Kitchen of the Week: Updated Colonial Style in Creamy White
A kitchen in a once-neglected house gets an elegant and roomy overhaul for a growing family
These homeowners grew up outside Philadelphia and met in their late twenties. After marrying and having children, they found their small starter home bursting at the seams. They spent two years searching for a bigger home before landing the traditional stone Colonial-style house they’d always dreamed of owning. But after sitting vacant for many years, the house needed a full head-to-toe renovation before the homeowners could move in. Here they share details on how they overhauled the kitchen with modern features and a creamy white look while respecting the history of the house.
Dark hardwood floors throughout the first floor were an early design decision; simple crisp white cabinets in a Shaker design were ideal to provide a bold contrast. For even more contrast, Schuh painted the island base a deep inky hue, Black Berry by Benjamin Moore.
BEFORE: “The original kitchen was very small, had suffered a few ill-planned renovations and ended up dark, split up and awkwardly laid out,” Schuh says. Because the house was already being gutted to update all the plumbing, electrical and HVAC, there was a clean slate to rework and optimize the kitchen’s new design. Here’s a shot of the kitchen after demolition, looking toward the open front door down the hallway on the right.
AFTER: This photo was taken from virtually the same angle. The kitchen now features a wall of cabinets with a juice bar, double oven and refrigerator.
Beaded inset cabinet: Penn line, Kountry Kraft; cabinet paint: Cloud White OC-130, Benjamin Moore; refrigerator: 36-inch flush custom French door bottom freezer, Thermador; 30-inch double built-in oven: Thermador
Beaded inset cabinet: Penn line, Kountry Kraft; cabinet paint: Cloud White OC-130, Benjamin Moore; refrigerator: 36-inch flush custom French door bottom freezer, Thermador; 30-inch double built-in oven: Thermador
Schuh says to highlight the charm of the home’s original details, the designers kept and restored all the original windows, like the one above the sink. Dark quartz countertops and warm brass cabinet hardware feel traditional against the white surroundings.
Countertop: Caesarstone in Raven; farmhouse sink: Kohler; 24-inch Emerald 4-program dishwasher: Thermador
Countertop: Caesarstone in Raven; farmhouse sink: Kohler; 24-inch Emerald 4-program dishwasher: Thermador
Opposite the sink wall and island sit a new banquette and eating area, which architect Mark Stanish made possible by bumping out the kitchen 5½ feet. A new large bank of windows with views to the backyard provides ample daylight.
Salvaged wood X-base table: Restoration Hardware; dining chairs: homeowners’ own; green banquette pillow fabric: Stella in Wheatgrass, Raoul Textiles for George Smith
Salvaged wood X-base table: Restoration Hardware; dining chairs: homeowners’ own; green banquette pillow fabric: Stella in Wheatgrass, Raoul Textiles for George Smith
“The backsplash really made the kitchen the clients’ own,” Schuh says. The plan evolved from brick to cement tile before they settled on a 2-by-8-inch glazed brick-style clay tile in a matte finish, for which Schuh says she searched high and low. The backsplash has an old-world charm, contrasting perfectly with the sleeker stainless appliances and quartz countertops.
Two-by-8-inch brick-style clay tile: Bizên in Paper Matte, Quarry Tile Co.
Two-by-8-inch brick-style clay tile: Bizên in Paper Matte, Quarry Tile Co.
For consistency, the herringbone-patterned backsplash goes all the way to the ceiling, including behind the range hood. The doorway on the left opens to a small home office.
36-inch gas range top with griddle and 36-inch chimney wall hood with blower: Thermador
36-inch gas range top with griddle and 36-inch chimney wall hood with blower: Thermador
The built-in desk in the home office is the same blackberry color as the kitchen island. Its walnut top was made from refurbished wood beams salvaged from the house’s original structure.
Past the home office is the mudroom entrance, where the family parks jackets, book bags and sports equipment. To tie in with the kitchen backsplash design, a floor with 2-by-8-inch tile greets snowy and muddy feet. Cubbies backed with painted beadboard, along with refurbished walnut bench seats and a new Dutch half door, add warmth and charm.
This floor plan shows the layout of the kitchen, including the cabinetry, banquette (on the bottom left) and appliances.
More
Cooking With Color: When to Use White in the Kitchen
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
More
Cooking With Color: When to Use White in the Kitchen
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in real estate, and their three children, ages, 5, 3 and 10 months
Location: St. Davids, Pennsylvania, a township about 15 miles outside Philadelphia
Size: 450 square feet (41.8 square meters)
Year built: 1938; renovated in 2015 to 2016.
Designers: Phoebe Schuh of PS & Daughters (interior designer) and Mark Stanish of Visich Architects (architect)
The homeowners opted for an open plan with a large island. Brass pendants highlight the home’s Colonial style and add a focal point. French bistro-style stools make a casually elegant addition. “The goal was to combine the traditional Colonial feel with a modern, livable elegance,” says interior designer Phoebe Schuh of PS & Daughters.
A farmhouse sink now overlooks a side yard. To the left of the sink area, a staircase leads to the girls’ bedrooms and a laundry room upstairs. Out of view is a large walk-in pantry to the right of the staircase.
Wall paint: Wind’s Breath OC-24, Benjamin Moore; island pendants: Darlana small lantern, E.F. Chapman for Circa Lighting; Riviera stools in Mushroom: Serena & Lily; island countertop: Caesarstone in Perla White