Kitchen Design
New This Week: 4 Artistic Kitchen Details to Consider for Your Remodel
Looking to add character to your space? Go bold with one of these creative ideas
Looking for ways to bring personality to your kitchen remodel? Take an artistic approach and consider bold patterns, handmade tile and quirky light fixtures. These four kitchens show how one special element can make all the difference.
Why the design works: The homeowners have a large dog and didn’t want the new cabinetry to show wear and tear. Designer Eva Healy used a durable textured melamine for the fridge and pantry wall, and a solid acrylic for the cabinet doors and drawers. “This material is nonporous, antibacterial and can be buffed out in the future if there are scratches,” Healy says.
Designer secret: “Balancing the neutral with the dramatic so that the overall finished product was the right mix for maximum visual impact,” Healy says.
Splurges and savings: The homeowners splurged on the brick wall and cabinetry, and saved by reusing existing furniture and having it reupholstered.
Also on the team: Mike Lamanna of Lamanna Contracting; Ivan Sarco of Emporium Natural Stones (countertop fabrication); Eugene Bershadsky of Impressions Kitchens (custom millwork); Stefan and Daria Horrocks of Horrocks & Co. (custom brick wall); The Treehouse Furniture & Mattress (custom butcher block table); Adrienne Vilela of Aia Photography
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Designer secret: “Balancing the neutral with the dramatic so that the overall finished product was the right mix for maximum visual impact,” Healy says.
Splurges and savings: The homeowners splurged on the brick wall and cabinetry, and saved by reusing existing furniture and having it reupholstered.
Also on the team: Mike Lamanna of Lamanna Contracting; Ivan Sarco of Emporium Natural Stones (countertop fabrication); Eugene Bershadsky of Impressions Kitchens (custom millwork); Stefan and Daria Horrocks of Horrocks & Co. (custom brick wall); The Treehouse Furniture & Mattress (custom butcher block table); Adrienne Vilela of Aia Photography
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2. Ladder Light Fixture
Designer: Tyler Hawryluk of Tyler Hawryluk Architectural Design
Location: Bearspaw, Alberta, Canada
Size: 276 square feet (25.6 square meters); 13⅔ feet by 20 feet
Client’s request: As part of a show house for Trickle Creek Designer Homes, the builders wanted to soften the contemporary design of the kitchen. A vintage-style ladder-turned-light fixture struck just the right tone.
Special features: Ladder light fixture; ceramic tile backsplash; maple cabinets with eggshell stain; walnut open shelves; well-thought-out work triangle; walk-in pantry; counter-to-ceiling-height windows over sink; lots of natural light; large island with quartz countertop
Designer: Tyler Hawryluk of Tyler Hawryluk Architectural Design
Location: Bearspaw, Alberta, Canada
Size: 276 square feet (25.6 square meters); 13⅔ feet by 20 feet
Client’s request: As part of a show house for Trickle Creek Designer Homes, the builders wanted to soften the contemporary design of the kitchen. A vintage-style ladder-turned-light fixture struck just the right tone.
Special features: Ladder light fixture; ceramic tile backsplash; maple cabinets with eggshell stain; walnut open shelves; well-thought-out work triangle; walk-in pantry; counter-to-ceiling-height windows over sink; lots of natural light; large island with quartz countertop
Designer secret: An extra countertop in the walk-in pantry keeps kitchen appliances out of view, leaving the main kitchen countertops uncluttered.
Splurges and savings: The builders and architect Tyler Hawryluk splurged on creating a large kitchen and spa-like en suite master bathroom, while saving by designing smaller secondary rooms.
Also on the team: Trickle Creek Designer Homes (builder); Huntwood Cabinets (kitchen cabinets)
Cabinets: maple with eggshell stain, Huntwood Cabinets; shelves: engineered Amarosa walnut, wire brushed; backsplash: H-Line in Cafe, 4 by 16 inches, Arizona Tile; light fixture: Cartwright Lighting; flooring: Siena Flooring; aluminum blinds: Reveal in Shadow Gray, Hunter Douglas; paint: CL3236A, Cloverdale Paint; countertop: quartz in Baffin Bay
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Splurges and savings: The builders and architect Tyler Hawryluk splurged on creating a large kitchen and spa-like en suite master bathroom, while saving by designing smaller secondary rooms.
Also on the team: Trickle Creek Designer Homes (builder); Huntwood Cabinets (kitchen cabinets)
Cabinets: maple with eggshell stain, Huntwood Cabinets; shelves: engineered Amarosa walnut, wire brushed; backsplash: H-Line in Cafe, 4 by 16 inches, Arizona Tile; light fixture: Cartwright Lighting; flooring: Siena Flooring; aluminum blinds: Reveal in Shadow Gray, Hunter Douglas; paint: CL3236A, Cloverdale Paint; countertop: quartz in Baffin Bay
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3. Tiled Feature Wall
Designers: Charleene Doverspike of Charleene’s Houses and Tamara Sumners
Location: Baltimore
Size: 196 square feet (18.2 square meters); 14 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request: Remove a wall, and convert an original dining room into a new open-plan kitchen for family and entertaining.
