I’m past excited to lastly get to share half two of our kitchen transform with you all at the moment—the eating space (see half one right here!). I’ll get into a few of the design choices behind this house under. And as soon as this kitchen is FULLY achieved (the first factor we’re ready on is a panel-ready fridge, which is but to be delivered), we’ll be sharing skilled pictures and a video tour, so there’s loads extra to come back.

It means the world to me how excited all of you’ve been to come back alongside for the trip of this kitchen transform. Thanks for being so curious and invested within the design!

P.S. For more information on our kitchen design course of, watch our episode of the Design Minded collection.

For reference, right here’s a have a look at a few the earlier than pictures…

These are a couple of of the important thing design choices we made within the eating space…

Modified the structure and move

Within the unique ground plan of the house, what’s now the eating space was known as the “sunroom.” It was related to the kitchen but in addition felt like its personal separate entity. There was primarily an extended hallway kitchen with an island on one finish that had two supporting structural partitions and appeared into the sunroom.

Once we first moved into the home, we used the sunroom space as our household’s on a regular basis eating spot, however our eating desk at all times felt too cramped within the house. Via the transform, we determined to take away the unique island (and its two supporting partitions) which has improved the performance of the house a lot. It’s made the cooking and eating areas actually move collectively in a very cohesive means.

Took a unique method for the seating space

As we have been designing this house, I saved coming again to pictures I’d saved of English kitchens. Most of them had a eating desk on the coronary heart of the house reasonably than a kitchen island, and one thing a couple of desk within the kitchen felt so relaxed and charming to me. So, I looked for a desk. However I couldn’t discover one which match the design aesthetic I wished. Those I got here throughout by no means had the standard particulars I used to be on the lookout for; all of them had a extra Scandinavian, clear design reasonably than the English nation really feel I wished. All through the design course of, I’d additionally gone backwards and forwards about the potential of incorporating an island as a substitute of a desk, however the house appeared too slim to make it work.

One of many primary causes we have been so caught on the choice of desk vs. island is as a result of the seating space we’d incorporate into this house would have an effect on the design of different rooms in the home. If we didn’t have a real eating desk within the kitchen, we’d want to determine methods to incorporate one into the design of one other room (extra on that in future posts!).

This eating space is the house we labored on for our episode of Design Minded. When the present’s design workforce got here in, they turned decided that an island was what would work greatest within the house. The counter-height island would create each a pure spot for eating and a pure workspace, which was precisely what our household wanted. It might additionally make the 2 separate areas of the kitchen extra cohesive visually.

The choice so as to add an island in the end got here right down to how we need to use the house most typically and what’s going to greatest serve our on a regular basis wants. This was such an necessary lesson I realized via the design course of: Typically the ultimate determination must be about what actually is smart for the way in which you reside your day by day life reasonably than catering solely to a selected design idea. 

This was such an necessary lesson I realized via the design course of: Typically the ultimate determination must be about what actually is smart for the way in which you reside your day by day life reasonably than catering solely to a selected design idea. 

I completely love the ultimate end result. The paint color and hardware on the cabinetry beneath the island match that of the adjoining cabinetry. We went with a butcher block countertop for the island as a result of it primarily felt like a piece desk. Like so lots of the different supplies on this kitchen, the butcher block is gorgeous nevertheless it’s not too valuable.

Added a few distinctive design parts

We added a couple of distinctive design parts that make this house really feel actually particular. I chosen the massive overhead pendant light early on within the course of. The fabric is felt so it provides a pleasant heat texture and helps with acoustics too.

The wall hanging was added by the Design Minded workforce. They knew how a lot I like artwork and wished so as to add some coloration to the realm. It’s hand-painted and was bought domestically, and I like the softness and coloration it provides to the house.

What’s my favourite a part of the eating space?

My favourite half about this house is the home windows. I like the sunshine they let in and that we’re capable of benefit from the view of the yard whereas consuming dinner or engaged on a challenge on the island. 

Whereas the home windows have been an current factor earlier than we made any updates to the house, I believe the way in which we modified the structure in the course of the transform—particularly by eradicating the unique island and its adjoining partitions—actually helped amplify their impression.

What last particulars can we plan to replace/add over time?

There are not any extra main modifications being made on this house! In some unspecified time in the future, we might replace the counter stools to one thing much less fashionable, with extra of an English nation aesthetic. For now, I added in a few woven stools I discovered for $50 every at a consignment store in St. Paul (Movables on Randolph, for any curious locals!). I need to reside with them for a bit and see how I like their design and performance earlier than making any last choices about whether or not I’d swap out all of the modern stools for extra on this woven design.

The opposite change we’ll make is within the hallway that leads right down to the basement. I like how eradicating half of that wall visually opened up the eating space, and the ensuing clean wall house can be such nook for artwork. We’ll determine what to do on this space after we begin to make extra concrete choices in regards to the design of the basement.

Product Sources

Pendant: Menu Dancing Pendant from 2Modern
Island: Iron Roots Woodworks
Cupboard {Hardware}: D. Lawless Hardware
Cupboard Paint Shade: Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball
Wall Hanging: Studio Ruyee
Bar Stools: Edina Boucle Bar Stools from CB2
Paneling: White oak from the unique kitchen
Rugs: Chairish
Flooring: Queen Beige Marble from The Tile Shop
Heated Flooring: SunTouch

Counter tops: Calacatta Viola Marble from Artistic Tile
Cupboards: Paintable Cabinet Fronts from BOXI by Semihandmade (The paintable model is in growth and has not but launched. We have been one of many first testers for the product.)
Wine Fridge: Panel-Ready Undercounter Wine Cellar from KitchenAid
Brass Shelving: DIY challenge utilizing BOXI by Semihandmade Shelves and IKEA Brass Panels
Sconce Above Bar: Pogo Brass and Cane Sconce from CB2

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