He Made Over His Childhood Kitchen, Now It's Cozy-Chic

Restaurant owners Trae and Carolyn Lamond were on the hunt for a home in Alexandria, Virginia, with a great kitchen. Trae’s parents had the solution: their place, a 1920s farmhouse where he’d been raised. “They had decided to sell and thought it would be cool to keep it in the family,” says Trae. Although the cooking space wasn’t quite the couple’s idea of foodie heaven, with its small footprint and dark cabinetry, the family-friendly neighborhood and dearth of other prospects won out. After tapping design/build team Michelle and Kevin Schmauder, they upped the size by merging it with the dining room; put in an island and new cabinetry; and ended up with a bright, cheerful spot. When Trae’s folks first came to see it, there was just a little sellers’ regret: “They said they wished they’d done the same 30 years ago!”

THE RENO

Wallpaper

Sorry, mom, had to change the wallpaper! Added shelving nooks that flank the windows got a quirky botanical print by Boråstapeter as a backdrop. It makes the couple’s knickknacks, jugs, and jars look even more whimsical.

Island

The workhorse of the room looks like a nice piece of furniture with vintage red oak banisters that serve as legs. “We planned the shape to house my cookbook collection,” says Carolyn. “Now I have easy access.”

Floor

Trae was particularly eager to ditch the gray linoleum (underneath it: very ’70s yellow hex tiles he used to roller-skate on). Red oak with a rich stain — Special Walnut by Minwax — infuses the room with warmth.

Paint

The Lamonds briefly considered white for the cabinets, “but it felt too plain-Jane for us,” says Trae. Minty green has a retro feel that speaks to the home’s age, and it’s just dark enough to hide scuffs and fingerprints. Most of the cabinetry is made up of drawers, some of them extra deep for storing large dishes and pots. (Paint color: Harrisburg Green by Benjamin Moore)