No-clutter kitchen renovation

Text by Ann Zimmerman / Photography by Scot Zimmerman

With a coastal vacation cottage as inspiration, this kitchen serves as a hub for a busy young family.

When a young couple with children bought this home, it was for the location and views, not for the dated kitchen. The homeowners renovated to achieve the look and function they wanted—a blend of classical details and simple design with plenty of workspace and convenient storage that helps keep it tidy.

Considering the kitchen from the bottom up, the durable stained and reclaimed hickory-pecan plank flooring extends throughout the open floor plan and into the lower level with area rugs to punctuate the spaces. The crown moldings and classically footed columns of the bright white cabinets together with the white Carrara marble countertops and its refined cove edge introduce a traditional quality. The decorative columns flanking both the Wolf range and the farmhouse sink also store spices and small items. Cottage styling repeats in the upper cabinets with paned glass doors that display white dinnerware.

Cabinet hardware is an important design element for a kitchen; it can elevate the ambiance to a more formal style, or, as in this case, the unadorned nickel pulls and handles create a simple and subdued feel. The tiles in the backsplash are a gray-green-blue, and like the gray of the walls, the colors shift with the light and seasons. With the spacious island, it’s an uncluttered kitchen designed for a relaxing cooking experience.