Kitchen of the Week: Creamy Whites and Grays Brighten Things Up
A designer found on Houzz helps a couple create a clean, sophisticated space that blends modern and rustic details
A large lot with a nice backyard sold Ted and Melissa Friebe on their Southern California house. The existing modern Mediterranean-style kitchen? Not so much. Dark cherry cabinets and black granite countertops gave the design a heavy appearance. And a gold tile backsplash and bulky wing-shaped island left the couple shaking their heads.
In search of a brighter, lighter space with improved storage and style, better flow and upgraded appliances, they looked to Houzz, where they found and hired designer Lea Biermann of Preferred Kitchen & Bath. Using Houzz photos for inspiration, the couple worked with Biermann to create a cheery but sophisticated space with light gray cabinets, creamy white walls and a rectangular island that improves circulation. A luminous handmade glazed tile backsplash in soothing white and gray tones adds depth and dimension.
In search of a brighter, lighter space with improved storage and style, better flow and upgraded appliances, they looked to Houzz, where they found and hired designer Lea Biermann of Preferred Kitchen & Bath. Using Houzz photos for inspiration, the couple worked with Biermann to create a cheery but sophisticated space with light gray cabinets, creamy white walls and a rectangular island that improves circulation. A luminous handmade glazed tile backsplash in soothing white and gray tones adds depth and dimension.
After: Biermann kept the walls and French oak engineered wood flooring in place but removed the appliances, cabinets, countertops and curved island.
New Shaker-style inset maple cabinets in a light gray, creamy white walls and ceiling (Swiss Coffee by Dunn-Edwards) and a white handmade tile backsplash significantly brighten the room and give it a cheerful vibe. “That pale gray is a neutral that pops against the creamy walls,” Melissa says. “It now feels cozy but modern.”
Biermann took the cabinets all the way to the ceiling to maximize storage. She also created a more streamlined island with an eye-catching marble-look quartz countertop with waterfall ends. “The rectangular shape improves the aesthetic and allowed us to create wide walkways on all sides,” she says.
Biermann and the homeowners ditched the previous wall oven arrangement for a range, freeing up the former area for a baking center, one of Melissa’s must-have features.
An upgraded stainless steel French door refrigerator and freezer stands in the same location as the previous refrigerator.
Cabinets: Maple in Meteor finish, Omega Cabinetry; countertops: Calacatta Dorada Nuovo quartz, Vadara Quartz Surfaces; flooring: Vittoria, Mediterranean collection, California Classics
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New Shaker-style inset maple cabinets in a light gray, creamy white walls and ceiling (Swiss Coffee by Dunn-Edwards) and a white handmade tile backsplash significantly brighten the room and give it a cheerful vibe. “That pale gray is a neutral that pops against the creamy walls,” Melissa says. “It now feels cozy but modern.”
Biermann took the cabinets all the way to the ceiling to maximize storage. She also created a more streamlined island with an eye-catching marble-look quartz countertop with waterfall ends. “The rectangular shape improves the aesthetic and allowed us to create wide walkways on all sides,” she says.
Biermann and the homeowners ditched the previous wall oven arrangement for a range, freeing up the former area for a baking center, one of Melissa’s must-have features.
An upgraded stainless steel French door refrigerator and freezer stands in the same location as the previous refrigerator.
Cabinets: Maple in Meteor finish, Omega Cabinetry; countertops: Calacatta Dorada Nuovo quartz, Vadara Quartz Surfaces; flooring: Vittoria, Mediterranean collection, California Classics
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Before: Here’s another look at the former island, with the corner sink sitting in a location that recalls the cockpit of an airplane. “It had a lot of angles that were unnecessary, and we wanted to clean and simplify it,” Biermann says.
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After: The new island design creates a simplified work triangle among the sink, range and fridge. Contemporary gray faux leather stools sit against three 12-inch-deep cabinets that store cookbooks, serveware and tea and coffee. “Those cabinets add lots of extra storage,” Biermann says.
A pair of concrete pendant lights hangs above, coordinating with the stool color and providing a raw detail that works with the rustic handmade backsplash tile and wood details. “I searched far and wide and kept coming back to the concrete and bell shape because it adds a sense of organic-ness,” Melissa says.
All the lighting, including relocated LED recessed lights in the ceiling and undercabinet lighting over task areas, are on dimmers for flexibility.
An existing arched opening on the right connects the kitchen with a hallway to the garage.
