Kitchens
The exposed wood post and beams and the interesting pendants over the peninsula add charm and character to this modern white kitchen.
Designer secret: “I love wrapping overhead structural beams,” Weinrich says. Laminated veneer lumber beams “aren’t pretty, and most clients aren’t crazy about soffits, and they certainly don’t want to lose any of their ceiling height by dropping everything below the beam, so wrapping the beams in a material besides drywall is a great solution. I called for a rough, skip-planed lumber in this kitchen, but you can definitely go a more polished route with something sanded and stained, or lower contrast with a soft, whitewashed wood. Not only does this maintain the ceiling height, it adds another texture, which worked really well in this space.”“Uh-oh” moment: “Three of the four kitchen walls were load-bearing,” Weinrich says. “In an effort to keep the costs of the project down, our original plan was to remove only one of these walls. We tried to incorporate a pass-through, a textured column and decorative pillars, but all these elements in model just left the space feeling divided and less functional. “After reviewing the various layouts with the homeowners, they decided removing both walls was well worth the added construction cost. We pocketed one structural beam into another, which...
7. Gray. Is gray the new white? It’s hard to say for sure, but for those who like a light and airy look but are tired of white, a sumptuous gray or gray-beige is the next best thing.At first thought, you might expect gray to seem cold and off-putting. However, as you can see in these examples, a wide range of tones, from charcoal to clay to just-off-white, make an excellent complement to wood floors or shelves for a welcoming palette that feels anything but chilly.Read more about designing a gray and white kitchen
6. High gloss in dark tones. Metal isn’t the only finish that can bring a glossy sheen to a kitchen. Lacquered or lacquer-look cabinets are a powerful option, and many suppliers at every level now offer high-sheen cabinets. In a murky tone like a charcoal gray, the deep, mirror-like appearance becomes all the more noticeable.
… or on a single cabinet at a specific station like a mixing center or coffee bar.
Photos by Jason Quigley PhotographyKitchen at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple with two small kids, a dog and a cat Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 216 square feet, including dining room (20 square meters)Designers: Husband-wife duo Terah Beth Baltzer Varga (designer) and Justin Varga (builder and contractor) of The Jack + Mare Design & Build
1. Beam Me UpDesigner: Stephanie Holmes of The Working KitchenLocation: Cooperstown, New YorkSize: 300 square feet (about 28 square meters); about 19 by 16 feet Year built: 1835Special feature: White cabinetry, white walls, white marble counters. “The natural lighting in this 1800s farmhouse is incredible, so a white kitchen just felt right,” says designer Stephanie Holmes. In contrast, natural wood elements in varying tones add texture, warmth and a sense of history to the new elements in the room. Reclaimed wood from a wing that was taken down was repurposed as a window seat, echoing the character of the original exposed beams. The flooring is oak stained to match the original wide plank flooring found throughout the rest of the house. The dining table is distressed pine and the wooden bowl and pestle are vintage.
I love the pendants and stools in this kitchen. The white walls and cabinets act as a blank canvas, allowing the interesting fixtures and furnishings to really stand out.
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