Special features: Limestone mosaic feature wall; oak floors with custom gray stain; Boston library-style lights; honed black granite countertops; porcelain farm-style sink; antique brass hardware
Designer secret: “This space really came into its own when we found the perfect backsplash tile and used it on the entire wall to pull the eye to the end of the room,” says designer Charleene Doverspike. “It gives the space dimension, destination and focus while pulling all the room colors together on that one wall and making the various elements all feel like they are married.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “Originally the backsplash tile was supposed to stop at the end of the counter,” Doverspike says. “After it was installed, it just looked unfinished and not very spectacular. At that moment, we decided to run it the length of the wall. That one decision really changed the room. It gave the entire space focus with a wow.”
Also on the team: Unlimited Stone (countertops); John Disney of D&S Tile (tile installation)
Cabinets: White Shaker, J & K Cabinetry; countertops: honed Absolute Black, Unlimited Stone; wall paint: Pale Oak, Sherwin-Williams; window sash paint: Flint, Benjamin Moore; sink: Reinhard fireclay farmhouse, 30 inches, Signature Hardware; cabinet hardware: Bedford Canopy cup pulls and Bedford Ribbon cabinet pulls, both 3 inches, Martha Stewart; floor: 2¼-inch oak floor with custom mixed stain and satin finish; range hood: 30 inches, Ikea; appliances: KitchenAid; faucet: Bridge in antique brass, Elements of Design; lights: 20th C. library double sconce in aged steel, Restoration Hardware; limestone wall tile: Daltile
Designers: Charleene Doverspike of Charleene’s Houses and Tamara Sumners
Location: Baltimore
Size: 196 square feet (18.2 square meters); 14 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request: Remove a wall, and convert an original dining room into a new open-plan kitchen for family and entertaining.
Special features: Limestone mosaic feature wall; oak floors with custom gray stain; Boston library-style lights; honed black granite countertops; porcelain farm-style sink; antique brass hardware
Designer secret: “This space really came into its own when we found the perfect backsplash tile and used it on the entire wall to pull the eye to the end of the room,” says designer Charleene Doverspike. “It gives the space dimension, destination and focus while pulling all the room colors together on that one wall and making the various elements all feel like they are married.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “Originally the backsplash tile was supposed to stop at the end of the counter,” Doverspike says. “After it was installed, it just looked unfinished and not very spectacular. At that moment, we decided to run it the length of the wall. That one decision really changed the room. It gave the entire space focus with a wow.”
Also on the team: Unlimited Stone (countertops); John Disney of D&S Tile (tile installation)
Cabinets: White Shaker, J & K Cabinetry; countertops: honed Absolute Black, Unlimited Stone; wall paint: Pale Oak, Sherwin-Williams; window sash paint: Flint, Benjamin Moore; sink: Reinhard fireclay farmhouse, 30 inches, Signature Hardware; cabinet hardware: Bedford Canopy cup pulls and Bedford Ribbon cabinet pulls, both 3 inches, Martha Stewart; floor: 2¼-inch oak floor with custom mixed stain and satin finish; range hood: 30 inches, Ikea; appliances: KitchenAid; faucet: Bridge in antique brass, Elements of Design; lights: 20th C. library double sconce in aged steel, Restoration Hardware; limestone wall tile: Daltile
4. Custom Ceramic Tile
Designer: Caitlin Morehouse of Morehouse Interiors
Location: Linville, North Carolina
Size: 336 square feet (31.2 square meters); 24 by 14 feet
Homeowner’s request: Completely update a dark and dated 1980s kitchen inside a mountain vacation home with arty, whimsical style.
Special features: Island cook center surrounded by bar seating; custom ceramic tile backsplash depicting flora and fauna from the North Carolina region; hammered copper range hood; large gas range; two sinks; display space for collection of North Carolina pottery
“Uh-oh” moment: “My plan for the island was to make it two different levels, with the cooktop area lower and the surrounding bar higher, just like in commercial bars,” says designer Caitlin Morehouse. “I thought — OK, assumed — that everyone on the team understood that. We were at construction of the island before I realized: Uh-oh, all this time they were thinking the opposite, that the cooktop would be higher and the surrounding bar would be lower, a la a hibachi kitchen! Even the cabinetmaker’s plans were reversed, but it was impossible to tell since the drawings had no depth. Thankfully, I was on-site and caught this in time. The island construction actually had to be augmented right there, but in the finished project, you can’t tell. And until now, the homeowners were blissfully unaware.”
Splurges and savings: The homeowners splurged on the custom tile backsplash, some custom stained glass and the copper range hood. They saved by using affordable quartz for the perimeter countertop and granite for the bar countertop. They also saved on the pendant lights.