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A pair of concrete pendant lights hangs above, coordinating with the stool color and providing a raw detail that works with the rustic handmade backsplash tile and wood details. “I searched far and wide and kept coming back to the concrete and bell shape because it adds a sense of organic-ness,” Melissa says.
All the lighting, including relocated LED recessed lights in the ceiling and undercabinet lighting over task areas, are on dimmers for flexibility.
An existing arched opening on the right connects the kitchen with a hallway to the garage.
Shop for kitchen island lighting
Here’s a closer look at the zellige-style, handmade glazed 4-by-4-inch weathered white tiles with a glossy finish that shows variation in depth and tone. “They have that perfectly imperfect look,” Melissa says. “They’re like a version of a rustic subway tile.”
Floating reclaimed-wood shelves let the backsplash stand out and coordinate with the wood detail on the new custom plaster range hood, as well as a new mantel in the adjacent family room.
The cabinet pulls are handcrafted solid brass with a matte bronze finish.
Backsplash tile: Zellige Weathered White square 4x4, Cle Tile
Floating reclaimed-wood shelves let the backsplash stand out and coordinate with the wood detail on the new custom plaster range hood, as well as a new mantel in the adjacent family room.
The cabinet pulls are handcrafted solid brass with a matte bronze finish.
Backsplash tile: Zellige Weathered White square 4x4, Cle Tile
Wide drawers to the left and right of the range hold pots and pans. Narrow drawers on top store utensils and potholders.
A lower corner cabinet to the left includes a pullout for small appliances. “It’s one of those extras you don’t know you should pay for, but it’s totally worth it,” Melissa says.
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A lower corner cabinet to the left includes a pullout for small appliances. “It’s one of those extras you don’t know you should pay for, but it’s totally worth it,” Melissa says.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The baking center to the right of the range includes a large cabinet with pocket doors, shelves for supplies and electrical outlets for a stand mixer and other small appliances. “It’s an elegant way not to have to move the mixer,” Melissa says. “I’m a baker, so I’m really happy about it.”
A glass-front beverage and wine fridge sits below. A large pantry cabinet with pullouts for dry goods is to the right.
A glass-front beverage and wine fridge sits below. A large pantry cabinet with pullouts for dry goods is to the right.
Before: The difficult shape of the previous island created lots of dead space in the kitchen. “It was so odd and dated,” Biermann says. “It wasn’t symmetrical in any way.”
The arched open hallway to the left of the fridge leads to the dining room and a hallway to the home’s front entry.
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
The arched open hallway to the left of the fridge leads to the dining room and a hallway to the home’s front entry.
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
After: The new streamlined island has storage drawers for knives, plastic wrap, measuring cups and other cooking essentials. It also includes a paneled pullout trash and recycling center, white fireclay farmhouse sink with pull-down faucet, stainless double-drawer dishwasher and a slim tray cabinet. A similar cabinet sits between the fridge and microwave. “She has two places to store trays and cookie sheets in this kitchen,” Biermann says.
A 6-inch hand-rubbed bronze cone sconce with unglazed vanilla shade hangs over a window that overlooks an alcove in a second entry to the home. The sconce illuminates the task area above the stainless flat-panel microwave drawer and warming drawer. “With two teenage boys who wake up at different times, it’s been great for keeping waffles and other things warm,” Melissa says.
The new kitchen has changed the way the family lives and experiences its home. “I just love the way it feels,” Melissa says. “It really has become the central hub where we spend most of our time.”
Flat-panel microwave drawer: Sharp; sink: single-basin farmhouse in white, Franke
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A 6-inch hand-rubbed bronze cone sconce with unglazed vanilla shade hangs over a window that overlooks an alcove in a second entry to the home. The sconce illuminates the task area above the stainless flat-panel microwave drawer and warming drawer. “With two teenage boys who wake up at different times, it’s been great for keeping waffles and other things warm,” Melissa says.
The new kitchen has changed the way the family lives and experiences its home. “I just love the way it feels,” Melissa says. “It really has become the central hub where we spend most of our time.”
Flat-panel microwave drawer: Sharp; sink: single-basin farmhouse in white, Franke
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Ted and Melissa Friebe and their two teenage sons
Location: San Clemente, California
Size: 282 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: Lea Biermann of Preferred Kitchen & Bath
Before: The large curved island with corner sink dominated the former kitchen. Dark cherry cabinets and black granite weighed things down. The gold tile backsplash (which looks green here) was a big no for the homeowners.
The couple were happy with the location of the refrigerator and cooktop but wanted to upgrade the appliances. They felt the wall ovens and microwave could use some rethinking.