Kitchen of the Week: Chic and Functional in Black and White
Two designers blend aesthetic features like a sophisticated bar with practical solutions like a handy dog food cabinet
Countertop clutter, a dated aesthetic and an aggressive amount of cabinetry inspired this Atlanta couple to contact interior designers Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole for a complete kitchen redesign. With one daughter away at college and the other getting close to that age, the time was right for a down-to-the-studs renovation to ease the couple into their new normal. This included swapping a large wall of cabinetry for a chic bar and adding enhancements that fuel their passion for cooking.
After: While the layout of this part of the kitchen is similar, the style changed dramatically. “Their personal style is eclectic — they have a mix in their home of traditional and modern pieces. The overall look can be described as ‘well-traveled,’ ” Kandrac says.
A backsplash of bold graphic marble mosaic tile sets a sophisticated tone for the room’s transitional style. The tile, which extends all the way to the ceiling for major impact, also sets a color palette of black, white and gray. The cabinets are a very light warm gray, while the walls are a few shades darker for contrast. A panel-front fridge blends right in with the cabinetry.
The homeowners had recently installed new hardwood floors in an adjacent room and they were able to match them in the new kitchen. The flooring anchors the room with warm tones.
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray; cabinet paint: City Loft; island paint: Mega Greige, all Sherwin-Williams; backsplash: New Era Carrara long hexagon with Lagos, Soho Studio
A backsplash of bold graphic marble mosaic tile sets a sophisticated tone for the room’s transitional style. The tile, which extends all the way to the ceiling for major impact, also sets a color palette of black, white and gray. The cabinets are a very light warm gray, while the walls are a few shades darker for contrast. A panel-front fridge blends right in with the cabinetry.
The homeowners had recently installed new hardwood floors in an adjacent room and they were able to match them in the new kitchen. The flooring anchors the room with warm tones.
Wall paint: Agreeable Gray; cabinet paint: City Loft; island paint: Mega Greige, all Sherwin-Williams; backsplash: New Era Carrara long hexagon with Lagos, Soho Studio
After: The designers kept the same setup for the couple’s end-of-day ritual. The new countertops in the room are Bianco Drift by Caesarstone. To make the island stand out, they gave its countertop a 6-centimeter-thick profile. The perimeter counters are the standard thickness of 3 centimeters.
Another sophisticated style choice was the light fixture. A trio of black, white and brass pendants hangs above the island.
Pendant lights: Cadence, Feiss; Spindle appliance pull (on fridge): Emtek
Another sophisticated style choice was the light fixture. A trio of black, white and brass pendants hangs above the island.
Pendant lights: Cadence, Feiss; Spindle appliance pull (on fridge): Emtek
Some of the enhanced functionality is hiding behind closed cabinet doors and drawers. Among the features: divided tray storage over the ovens, trash pullouts next to the sink, storage on both sides of the island, deep drawers for more ergonomic storage, and customized inserts for utensils and spices.
The awkward soffit between the cabinets and ceiling housed just one HVAC vent, which the designers were able to relocate to the toe kick. This allowed them to extend the upper cabinets, topped with crown molding, to the ceiling.
Cabinet hardware: Ascendra collection, Top Knobs
The awkward soffit between the cabinets and ceiling housed just one HVAC vent, which the designers were able to relocate to the toe kick. This allowed them to extend the upper cabinets, topped with crown molding, to the ceiling.
Cabinet hardware: Ascendra collection, Top Knobs
An undermount Silgranit composite sink and a sleek matte black faucet add modern touches. So do the clean-lined floating shelves to the right.
Kitchen sink: Precis Silgranit composite in Truffle, Blanco; faucet: Venuto, Brizo; sconces: Morgan one-light wall mount in matte black, Crystorama
Browse matte black kitchen faucets
Kitchen sink: Precis Silgranit composite in Truffle, Blanco; faucet: Venuto, Brizo; sconces: Morgan one-light wall mount in matte black, Crystorama
Browse matte black kitchen faucets
After: The left side of this rendering shows the new appliance garage area that replaced the desk. The large pocketing cabinet doors conceal a coffee maker, other small appliances and a microwave, as well as outlets for them. This area also houses the couple’s collection of cookbooks, providing easy access to them without taking up counter space.
After: Kandrac and Kole transformed the area into a chic bar, complete with trash and recycling pullouts, an ice maker, a beverage fridge, wine storage, barware storage and plenty of counter space to mix cocktails. The cabinets are a mix of solid doors, glass doors and stained white oak floating shelves. The cabinets with glass doors have LED lighting inside, and there are LED lights beneath the floating shelves. Note how the X shape of the wine storage repeats on the glass doors.
This backsplash is also a marble mosaic, but in a simpler rectangular shape. The colors are a beautiful range of gray tones. The gridded layout puts a traditional material into a modern composition.
Backsplash: Stack mosaic in Bleach, Cellar series, Florida Tile
Backsplash: Stack mosaic in Bleach, Cellar series, Florida Tile
The gray palette of the backsplash works beautifully with some of the homeowners’ favorite items. “They have many interesting and sentimental pieces sprinkled throughout their home,” Kandrac says. “We incorporated a beautiful sterling silver collection on the floating shelves at the bar.”
There’s still plenty of non-bar pantry storage at this end of the kitchen, including a pullout for dog food. The homeowners are delighted that the area now offers a whole lot more than just storage.
Hire a cabinet pro
There’s still plenty of non-bar pantry storage at this end of the kitchen, including a pullout for dog food. The homeowners are delighted that the area now offers a whole lot more than just storage.
Hire a cabinet pro
After: Lighter wood tones on the table and chairs update the look. Upholstered chairs, including host and hostess armchairs in a different textile, are comfy and inviting. A ring chandelier anchors the space and brings the high ceiling down to human scale.
Chandelier: Rooney, Currey & Co.
Chandelier: Rooney, Currey & Co.
Layout: This rendering shows how the pieces of the kitchen fit together as a whole — work triangle on the top left, appliance garage on the bottom left and the new bar on the right. The eat-in area is in the top right corner.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Atlanta
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Designers: Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole of Kandrac & Kole Interior Design
Contractor: Atlanta Remodeling & Construction
Cabinetry design and construction: Cabinet Resources
Before: It was time for a refresh. The tile floor had seen better days, the cabinet profiles were out of style and the painted soffits above the cabinets gave the room a dated look. However, the functionality of the layout worked well for the homeowners. A central island provided extra counter space within the work triangle, a spot for the stovetop and a place for the family of four to gather. So Kandrac and Kole kept all of the major appliance locations in approximately the same places.