From the very beginning, the one thing the homeowner knew she wanted was soapstone for the perimeter of her kitchen counters, so this ended up being the jumping off point for the kitchen design. To coordinate with this we selected a gorgeous marble for the island. While we looked for an alternative to marble in order to have less upkeep, this combination couldn't be beat. Both stones play off of each other beautifully, and honestly, neither takes away from the other, which is not easy to do when mixing stones within one space. My client is choosing to not oil her soapstone, at least not at first, to preserve the gray tone. Over time, if she wants a new look or is finding that she has lot of discoloration she can always have the counters oiled which will then turn the soapstone to a darker, almost black finish.
The kitchen is open concept to the dining and living room (all rooms are in a row), so we wanted to make sure the lighting plan was cohesive throughout all three spaces. The first light we selected was for the living room, which has a massive two story fireplace and windows. We knew we needed to find a light that wouldn't get lost in the space, but also stayed true to the simple, modern farmhouse feel. The large 60" round chandelier was the perfect choice. The wood ties in nicely with the fireplace mantle, dining room beam, and floating shelves in the kitchen (all will be made from the rustic, reclaimed wood shown below). We used the subtle brass accents on the chandelier as our inspiration for the remainder of the lighting.
In the dining room the ceiling height is lower, although I use this term loosely as they are still 10'0", so we didn't need nearly as large of a chandelier. We also didn't want a fixture that was too visually heavy since this in the center line of vision from the kitchen to the living room. We found this fabulous brass candlelight-style fixture that has an open feeling and is the correct scale for the homeowners' existing dining table.
Sticking with an antique brass finish, we selected swing arm sconces for the fireplace wall built-ins and glass globes with a brass accent for the kitchen island.
The walls are going to be painted one of my favorite shades of soft white and the cabinets will be a slightly brighter white to create a little contrast. To make the island stand out, we're using a light gray that looks beautiful with the marble countertop and the European White Oak floors. While I love a pop of color, there is something so magical about a beautifully muted space that is filled with texture, pattern, sheen, and gorgeous details. Can't wait to see this kitchen come together in the end.
Glen Arbor Kitchen Plan
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