A first-floor renovation, especially a kitchen renovation, can test your patience, but after it’s installed and finished, the hassle of it all begins to fade. When it’s an entirely new look, the key to achieving a cohesive result is to come up with a plan. I was delighted to help the Houser family create a bright, airy, light-filled space complete with new furniture pieces and a whole new color scheme. We said goodbye to an impractical kitchen and an outdated family room.
The Housers and I agreed on a design direction, choosing shades of white as our palette. Since the family room was open to the kitchen, continuing the color scheme allowed the room to feel even more open, clean, and spacious. We chose Benjamin Moore’s China White, which has slight warmth to it, for both the walls and the cabinetry in the kitchen and family room. Then, we pulled in shades of grey through the furniture, carpet, and kitchen accents. Texture and accessories was all it took to give these spaces additional warmth – layering rugs, adding tall palms, and big art (both in a mixed media canvas and a beautiful hand-woven wall piece). When working with tall windows, I like to punctuate the height by adding tall panels, tall lamps, and height with the palms. We simplified the wall art in the family room by repurposing two mirrors on either side of the fireplace.
The kitchen’s biggest problem, I felt, was the former peninsula. It cut off the walking path and only allowed for a smaller round dining table. Enter the long seven-foot island centered down the middle – a huge prep surface, as well a room to spread out homework and simple meals. We removed an awkward wall, added a beautiful back splash, new appliances, and striking light fixtures. One of the biggest changes in the first-floor renovation: a new floor color. We removed the reddish tones with a richer flat poly to hide dust and future scratches.
We now have a clean, bright, and fresh space that allows the gorgeous light to shine through – a perfectly executed plan resulting in functional with a lot of style.
Beth Keim is the owner of Lucy and Company, a full-service interior design firm located at 1009 East Boulevard. For more information visit www.lucyandcompany.com or call 704-342-6655.