Also on the team: West Eppley of Eppley Home Design (floor plan); Junior Howell of Howell Construction (general contractor); Emily Leonard of Precision Cabinets (cabinet design); Classic Stone Works (countertops); Ferguson Enterprises (appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures); The Copper Man (range hood installation); Pearlman’s Carpet One (flooring); Betty’s Drapery (window treatments)
Main cabinets: Linen White with feathered brown glaze, Precision Cabinets; island cabinets: Touchstone in rust with brown glaze, Precision Cabinets; cabinet hardware: 4424, Amerock; perimeter countertop: Corian in Sonora, Classic Stone Works; island countertop: brown antique granite, Classic Stone Works; copper farmhouse sink and copper prep sink: Thompson Traders; faucets: Chesterfield collection in weathered copper, Newport Brass; range hood: custom in antiqued hammered copper, Vent-A-Hood via Ferguson Enterprises; pendant lights: Firefrit in red, Tech Lighting; wall paint: Golden Straw, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: White Chocolate, Benjamin Moore; mock Roman shade fabric: Newbury Crimson, Highland Court; backsplash: custom, Pamela Brewer; flooring: red oak, gunstock style, Somerset Hardwood Flooring; artwork: Pinky Herbert; footstool: custom, Lou Gargiulo of Loud Woodwork
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More: 12 Designer Details for Your Kitchen Cabinets and Island
Designer: Caitlin Morehouse of Morehouse Interiors
Location: Linville, North Carolina
Size: 336 square feet (31.2 square meters); 24 by 14 feet
Homeowner’s request: Completely update a dark and dated 1980s kitchen inside a mountain vacation home with arty, whimsical style.
Special features: Island cook center surrounded by bar seating; custom ceramic tile backsplash depicting flora and fauna from the North Carolina region; hammered copper range hood; large gas range; two sinks; display space for collection of North Carolina pottery
“Uh-oh” moment: “My plan for the island was to make it two different levels, with the cooktop area lower and the surrounding bar higher, just like in commercial bars,” says designer Caitlin Morehouse. “I thought — OK, assumed — that everyone on the team understood that. We were at construction of the island before I realized: Uh-oh, all this time they were thinking the opposite, that the cooktop would be higher and the surrounding bar would be lower, a la a hibachi kitchen! Even the cabinetmaker’s plans were reversed, but it was impossible to tell since the drawings had no depth. Thankfully, I was on-site and caught this in time. The island construction actually had to be augmented right there, but in the finished project, you can’t tell. And until now, the homeowners were blissfully unaware.”
Splurges and savings: The homeowners splurged on the custom tile backsplash, some custom stained glass and the copper range hood. They saved by using affordable quartz for the perimeter countertop and granite for the bar countertop. They also saved on the pendant lights.
Also on the team: West Eppley of Eppley Home Design (floor plan); Junior Howell of Howell Construction (general contractor); Emily Leonard of Precision Cabinets (cabinet design); Classic Stone Works (countertops); Ferguson Enterprises (appliances, plumbing and lighting fixtures); The Copper Man (range hood installation); Pearlman’s Carpet One (flooring); Betty’s Drapery (window treatments)
Main cabinets: Linen White with feathered brown glaze, Precision Cabinets; island cabinets: Touchstone in rust with brown glaze, Precision Cabinets; cabinet hardware: 4424, Amerock; perimeter countertop: Corian in Sonora, Classic Stone Works; island countertop: brown antique granite, Classic Stone Works; copper farmhouse sink and copper prep sink: Thompson Traders; faucets: Chesterfield collection in weathered copper, Newport Brass; range hood: custom in antiqued hammered copper, Vent-A-Hood via Ferguson Enterprises; pendant lights: Firefrit in red, Tech Lighting; wall paint: Golden Straw, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: White Chocolate, Benjamin Moore; mock Roman shade fabric: Newbury Crimson, Highland Court; backsplash: custom, Pamela Brewer; flooring: red oak, gunstock style, Somerset Hardwood Flooring; artwork: Pinky Herbert; footstool: custom, Lou Gargiulo of Loud Woodwork
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More: 12 Designer Details for Your Kitchen Cabinets and Island
Designer: Eva Healy of Avenue Design
Location: Toronto
Homeowners’ requests: Enlarge a dated kitchen by 6 feet to gain pantry space and a larger refrigerator, and create an elongated island with a custom bar-height table.
Special features: Tricolor custom handmade brick veneer wall spanning length of loft; durable finishes; custom stainless steel shelves; custom maple butcher block bar table that transitions from a Caesarstone island countertop; exposed ducts; polished concrete floors
Countertops: Pure White 1141, Caesarstone; table: maple butcher block, The Treehouse Furniture & Mattress; island pendants: Muuto via The Modern Shop; faucet: Luz in chrome, Disegno; sink: Shira 504, Poalgi; appliances: Jenn-Air; bar stools: Tolix Marais, Design Within Reach