See How This Fabric Designer Dressed a Blank Slate

Photography by Marcy Black Simpson

Mary Catherine Folmar and her husband, Tyler, renovated their kitchen about seven years ago when they first moved into their house. Mary Catherine says, “I love a white kitchen, it’s light, bright, and clean. And since this kitchen was not so big, having it light makes it seem more open.” They kept the hardwood floors, staining them dark to contrast with the walls and cabinets. Corian, a solid surface material, was chosen for the countertops and the top of the island. Mary Catherine loves the look of marble, and the Corian pattern White Dove accomplishes that look and feel without the worry of the high-maintenance natural stone. For the backsplash, however, she decided to go with tumbled marble thinking stains would be less likely.

Cabinets line two walls of the room, but she says, “I couldn’t live without the island. It has so much storage.” The couple cook all the time and storage is definitely a priority. A built-in desk provides a command center for paperwork, and a large closet is a laundry hideaway, making it easy to multitask when working in the kitchen.