The kitchen in the house in the woods is finished.
I love the red cabinets with soapstone counters,
the farmhouse sink, the mushroom wood floor,
and the black island with Carrara marble top.
I love having more windows and fewer upper cabinets.
Dishes go in drawers with nifty dividers.
The tiles are beautiful, but there are more of them in more places than I expected. (One of the problems of a long distance project = miscommunication.) They are subtler than they appear in these pictures (you can get a better look below), but a little bit goes a long way--and they seem a bit busy. I'm going to live with them for a while and then see how I feel.
I don't love the sage paint (darker than it appears in the pictures). It needs some toning down, especially with the colorful tiles, and at some point I will repaint in cream.
I love the red beadboard on the back of the upper cabinets (which are off-white).
The reds in the kitchen are reminiscent of barns.
Upstate New York, where the house is,
is dotted with family dairy farms. Many have gone out of business,
but the barns still stand.
It's a comfortable, spacious and warm place for family and friends, and already feels lived-in.
We've owned the house and spent many weekends there for 11 years, and will retire there one day. It's become the place where our family gathers--and this kitchen will get plenty of use and love for many years to come.
Jen, that island in black with the marble top is a master stroke. As is that wonderful big sink. And isn't it great how the little things like the dividers in the drawers provide so much joy! They are one of the things I love most about my new kitchen too! Looks great and will be the heart of your home for years to come. X
ReplyDeleteI love the black with white marble too. And the beadboard gives it a bit of a country feel.
DeleteI'm so used to using upper cabinets that I was worried about giving them up for windows. Deep lower drawers are the solution. Much better than traditional cabinets where things get lost in the back.
Hello Jen, I think you made all the right decisions. The expanses of soapstone and marble complement each other well. The kitchen has an old-fashioned but modern look which is perfect for a country house. Are those tiles part stone and part ceramic?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your comfortable and beautiful new kitchen.
--Road to Parnassus
A seamless blend of old-fashioned and modern is what I wanted--thank you!
DeleteThe tiles are hand molded and fired in a beehive oven in Ohio (isn't that where you're from?). The company is Seneca Tiles and you can read about the process of making the tiles here: http://www.senecatiles.com/images_2/sen_handmold_brochure.pdf
Hi again, I took a look at Seneca's brochure and their work is beautiful. Seneca county, although in Northern Ohio, is kind of off the beaten track--probably about one and a half hours from Cleveland. To see those old kilns, it would make a good day trip.
Delete--Jim
It looks like a kitchen for exactly that. Family gathering. Chatty friends. Good food and cups of tea. Glasses of wine and laughter.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved to a "new" house (pretty old really we still renovate) I wanted a big kitchen and I am glad I did. The warmest, lovliest room in a house should always be the kitchen (me thinks)
...and we have the same sink Jen ;)
Happy week!
That's exactly the way I wanted to kitchen to look/feel/be. Thank you!
DeleteI'm crazy about the sink.
You'll never be in town now with that kitchen and those windows!! What a difference. I didn't even know they made drawers like that. Wow, what fun.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, this kitchen started with my husband and sons, who love to cook, and get every pot in the house dirty when they do. I would have been happy with a little cottage kitchen--but when there are 3 or 4 big men at work you need space to spread out. I had fun choosing the materials and colors, which they left to me.
DeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen looks great. It really speaks to the location which I think is the most important thing. I can't quite remember what the old one looked like but I think you've taken down a wall which really seems to fit how you use the place.
I especially love the black island with Carrara. I might have to steal that.\
S.
You're right--it's located on wooded property in a rural area, surrounded by dairy farms--I kept all those things in mind when choosing colors and materials.
DeleteWe took down the wall where the sink is and bumped it out. In the last picture you can see where the door is--that's where the original wall was. The house is built on a slope--you walk up steps to get to the door. There's a deck we built out onto.
I think that black and white look would work in any style kitchen. You can vary the door styles, trim and hardware to get the look you want.
oh, I remember the colour discussion. your kitchen looks great. red was a great choice :) xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks--it's warm and welcoming.
DeleteJen,
ReplyDeletewhat a fabulous kitchen, I might even break down and cook if mine looked like that! Red is one of the colors I use to decorate with so you know I love those red cabinets and beadboard! The island, to die for and the views out those windows, everything is perfect! You did an amazing job!
Rebecca
Thanks so much, Rebecca! I tried to add some of those country vintage looks you and I like.
ReplyDeleteWow! How nice to have such windows and cabinet, sink and floor with your favorite materials. And the tiles and the color "red" add charm quite effectively. It's a dream kitchen!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love red in kitchens.
DeleteI have visited here 3 times today, no great hardship because I get to google at the kitchen. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThe first visit there was an incident with Gus that called me away, the second time my friend came to pick me up for lunch.
This time it's just you and me baby.
It's stylish and serene and if I were there I'd kick all those big men out of the way and cook my heart out.
xo jane
I will be happy to kick them out for you!
DeleteRed cabinets, et al. ...Absolutely perfect! Your chefs should be so happy... Function and beauty! Enjoy, enjoy...
ReplyDeleteIt's a knockout! Charming and cozy. Great view to admire as you sit at the island with a cup of tea. You were absolutely right to renovate that kitchen.And I really like the inserts in the drawers for crockery.
ReplyDeleteI like that it felt comfortable and not new (as in afraid to touch new). Those inserts are great. I've become a big drawers instead of lower cabinets.
Deleteit turned out beautifully!
ReplyDeletepersonally, i adore the red and the particular deep hue of it, the worktops, the sink, especially.
Thanks, Monica. I think the red is perfect, and it was right out of the box (not custom). I love the soapstone more than I expected and the sink too.
DeleteJen, I absolutely love it!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful. Great call on the red, I think it's the perfect choice, love the island and that big massive sink and of course all the windows. The sage color doesn't look at all dark in the pictures and the tiles don't look busy, maybe you just have to see it a little longer before making any changes. And thank you, thank you, thank you for not choosing granite!Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThe soapstone is beautiful and has a lot of character, and the marble reminds me of old bistros and bakeries...
DeleteHi Jen, it looks lovely! I agree on having fewer cabinets and more windows.
ReplyDeleteNow that I've done it, it seems so logical, so obvious...Light and views.
Deletei love the red. and the deep earthy barniness of it. my kitchen cupboards are red....really really close to the same color and i never grow tired of it. the counters feel like solid work spaces to me. and i can imagine laughter and wonderful times around the island. it's gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's such a warm, welcoming color. I'll never get tired of it.
DeleteHow cozy, warm, welcoming ,clean, spacious, functional,full of lights, close to nature your new kitchen looks! Furthermore having a nicely unique touch. Happy gathering and happy cooking!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if my comment went somewhere wrong? Anyway I'm trying again.
ReplyDeleteHow cozy, warm welcoming, spacious, full of light, functional your new kitchen is! It has sure nicely individual and unique touch.
Happy cooking and happy gathering!
Oh, how lovely. That red is very inspiring; I'm thinking of adding more colour to this black and white cottage, and am always grateful for ideas....
ReplyDelete