall, generous-size drawers offer easy-access storage for pots and pans.
Sink: Shaws, Rohl
A cozy breakfast nook overlooks the back porch and backyard pool area. Built-in benches wrap around a custom oval wood table from a local furniture maker. “Going with an oval table there was the only way to maintain generous circulation,” Bleich says.
The banquette’s custom faux leather pale blue cushions coordinate with the floor in the butler’s pantry. Drawers below the banquette hold toys and craft supplies for the kids, as well as napkins and place mats. A dome pendant with antiqued brass finish hangs above. “It’s so comfortable and where we eat 99% of our meals,” Jami says. “It’s the most functional part of the kitchen and something we never had before. I just love how open this kitchen is and how clean it looks.”
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The banquette’s custom faux leather pale blue cushions coordinate with the floor in the butler’s pantry. Drawers below the banquette hold toys and craft supplies for the kids, as well as napkins and place mats. A dome pendant with antiqued brass finish hangs above. “It’s so comfortable and where we eat 99% of our meals,” Jami says. “It’s the most functional part of the kitchen and something we never had before. I just love how open this kitchen is and how clean it looks.”
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Love the flooring in the butler's pantry! Something about that and the retro fridge is taking me back to my Grandparent's house in New England. What a fun space!
Love this kitchen! Marshmallow is an interesting name for a color. I'm looking to finally paint my walls this winter in a warm creamy white, will have to check into that one.
Beautiful kitchen but can’t be BM lead gray! I just checked BM’s site wanting to know the name of the beautiful blue gray color.