Updated White Transitional Kitchen

Lighter cabinets and countertop choices helped designers Angelique Baez and Sonny Hires give this transitional kitchen a much-needed update.
White traditional kitchen with gray island

White Traditional Kitchen with Gray Island

A contrasting gray island with wood countertop adds a punch of color to this white traditional kitchen. The ornate built-in surround for the refrigerator adds visual interest while the pendant light above brings a modern element to the space.

By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik

What were the main items on the owners' wish list for this space?

The owners were looking to lighten up the space and give it a fresh look without replacing the cabinets or basic layout, which works very well for this family of five.

What was the single-largest issue you wanted to address?

The owners of this home are also the owners of a countertop company so they understood the issues. They had a golden beach exotic granite countertop and black island top with a dark base. We just needed to lighten up all of these surfaces as well as the perimeter cabinets that were a cream finish with a glaze. Balancing the light, fresh desired aesthetic with the needs of a busy family was always at the forefront of the decision-making process for this couple. They wanted to incorporate the beauty of Calcutta Gold marble with the warm look of the Heritage Wood distressed black walnut island.

Transitional White Kitchen Redesign

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What was your biggest obstacle in this space?

We really wanted to change the wall color in the kitchen, breakfast and family room, but all the walls from the front of the house also linked to these spaces. We had to carefully choose which walls to paint the new color, called Lotus Pond, to create flow with the remainder of the first floor. In the end, the couple chose to also paint the two-story foyer and main hall that lead into the family spaces but leave the formal spaces in the original color palette.

How does the end result match up with your original vision for the space?

This project came together as planned. Selecting the specific Calacatta Gold slabs from Construction Resources, Inc. set the tone for the overall color palette of the entire project.

What surprised you the most about this project?

This project was a definite collaboration with the homeowners. I was stretched to work with furnishings and upholstery fabrics, which are not my specialty, but had the most fun assisting with those details. I will definitely feel comfortable working with those elements in the future if called upon to do so.

What are the hidden gems in your plan?

We really wanted to incorporate the newest finishes not only in the color of the cabinetry and the countertop materials but also in the lighting. We focused immediately on incorporating antique brass. The owners found this awesome island fixture at Circa Lighting and we used it as a jumping-off point. We also incorporated the antique brass with the cabinet pulls and a vintage-inspired breakfast room light.

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Artisan Group

Artisan Group

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Artisan Group
www.artisan-counters.com NKBA 19012 Hwy. 71 West Spicewood, TX 78669 832-338-5188