This Kitchen Keeps Its Layout but Gets a New Spanish Modern Look
See how a designer turned a family’s kitchen into a fresh, bright space with refaced cabinets and new tile
Allison McLeay
January 28, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Fitness & style enthusiast, interior design guru, writer, wannabe photographer. Read more posts from me at https://thealnatural.com/
Houzz Contributor. Fitness & style enthusiast, interior design guru, writer, wannabe... More
“After” photos by Melissa Au
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family
Location: San Diego, California
Size: 221 square feet (20.5 square meters)
Designer: Susan Wintersteen, principal designer and owner of Savvy Interiors
A couple with children in San Diego, California, had debated between remodeling their home or moving. They decided to buy and move into this Tuscan-style home because of its location, size and architectural details. With a few updates, the San Diego home would be a great place for them to begin a new chapter as a family.
The couple envisioned Spanish modern style for their home, and designer Susan Wintersteen helped them get that look during a three-month remodeling project.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family
Location: San Diego, California
Size: 221 square feet (20.5 square meters)
Designer: Susan Wintersteen, principal designer and owner of Savvy Interiors
A couple with children in San Diego, California, had debated between remodeling their home or moving. They decided to buy and move into this Tuscan-style home because of its location, size and architectural details. With a few updates, the San Diego home would be a great place for them to begin a new chapter as a family.
The couple envisioned Spanish modern style for their home, and designer Susan Wintersteen helped them get that look during a three-month remodeling project.
Before. The couple liked the layout of the original space, Wintersteen says, but weren’t in love with the chalk paint on the cabinets, the random backsplash or the small island.
After. Newly finished cabinets, a fresh floor and new lights make the kitchen feel bright and welcoming.
Style. Wintersteen appreciates Spanish modern style because it blends clean lines with such popular elements as graphic tile. “Spanish modern is really a contemporary take on the 1990s and early-2000s California Tuscan,” she says.
For this kitchen, she completed the style with gray and white elements, cast iron pendants and a wood-look range hood.
Style. Wintersteen appreciates Spanish modern style because it blends clean lines with such popular elements as graphic tile. “Spanish modern is really a contemporary take on the 1990s and early-2000s California Tuscan,” she says.
For this kitchen, she completed the style with gray and white elements, cast iron pendants and a wood-look range hood.
Floors. To help brighten up the space, Wintersteen replaced the dark ceramic floor tiles with light oak wood flooring. The family’s dog, Ellie, seems to approve.
Cabinets. Instead of replacing the cabinets around the fridge and stove, Wintersteen had them refaced.
Hood. Wintersteen added a wood look to the hood by using a laminate material from Cleaf. It helps balance the room, she says, and adds a little warmth to the space. The client was nervous about the wood look being too trendy but ended up loving it.
Tile. The client had recently been enthused by the colorful tiles she had seen on Facebook, Wintersteen says. But the homeowners feared that they might be too bold and over the top for the kitchen. Instead of abandoning the idea of graphic tiles, they decided to use them only as a backsplash by the stove.
How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets | Find porcelain tiles
Hood. Wintersteen added a wood look to the hood by using a laminate material from Cleaf. It helps balance the room, she says, and adds a little warmth to the space. The client was nervous about the wood look being too trendy but ended up loving it.
Tile. The client had recently been enthused by the colorful tiles she had seen on Facebook, Wintersteen says. But the homeowners feared that they might be too bold and over the top for the kitchen. Instead of abandoning the idea of graphic tiles, they decided to use them only as a backsplash by the stove.
How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets | Find porcelain tiles
Before. The island lacked an overhang on the side farthest from the stove and the fluted columns on the corners took up space that could serve as storage.
After. A more streamlined island gives the family more storage space, and the extended countertop gives them room to sit on two sides of the island. The team removed the fluted columns, which created more space for bar stools.
Rug. The area rug adds color and texture to the kitchen and makes the floor by the stove softer underfoot.
Read more about adding a runner rug to your kitchen
Rug. The area rug adds color and texture to the kitchen and makes the floor by the stove softer underfoot.
Read more about adding a runner rug to your kitchen
Lights. To balance the graphic backsplash and add a traditional element, Wintersteen installed two black lanterns above the island.
Bar stools. The design team extended the island countertop 12 inches to make room for additional seating and new bar stools. Wintersteen chose leather bar stools with iron legs to match the pendant lights.
Bar stools: Four Hands; browse bar stools
Bar stools: Four Hands; browse bar stools
Open shelves. Past the row of bar stools, Wintersteen replaced the cabinets with open shelves. These shelves, like the range hood, are made from the Cleaf laminate that was used for the hood.
“Open shelves are great for people who like aesthetics and function,” Wintersteen says. “If I’m going to have open shelving, I’m going to stage and style it.”
The Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Shelves
“Open shelves are great for people who like aesthetics and function,” Wintersteen says. “If I’m going to have open shelving, I’m going to stage and style it.”
The Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Shelves
Accessories. Wintersteen styled the shelves with antiques and mementos from one of the family’s grandmothers.
Style Your Open Kitchen Shelving Like a Pro
Style Your Open Kitchen Shelving Like a Pro
Countertops: The countertops are honed quartz. The color is a warm gray-brown color, which matches elements in the kitchen and other spaces of the house.
Countertops: Santenay Honed, Pental Surfaces; sink: Silgranit, Blanco
Learn about the pros and cons of engineered quartz
Countertops: Santenay Honed, Pental Surfaces; sink: Silgranit, Blanco
Learn about the pros and cons of engineered quartz
Glass cabinets. This is the third style of upper storage in the kitchen. When you walk into the kitchen, this is one of the first places you look, so Wintersteen wanted it to be more than just plain cabinets.
Sink backsplash. On the wall by the sink, Wintersteen added a white porcelain tile.
They opted to install a 12-by-3-inch hand-baked tile that isn’t perfectly flat. This gives the wall a little character, but it remains neutral at the same time, Wintersteen says.
White backsplash: Ceramica Tiles
More
Why I Combined Open Shelves and Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel
Read more kitchen remodel stories
Browse kitchen products
White backsplash: Ceramica Tiles
More
Why I Combined Open Shelves and Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel
Read more kitchen remodel stories
Browse kitchen products
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Ruth McMaster lovely remodel. May I know what is the white paint color and sheen used in for cabinets?
Really beautiful transformation; I'm sure you love it! One suggestion, it looks as though your painter didn't paint under the counter where the stools are .. and your photographer look a shot showing it ...
Can I ask what kind of range you have ... can't determine. We are planning our kitchen remodel and we are really perplexed which 48" range to purchase. I'm not married to putting in a status symbol, but don't want to make a mistake either. Thanks!! ... Also love what you did with the open shelves, really makes it feel very "current." Great colors. Thanks for the ideas.