It’s Always Spring In This Bright and Fresh Kitchen

The first thing Bri and Charlie Kellogg did when they moved into their 1926 Oak Park, Illinois, house? Paint the kitchen’s cabinets white and the walls dark brown. “It was a bad call,” says Bri. “I wanted something that hid the kids’ fingerprints, but it always looked sad!”

It didn’t help that the space was tiny — not great for Bri, a dietitian and an avid cook. After saving up, the couple built a new 290-square-foot kitchen on the back of the house last year. For the decor, Bri wanted to start with floral wallpaper, though she worried about making the space look fussy or old-fashioned. Enter designers Natalie Papier and Kim Daunis, who helped Bri find a style with big yellow roses that felt part vintage, part modern.

The Eden-like escape evolved with new daisy white cabinets, a grassy green island and walnut and quartz countertops. “Spring is the best season in Chicago, since everything comes to life after a gray winter,” says Bri. “I love that we get that feeling year-round.”

Lighting

A trio of 18-inch-diameter glass pendants from Rejuvenation seem to float over the island. “As soon as Charlie saw them, he was like, These are the ones,” says Bri. “They have presence yet still look airy.” The brass parts play off the bronze faucet by Delta.

Wallpaper

To find a floral that was not the least bit garden-variety, Bri waded through three dozen styles before choosing this beauty by Milexa: “The colors make the whole space inspiring.”

Island

The kicky shade of green (try Rockwall Vine by Behr for a similar look) on the 10-foot island was plucked straight from the wallpaper. “It’s bold, but paired with the walnut countertop, it looks natural,” Bri says. Ash counter stools from Rove Concepts are the kids’ go-to spots for breakfast and lunch.

Cabinets

White cabinets look more lively with a mix of Shaker-style and flat-front doors and drawers. Bri keeps her collection of vintage Pyrex dishware in the tall uppers. “We use those dishes all the time,” she says, “so I wanted to have them organized and easy to reach.”

Range

Designer Natalie suggested white appliances for the brightness they bring, but Bri wasn’t sold: “I thought it might look like a rental apartment in here,” she says. The sharp lines and the stainless steel cooktop on this Verona five-burner won her over.

Countertops

To keep the nature vibes going strong, Bri chose white quartz with dashes of gray and brown for the perimeter countertops and the backsplash. “It feels warm, with a hint of the outdoors,” she says. The color in them complements the oak floor, too.