Kitchen of the Week: An Eclectic Look for a Sunny Family Hub
Whitewashed antiqued brick veneer, wood accents and vintage furnishings create a cozy farmhouse-inspired vibe
A Large Island Serves as a Central Hub
The room, like the rest of the newly built house, has the feel of an old farmhouse that has been well-preserved, then updated. Wood, whitewashed brick veneer and vintage-looking furnishings create a sense of age. White cabinets and modern bring the new touches.
The 10-by-3-foot island contains a large farmhouse sink, a dishwasher, a microwave drawer and trash and recycling pullouts. There’s additional storage on the side facing the family room. Vintage-style stools fit in with the room’s eclectic style. It’s topped with a honed Carrara marble countertop, which provides contrast to the leathered Absolute Black granite countertops in the range alcove and the small appliance station.
The rest of the layout fell into place with ease, with a large range alcove behind the island. To the right, a concentrated bank of cabinets contains small appliances and the refrigerator.
A Mix of Materials Lends a Sense of History — and Dog-Proofs the Floor
Ludemann selected tumbled Charleston brick veneers with an antique look and “used a hand-troweled, really heavy mortar” for a more rugged look.
To age the new white oak on the vent hood and island, Ludemann first had it beat up, then she had the dings and knots filled with black putty and sealed with linseed oil.
The floors, also white oak, are finished with a new water-based product Ludemann is thrilled with: 2K Loba Invisible Protect A.T. in a mix of Driftwood and Pickled Oak finishes. “It is water-based so it takes longer to cure than polyurethane would, but unlike polyurethane, it doesn’t have any sheen. It’s a raw natural look,” she says. “The family has five rescue dogs, and this works really well with all of the dog traffic.”
“Because we have busy teens we find our dogs to be our more loyal kitchen companions,” Schwartz says.
What to Know About Finishing Your Hardwood Floors
The room, like the rest of the newly built house, has the feel of an old farmhouse that has been well-preserved, then updated. Wood, whitewashed brick veneer and vintage-looking furnishings create a sense of age. White cabinets and modern bring the new touches.
The 10-by-3-foot island contains a large farmhouse sink, a dishwasher, a microwave drawer and trash and recycling pullouts. There’s additional storage on the side facing the family room. Vintage-style stools fit in with the room’s eclectic style. It’s topped with a honed Carrara marble countertop, which provides contrast to the leathered Absolute Black granite countertops in the range alcove and the small appliance station.
The rest of the layout fell into place with ease, with a large range alcove behind the island. To the right, a concentrated bank of cabinets contains small appliances and the refrigerator.
A Mix of Materials Lends a Sense of History — and Dog-Proofs the Floor
Ludemann selected tumbled Charleston brick veneers with an antique look and “used a hand-troweled, really heavy mortar” for a more rugged look.
To age the new white oak on the vent hood and island, Ludemann first had it beat up, then she had the dings and knots filled with black putty and sealed with linseed oil.
The floors, also white oak, are finished with a new water-based product Ludemann is thrilled with: 2K Loba Invisible Protect A.T. in a mix of Driftwood and Pickled Oak finishes. “It is water-based so it takes longer to cure than polyurethane would, but unlike polyurethane, it doesn’t have any sheen. It’s a raw natural look,” she says. “The family has five rescue dogs, and this works really well with all of the dog traffic.”
“Because we have busy teens we find our dogs to be our more loyal kitchen companions,” Schwartz says.
What to Know About Finishing Your Hardwood Floors
Symmetry Around the Range Creates a Focal Point
The range alcove sits directly across from a large stone fireplace in the family room, so it and its encaustic cement tile backsplash serves as a strong focal point. The 4-foot-wide range has two steam ovens, six burners, a griddle and an overhead pot filler.
Ludemann suggested the clear-glass cabinet doors to flank the oak vent hood to bring some lightness among the other heavy textures. Two industrial-style pendants over the island reinforce the symmetry.
Schwartz chose the smashing encaustic cement tile for the range alcove backsplash. “I contemplated using a subway style because I do love that simple look, but when browsing through magazines and Houzz I continued to be drawn to pops of colored tile,” she says. “It was a little bold for me, but now was my chance, and I absolutely love it. I think using the natural materials like wood and the brick kept it from being too overwhelming.”
Range: Thermadore; pendant lights: Decorative Lighting; tile: Tile Collection Inc.; find industrial metal pendants and colored cement tile
How to Get Your Range Hood Right
The range alcove sits directly across from a large stone fireplace in the family room, so it and its encaustic cement tile backsplash serves as a strong focal point. The 4-foot-wide range has two steam ovens, six burners, a griddle and an overhead pot filler.
Ludemann suggested the clear-glass cabinet doors to flank the oak vent hood to bring some lightness among the other heavy textures. Two industrial-style pendants over the island reinforce the symmetry.
Schwartz chose the smashing encaustic cement tile for the range alcove backsplash. “I contemplated using a subway style because I do love that simple look, but when browsing through magazines and Houzz I continued to be drawn to pops of colored tile,” she says. “It was a little bold for me, but now was my chance, and I absolutely love it. I think using the natural materials like wood and the brick kept it from being too overwhelming.”
Range: Thermadore; pendant lights: Decorative Lighting; tile: Tile Collection Inc.; find industrial metal pendants and colored cement tile
How to Get Your Range Hood Right
A White Cabinet Wall Conceals Appliances
The white cabinet wall conceals a large refrigerator, right, and a coffee-small appliance station (where the black line of its granite countertop is showing). There’s also designated baking supply space here, as the couple’s teenage daughters enjoy baking. Behind this bank of cabinets there is a butler’s pantry that leads to the dining room.
