The Totally Timeless Kitchen

When Anissa and Brian Zajac decided to redo the brand-new kitchen in their just-built house in Noblesville, IN, friends thought they were out of their heads. But the plain cabinet hardware, gray laminate counters and tiny stainless steel sink didn’t have the personality they wanted. “We decided to make it our style ourselves,” says Anissa. Envisioning a light, bright space with a vintage feel that would stand the test of time (with three kids, multiple renos were not in the game plan), Anissa and Brian spent nights and weekends tiling the walls, installing lighting and even putting in a range hood (a pro added the marble and butcher-block countertops and the apron-front sink). All that hard work paid off: Their reno’ed space is here to stay!

Cabinets

Happily, the existing white Shaker-style cabinets fit the airy farmhouse vibe the couple was going for. The Zajacs perked them up with polished-nickel knobs and bin pulls from Restoration Hardware. The backsplash is made of ceramic subway tiles from The Tile Shop; dark gray grout jazzes up the traditional shape.

Peninsula

Wrapping the sides in beadboard instantly gave it cottage cred. Anissa chose Carrara marble to top it off; with subtle gray veining, it blends in with the white cabinets for a seamless look. The new apron-front sink, with a sleek gooseneck faucet from Delta, is literally a big upgrade: “The old stainless steel basin was so tiny, I called it a ‘camper sink,’ ” says Anissa. The metal stools are from overstock.com.

Lighting

The “vintage” 15-inch-diameter white barn lights above the peninsula, with brass accents and black-and-white cords, are straight out of IKEA. Above the table, Anissa hung a modern brass Sputnik-style fixture from Lucent: “It feels unexpected and fun, but it still works with everything else.”

Table

Snacks, breakfast, homework: They all happen at the counter. For other meals, the family gathers at the 72-inch-long turned-leg farmhouse table from Pottery Barn. The white metal chairs are from HomeGoods; the table runner is from Anthropologie.