Kitchen of the Week: Wood and Green Cabinets Create a Warm Style
Working in the same footprint, a design-build pro elevates the look and feel with improved storage and inviting finishes
This retired out-of-state couple moved to Spring Hill, Florida, to enjoy their golden years. They found a mid-2000s tract home in a 55-plus community along a golf course that was a perfect fit. But while the location was ideal, the home’s basic interiors needed a refresh.
A major focus became the 150-square-foot black-and-white kitchen, which lacked style and efficient storage. The couple wanted to improve storage and introduce some color to complement wood details throughout the house, all without making costly structural changes. For help they turned to design-build pro Jeff Akins and his team at DCI Home Improvements.
Akins, who uses Houzz Pro business software to manage his remodeling projects, kept the kitchen components in the same locations but added new two-tone flat-panel cabinets that pair wood uppers and aloe green lowers for a warm and inviting look. The cabinets feature deep drawers and pullouts to maximize storage. Quartz countertops with dramatic ribbons of gold and copper complement other warm tones and add a touch of drama.
A major focus became the 150-square-foot black-and-white kitchen, which lacked style and efficient storage. The couple wanted to improve storage and introduce some color to complement wood details throughout the house, all without making costly structural changes. For help they turned to design-build pro Jeff Akins and his team at DCI Home Improvements.
Akins, who uses Houzz Pro business software to manage his remodeling projects, kept the kitchen components in the same locations but added new two-tone flat-panel cabinets that pair wood uppers and aloe green lowers for a warm and inviting look. The cabinets feature deep drawers and pullouts to maximize storage. Quartz countertops with dramatic ribbons of gold and copper complement other warm tones and add a touch of drama.
After: Akins kept the U-shaped layout but removed the cabinets, countertops and backsplash, as well as a soffit above the cabinets. The latter move allowed him to install taller upper cabinets with increased storage capacity. He also added new cabinets on the back of the peninsula.
Light-stained maple upper cabinets and aloe green lowers create a warm and inviting style. New flush-mount LED lights over the peninsula replaced pendant lights to keep the sightlines open and lend an airier feel. The homeowners kept the hardwood flooring and most of their former stainless steel appliances. “That was the tricky thing,” Akins says. “Whenever a client chooses to keep an existing flooring, we have to be really careful of how we place the appliances and cabinets.”
Cabinets: Shaw collection, flat panel in maple with Castle Rock Sheer finish (uppers) and maple with Aloe painted finish (lowers), Yorktowne Cabinetry
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Light-stained maple upper cabinets and aloe green lowers create a warm and inviting style. New flush-mount LED lights over the peninsula replaced pendant lights to keep the sightlines open and lend an airier feel. The homeowners kept the hardwood flooring and most of their former stainless steel appliances. “That was the tricky thing,” Akins says. “Whenever a client chooses to keep an existing flooring, we have to be really careful of how we place the appliances and cabinets.”
Cabinets: Shaw collection, flat panel in maple with Castle Rock Sheer finish (uppers) and maple with Aloe painted finish (lowers), Yorktowne Cabinetry
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As mentioned, the owners kept some of their appliances, including the induction range, microwave and French door fridge. New storage features elevate the kitchen’s function. The cabinet to the lower left of the range is now a blind-corner cabinet that stores small appliances. To the right of the range is a 9-inch-wide organizer for cookie sheets.
The backsplash features 3-by-9-inch glossy white ceramic tiles with a subtle texture, set in a brick pattern with crisp white grout, to enhance the light look.
Shop a curated selection of items for your kitchen
The backsplash features 3-by-9-inch glossy white ceramic tiles with a subtle texture, set in a brick pattern with crisp white grout, to enhance the light look.
Shop a curated selection of items for your kitchen
The elegant new high-gloss quartz countertop has flowing streams of copper, gold and translucent greige, with ribbons of warm earth tones and a soft white background. “The colors are really what makes that particular counter pop,” Akins says. “It has just beautiful veining.”
An updated 60/40 double-bowl sand-colored enameled cast-iron sink complements the countertop tones. A transitional-style pull-down faucet with a fingerprint- and spot-resistant stainless steel finish coordinates with the appliances as well as the polished nickel cabinet hardware.
Counters: Brittanicca Gold Warm in high gloss, Cambria; cabinet pulls: two designs in polished nickel, Amerock Hardware; sink: Riverby in Dune, Kohler; faucet: Delta
10 Stylish and Functional Kitchen Peninsulas
An updated 60/40 double-bowl sand-colored enameled cast-iron sink complements the countertop tones. A transitional-style pull-down faucet with a fingerprint- and spot-resistant stainless steel finish coordinates with the appliances as well as the polished nickel cabinet hardware.
Counters: Brittanicca Gold Warm in high gloss, Cambria; cabinet pulls: two designs in polished nickel, Amerock Hardware; sink: Riverby in Dune, Kohler; faucet: Delta
10 Stylish and Functional Kitchen Peninsulas
The couple upgraded their dishwasher with an ADA-compliant model that features two drawers that can wash loads independently. A trash and recycling pullout sits to the left of the three drawers by the dishwasher. “One of the standards of our kitchen design is adding the trash pullout in all the kitchen renovations,” Akins says.
Dishwasher: Double DishDrawer, Fisher & Paykel
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Dishwasher: Double DishDrawer, Fisher & Paykel
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
On the opposite side, a bank of three wide drawers sits to the left of the refrigerator. The two bottom drawers are deep enough to store large items like pots and pans. This view also shows the rounded countertop profile in the corners flanking the range, a detail that adds a soft touch.
This cabinet plan shows the efficient storage surrounding the sink (top middle), range (middle right) and fridge (bottom middle). With the new two-tone look, Akins says, the kitchen now exudes elegance and warmth.
Of Houzz Pro business software, Akins says, “It helps keep me organized. I can’t speak highly enough about it. I use the Houzz Pro app to track the status of where I am at with the client. I also upload all of my estimates, notes, cabinet drawings, etc., so it is viewable by all on my team. I also keep track of email and telephone correspondence with clients. I would also say 50% of our work comes from Houzz.”
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Of Houzz Pro business software, Akins says, “It helps keep me organized. I can’t speak highly enough about it. I use the Houzz Pro app to track the status of where I am at with the client. I also upload all of my estimates, notes, cabinet drawings, etc., so it is viewable by all on my team. I also keep track of email and telephone correspondence with clients. I would also say 50% of our work comes from Houzz.”
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: A retired couple
Location: Spring Hill, Florida
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Design-build pro: Jeff Akins of DCI Home Improvements
Before: The U-shaped layout in the former kitchen worked for the couple, but cosmetically the space lacked appeal. Black granite countertops and basic white cabinets gave the space an unfinished look. “It didn’t have style and felt cold,” Akins says. “We wanted to bring the new kitchen into the modern era and give it more of a wow factor.”