12 Ideas to Steal From a Colorful Texas Kitchen

It’s hard to believe that the bright, light, sunny, color-happy, smile-inducing kitchen you see here once had all the charm of an office pantry. Back in 2004, when Denise and Michael Silverman reno’ed their Austin, TX, kitchen, they outfitted it with chilly aqua walls, a brown concrete floor, black countertops and maple cabinets. “At the time, we thought it looked modern and great,” says Denise. A decade later…not so much. So the Silvermans put in a call to their friend Becca Stephens, a local designer, to ask her to reimagine the space to sync up with their current taste. After opening up the kitchen to the dining room to gain nearly 150 square feet, Becca pitched clever (and colorful) style ideas. A hot orange stove instead of staid stainless? “Bring it on,” said Denise. Mod wallpaper that doubles as art? The Silvermans were game. An island with an attached table for eating dinner, hanging out during prep time and game nights with son Jesse? Yes, please! “Becca calls this the happiest kitchen on the block,” says Denise. And anyone who visits would agree. “When I’m cooking for guests, I always have company,” she says. “Everybody wants to be in here!”

1. Snazzy Pendant

The airy bentwood pendant from West Elm has a walnut tone that matches the floor.

2. Chunky Open Shelves

Three-inch-thick shelves on either side of the range hood look substantial. They hold the family’s colorful everyday dishes and glassware.

3. Cool Backsplash 

Glass tiles from Island Stone have a slightly tapered (i.e., not-your-typical-subway-tile) shape.

4. Colorful Range

The super-fun finish on this four-burner Bertazzoni transforms it from an appliance into a showpiece. Michael calls it “the Ferrari.”

5. Funky Faucet

“I wanted a cook’s kitchen with pro-grade tools,” says Denise. She’s particularly fond of the industrial-style Danze faucet with a pull-down sprayer: “It’s so easy to clean dishes — I can’t believe I lived without it.”

6. Unique Sink

At nearly 3 feet long and 10 inches deep, the stainless steel sink from Signature Hardware is a modern twist on a traditional apron-front style.

7. Wide-Plank "Wood" Floor

The warm yet hard-wearing porcelain floor by Marazzi is glazed to resemble walnut, knots and all—but it’s impervious to pet paws and high heels.

8. All-in-One Island

Sitting in a row at an island makes conversations tough, so the Silvermans built a 3-foot-by-6-foot table into one end of theirs. It’s topped with the same Silestone quartz as the countertops and surrounded by blue polypropylene chairs.

9. Can't-Miss-it Wallpaper

Denise loves this Orla Kiely paper but wasn’t sure how to include it without drowning the kitchen in pattern. Becca’s trick: Use it between cabinets for a distinct bar area.

10. Floating Glass Shelves

Custom 67-inch-wide shelves offer plenty of storage — and a cool optical illusion. It almost looks like the glasses are suspended in midair

11. Party-Ready Wine Fridge

This stainless steel 28-bottle cooler by Whynter holds everyday wine and fancy selects for guests. “During the reno, it lived upstairs with us,” Denise says. “It was much needed!”

12. Hide-and-Seek Hardware

A fresh spot for pulls: right at the top of a cabinet door, rather than on the side. Elongated handles like these from IKEA are easy to grab.