Kitchen Makeovers

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Kitchen Design

A Wall Comes Down in This Wood-and-White Kitchen

A dark, dated kitchen in Cleveland is transformed into a farmhouse kitchen that flows into the adjacent family room

Camille LeFevre September 10, 2017

Houzz Contributor. Arts journalist specializing in design and architecture. Former editor of Architecture Minnesota, editor of Innovative Design Quarterly, contributor to Midwest Home and HomeDish blog, contributor to Architect's Newspaper and author of the monograph Charles R. Stinson: Compositions in Nature. Have also written for Architect, ICON and Architectural Record. On my bucket list: Modernism Week in Palm Springs; happy to have done Modernism Week in Phoenix in 2017!! More at camillelefevre.org

Houzz Contributor. Arts journalist specializing in design and architecture. Former... More

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Mossy Living Co.

Photos by Sweet Magnolia Photo & Design

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of five
Size: 360 square feet (33.4 square meters)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Designer: Nikki Taghehchian of Vive Workshop

When this family of five moved into their home, it was with the knowledge the dark, dated kitchen would eventually need a makeover. But after a meeting with designer Nikki Taghehchian, the plan to transform the space by removing a load-bearing wall led to a dream kitchen beyond the family’s wildest expectations.

Removing the wall between the kitchen and the family room brought in light and a sense of openness. It also allows the parents to cook in the kitchen while keeping an eye on their children as they play in the family room. “With three young kids,” Taghehchian says, “the clients really wanted to take advantage of the unused space.”

What to Know Before You Tear Down That Wall

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“The clients wanted a timeless kitchen that was mostly white but that had an organic farmhouse feel,” Taghehchian says. Two white columns support a rough-hewn ceiling beam where there was once a wall. Below the beam is a step down into the family area. The island is 11 feet long and seats the entire family on wood and metal stools from World Market. The black pendant lamps are from Birch Lane.

Find wood and metal stools for your kitchen

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The clients were very clear about wanting white subway tile, white wood cabinets and white granite countertops, but Taghehchian convinced them to go with the wood island to tie in the oak floors and add a natural touch to the space. “The combination of white and wood grain always feels so balanced and timeless,” Taghehchian says.

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An antique kilim rug runner adds a dash of color to the white, wood and stainless steel space. “Details like the vintage runner add to the organic feeling,” Taghehchian says.

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The hickory wood Homecrest cabinets are Shaker style, “a casual, easy aesthetic,” Taghehchian says, with dark metal pulls. Glass fronts on some cabinets break up the massing. In these cabinets, Taghehchian inserted a Quadrille’s China Seas wallpaper with a crisscross pattern in navy that shows off the homeowners’ collection of white dishes.

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A vintage Betty Crocker cookbook on the back countertop that belonged to the wife’s grandmother was given a place of importance in the kitchen, where it also adds a lively pop of color. “Since she hired me, I’ve visited often,” the designer says, “and her friends are always contacting me about wanting the same kitchen.”

More
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Mossy Living Co.

@celestina89 thank you!

Like October 4, 2017 at 6:49PM

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spraguedl

Loved this article. We are finishing up a similar renovation, but it is not an open plan; just a large kitchen with vaulted ceilings and two skylights. We have a 9-foot walnut island with seating. Here are some pictures in various states of progress. The first is to show the beautiful soapstone on the perimeter as well as the Frosty Carina quartz on the walnut island. The walnut details of open shelving and on pantry really warm up the white.

Like March 16, 2018 at 9:18AM

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spraguedl

Also, I love the idea of wallpaper on the glassed-in cabinets. Thinking of doing something similar and doing it in my pantry (for my own enjoyment, since no one else will really see it!).

Like March 16, 2018 at 9:19AM