Kitchen of the Week: Clean and Classic Space With a Modern Sensibility
A Virginia designer creates a traditional kitchen for her family, with a user-friendly layout and a few unexpected contemporary details
Designer Jessica Williamson wasn’t willing to sacrifice efficiency over style when designing her family’s kitchen. Using Houzz to gather ideas, she mixed unexpected modern design elements that add personality and texture to the clean and classic space, while also creating different zones — including a designated baking center, a built-in bar for entertaining and a coffee station — to make the open kitchen as user-friendly as possible.
Custom flat-panel cabinets with brushed bronze hardware have a slightly eased edge that helps reduce dust buildup. The cabinets and center island were painted a wintry white with a cool blue green undertone to match the walls and trim.
The sleek stainless hood above the 36-inch range takes center stage in the cooking area, flanked by glass upper cabinets for display and storage of vintage glassware passed down through the family of Williamson’s husband, Mark.
The backsplash behind the range features brushed Arabescato marble field tiles, which add beauty and richness. “I wanted something natural with refined texture that was visually interesting without being distracting or too trendy,” Williamson says.
The stairs at the left lead to the family’s bedrooms on the upper level of the home; a guest bedroom is located behind the door seen on the right side of the photo.
Lighting over island: Manuscript pendants, Currey & Company; sink in island: Blanco; sink faucet: Delta Faucet; range: Sub-Zero and Wolf; hood: Zephyr Ventilation; backsplash: Arabescato marble brushed field tile, Mosaic Tile Company of Virginia
The sleek stainless hood above the 36-inch range takes center stage in the cooking area, flanked by glass upper cabinets for display and storage of vintage glassware passed down through the family of Williamson’s husband, Mark.
The backsplash behind the range features brushed Arabescato marble field tiles, which add beauty and richness. “I wanted something natural with refined texture that was visually interesting without being distracting or too trendy,” Williamson says.
The stairs at the left lead to the family’s bedrooms on the upper level of the home; a guest bedroom is located behind the door seen on the right side of the photo.
Lighting over island: Manuscript pendants, Currey & Company; sink in island: Blanco; sink faucet: Delta Faucet; range: Sub-Zero and Wolf; hood: Zephyr Ventilation; backsplash: Arabescato marble brushed field tile, Mosaic Tile Company of Virginia
The large center island includes a granite composite two-bowl sink with a metallic gray finish. Clear acrylic stools for casual meals have a modern edge. “Because we have the adjacent dining room, I didn’t want to see a sea of chairs,” Williamson says. “The clear acrylic allows them to blend into the island; they’re sturdy, super easy to clean and affordable.”
Bronze latches behind the stools open to reveal 12-inch-deep cabinets for storing cookbooks and toys and crafts. The island’s honed marble top is a refined, natural material that fits with the updated farmhouse style.
Island and perimeter countertops: honed white Carrara marble, Marva Marble & Granite; marble fabricator-installer: Absolute Stone Design; island stools: Vapor 24-inch acrylic counter stool, CB2; floor: Acacia in color Cologne, Johnson Hardwood
Bronze latches behind the stools open to reveal 12-inch-deep cabinets for storing cookbooks and toys and crafts. The island’s honed marble top is a refined, natural material that fits with the updated farmhouse style.
Island and perimeter countertops: honed white Carrara marble, Marva Marble & Granite; marble fabricator-installer: Absolute Stone Design; island stools: Vapor 24-inch acrylic counter stool, CB2; floor: Acacia in color Cologne, Johnson Hardwood
The baking center next to the kitchen’s double wall ovens includes a honed marble top for rolling out dough and lower cabinets with rollouts for storage of baking dishes and mixing bowls, plus drawers for potholders, barbecue tools and serving utensils. Black-painted trim adds definition to the windows.
