“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself”. Clearly, Ralph Waldo Emerson wasn’t considering the impact a minimal, neutral color palette and stripped down, functional space can do to induce calm.

My homeowners on this project didn’t want to change the footprint of their existing kitchen and had some unique characteristics to consider in the overall design, including a stain glass window that was not only functional at providing privacy but was also something they loved and wanted to keep.

The goal of this project was to bring calm and brightness to the dual functioning kitchen and living space. We did this by simply updating their recessed cans to the latest models, changing the hue of the recessed lighting color, adding more ambient lighting with multiple sconces, and layering in soft pillows, blankets and textures.

They also lacked dimension in the space, with one very long flat wall that housed their outdated fireplace. By building the fireplace box out 12” we were able to make the living space more of it’s own defined area, separate from the kitchen.

As for the kitchen, it was all about strategically mixing metals, cabinet colors, and countertops. But doing so in a way that still felt modern, clean and cohesive.

Cabinetry: Tri-Star Cabinet & Top Co. and Heritage Cabinetry

Construction: A Cut Above Carpentry

Photos: Summer Brader