They used the same shade of Alabaster white paint from Sherwin-Williams on the cabinets and walls to keep them from competing with the range alcove. Schwartz opted for Shaker-style cabinets for the same reason. “I love the simpleness of the Shaker style, especially since we used a patterned backsplash and have the textured wood hood and brick wall,” she says. “The hardware gives it a modern clean look.”
Stools: World Market; browse industrial counter stools
The white cabinet wall conceals a large refrigerator, right, and a coffee-small appliance station (where the black line of its granite countertop is showing). There’s also designated baking supply space here, as the couple’s teenage daughters enjoy baking. Behind this bank of cabinets there is a butler’s pantry that leads to the dining room.
They used the same shade of Alabaster white paint from Sherwin-Williams on the cabinets and walls to keep them from competing with the range alcove. Schwartz opted for Shaker-style cabinets for the same reason. “I love the simpleness of the Shaker style, especially since we used a patterned backsplash and have the textured wood hood and brick wall,” she says. “The hardware gives it a modern clean look.”
Stools: World Market; browse industrial counter stools
Natural Light and a Garden View
“The eat-in bay and built-in bench add a bit of charm and a ton of light to the kitchen,” Schwartz says. “This is where we eat and work on our laptops most of the time.”
“The eat-in bay and built-in bench add a bit of charm and a ton of light to the kitchen,” Schwartz says. “This is where we eat and work on our laptops most of the time.”
This photo shows the bench without the kitchen table to provide a good look at the built-in bench and the corbels that support it. Where more storage is needed, Ludemann often installs a storage bench in a spot like this. That wasn’t necessary here, and “it’s more comfortable to be able to tuck your feet under your seating,” Ludemann says. The bench’s subtle blue ties into the backsplash color.
A single glass pendant light preserves the view of a small garden and outdoor hangout. And while the family enjoys many meals here, on nice days they like to head right outside. “Our favorite place to drink coffee is outside on the back porch through the French door. It’s very peaceful and quiet,” Schwartz says.
Wood planks called dime gap buttboard cover the ceiling. As the name implies, the planks are butted next to each other with gaps the width of a dime left between them. “Alicia wanted an older look, so we went with real wood planks that show the wood grain instead of MDF,” Ludemann says.
Bench color: Soft Chinchilla, Benjamin Moore
Find clear-glass globe pendant lights
A single glass pendant light preserves the view of a small garden and outdoor hangout. And while the family enjoys many meals here, on nice days they like to head right outside. “Our favorite place to drink coffee is outside on the back porch through the French door. It’s very peaceful and quiet,” Schwartz says.
Wood planks called dime gap buttboard cover the ceiling. As the name implies, the planks are butted next to each other with gaps the width of a dime left between them. “Alicia wanted an older look, so we went with real wood planks that show the wood grain instead of MDF,” Ludemann says.
Bench color: Soft Chinchilla, Benjamin Moore
Find clear-glass globe pendant lights
On chillier days, a gas fireplace warms the bay. “Even with busy teens we do eat dinner several times a week together, and that is a special time to us,” Schwartz says. “I’m still looking for the perfect fun funky chair and a small stool to create a more inviting space.”
Takeaways
Takeaways
- If you want to avoid the clutter of small appliances, consider installing a countertop complete with outlets for them behind cabinet doors.
- Making a brick wall look convincingly old is all in the mortar job.
- A range alcove can serve as a beautiful focal point.
- Clear-glass cabinet doors are a good way to lighten up an area that has other heavy textures.
- If extra storage space is not required, an open built-in bench can be more comfortable than a storage bench.
- There aren’t many things that are cozier than a fireplace in an eat-in kitchen.
Bonus: The family has five dogs and often has a foster in the mix, for a total of six. Here are four of them in the new kitchen. Back by the fireplace we see Zorro, the German Shepherd mix, and Penelope, or Penny, the white cattle dog mix. On the rug are Oliver, an 11-year-old, three-legged dachshund mix, and his pal Zuzu, a Chihuahua mix. Rosie, a senior Lab, did not make her way into this photo. “Dogs and decorating my two favorite things,” she says.
Schwartz serves on the boards of Project Safe Pet and Worthy Dog Rescue and works to promote spaying and neutering to help control pet overpopulation, place dogs in permanent homes, provide veterinary care and save dogs from living their lives in pens or on chains. Her work also includes changing ordinances to provide more humane lives for dogs and cats.
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Tell us: Does your new kitchen reflect a very personal, eclectic style? Please tell us about it in the Comments!
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Schwartz serves on the boards of Project Safe Pet and Worthy Dog Rescue and works to promote spaying and neutering to help control pet overpopulation, place dogs in permanent homes, provide veterinary care and save dogs from living their lives in pens or on chains. Her work also includes changing ordinances to provide more humane lives for dogs and cats.
See more photos of this project
Tell us: Does your new kitchen reflect a very personal, eclectic style? Please tell us about it in the Comments!
More
See the latest Kitchens of the Week
Find kitchen designers and see their projects
Browse kitchen furniture and fixtures
Kitchen and Dining Area at a Glance
Who lives here: Alicia and Matt Schwartz and their two teen daughters. Alicia is a passionate advocate for animals; five of the dogs she has rescued from deplorable living conditions are now beloved pets.
Location: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Size: 320 square feet (30 square meters)
Designer: Mary Ludemann of New Old
This family’s request when they hired Mary Ludemann to design the kitchen in their new South Carolina home: A bright, light-filled social hub where everyone could cook and hang out together.
A large island “was a must since it is where our family seems to gather the most,” says Alicia Schwartz. Since they got their new kitchen, they’ve enjoyed using the island for buffet-style dinners with the kids and visiting family. “It’s a great place for my husband and I to be able to cook and talk to everyone at the same time,” she says. To the left of the cooking area, a sun-filled eat-in bay with a fireplace completes the home’s social center.