Wall ovens: Sub-Zero and Wolf; window trim paint: Black Magic by Sherwin-Williams
Wall ovens: Sub-Zero and Wolf; window trim paint: Black Magic by Sherwin-Williams
The coffee station sits next to the kitchen’s built-in 36-inch stainless refrigerator. The large cabinets store a collection of mugs and thermoses; the drawers hold coffee filters, to-go lids, spoons, tea and sugar packets.
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero and Wolf
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero and Wolf
Williamson placed this cabinet with easy-access storage of everyday plates and bowls directly across from the dishwasher. “The things the kids use are located down low, so they can help set the table and also get snacks,” she says.
Dishwasher: Asko Appliances
Dishwasher: Asko Appliances
A pullout spice rack and a utensil drawer with dividers are in the tower to the right of the range, keeping cooking essentials organized and within easy reach.
The dining area off the kitchen includes an adjustable barn wood table that Williamson paired with fabric-covered host chairs and ebony dining chairs for a curated look.
The large orb chandeliers create ambient light. “We didn’t do a bunch of built-in lights in this space because I like a warm glow,” Williamson says. “They also help visually separate the dining space from the kitchen, and makes the dining area special.”
Dining table: Kensington 86-inch extension, Arhaus; host chairs: custom, Whittingham; dining chairs: no longer available, similar ones from Crate & Barrel; chandeliers: Broxton Orb, Currey & Company; buffet: antique find; buffet lamps and mirror: HomeGoods
The large orb chandeliers create ambient light. “We didn’t do a bunch of built-in lights in this space because I like a warm glow,” Williamson says. “They also help visually separate the dining space from the kitchen, and makes the dining area special.”
Dining table: Kensington 86-inch extension, Arhaus; host chairs: custom, Whittingham; dining chairs: no longer available, similar ones from Crate & Barrel; chandeliers: Broxton Orb, Currey & Company; buffet: antique find; buffet lamps and mirror: HomeGoods
The built-in bar between the kitchen and dining area includes a wine refrigerator and an upper cabinet to hold spirits and glassware. A service counter holds bottles of water when the family entertains, and a drawer was included for wine charms and bar essentials. The lower cabinet, with pullouts, stores the ice bucket and additional glassware, while the highest cabinets hold holiday and other special-occasion dishes and serving utensils.
Wine refrigerator: U-Line; bar tray: HomeGoods
Wine refrigerator: U-Line; bar tray: HomeGoods
The kitchen and dining room get lots of natural light thanks to a cost-saving hinged French door with sliding screen (instead of separate doors) that leads to a covered porch and the family grill.
These detailed floor plans show how the kitchen enjoys good flow and a strong connection to the rest of the home.
“For me, a kitchen that functions is first and foremost, and we plan to be in this kitchen for the next 20 years,” Williamson says. “Keeping it classic, clean and functional was a priority, and I think we achieved that.”
Builder: Bel Arbor Builders
Architect: McAllister + Foltz Architecture
See more Kitchens of the Week
“For me, a kitchen that functions is first and foremost, and we plan to be in this kitchen for the next 20 years,” Williamson says. “Keeping it classic, clean and functional was a priority, and I think we achieved that.”
Builder: Bel Arbor Builders
Architect: McAllister + Foltz Architecture
See more Kitchens of the Week
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Jessica Williamson of JTWdesign; her husband, Mark; and their two young children
Location: Suburb of Richmond, Virginia
Size: About 320 square feet (30 square meters)
Jessica Williamson designed her kitchen with designated areas for baking (visible at the right in this photo), a built-in bar for entertaining (visible at near left), and a coffee station (rear left).
The doors between the bar and coffee station open to reveal a walk-in pantry and home office, which includes the microwave and a bulletin board where the family keeps its daily schedules. “We do not have a separate dining room,” Williamson says. “Everyone tends to gather at the island, so this way they can easily move to the dining area when dinner is ready.”
Paint: walls (matte) and trim (satin) in Frostine by Benjamin Moore; custom cabinets: Prestige Cabinets of Virginia; cabinet hardware: Top Knobs