This Luxe, Light-Filled Kitchen Used To Be a Mercantile Store

While Mandi and Courtney Gubler’s kids have been known to ask jokingly, “Why can’t we live in a normal home?!” the family wouldn’t have it any other way. Three years ago, when the vacant general store in Santa Clara, Utah — known as “The Merc” — went up for sale, the couple pounced on it. “We wanted to take a historic spot and make our mark on it,” says Mandi, creator of the blog Vintage Revivals. Surrounded by residential homes on the town’s main street, the gutted 1928 Adobe structure hadn’t been used for 20 years. They turned the sun-filled 300-square-foot area near the front door into their kitchen. “We maxed out the space and went for an eclectic look, focusing on materials and details that feel like ones you’d see in an old store, but updated,” says Mandi. It’s become the family’s favorite spot. The penny candy may be long gone, but it feels like home sweet home.

Details

Open Shelving

Square raw steel tubing supports planks that match the island’s wood. Assorted dishes, serving bowls and vases are displayed just like you’d see in a store. The sleek white countertop below is Dekton.

Island

The Gublers gather around the bleached walnut island for meals, with counter stools from Rejuvenation. Come the holidays, pecan brittle is concocted here in Mandi’s great-grandpa’s candy pan. The pendant is from Hudson Valley Lighting.

Cabinets

Mandi researched how ’20s kitchens handled storage. Roomy built-in cabinets were becoming popular, often in darker colors. So she put in custom ceiling-height Shaker-style cabinets painted a deep green (Jasper by Sherwin-Williams), with steel pulls she designed and had made by a local metalworker.

Floors

Mandi sketched the large-scale diamond pattern for the 1-inch hex tile floors from Daltile. “It’s in line with the period,” she says, “but also really special and impactful.” The vintage rug brings lived-in texture.

Plant Wall

To avoid blocking out light but still provide privacy, the windows got frosted film and greenery galore. The hardiest plants are on the top shelf — less watering needed up there.