It was Christmas 2022 when Julie Riggin and her family got far more than they asked Santa for.
They were out of town for the holiday when a pipe burst in their house and leaked for two days before a neighbor noticed and came to the rescue.
It was an unplanned full renovation, but one for which Riggin was ready.
The kitchen is located between the dining room and a living space. When they moved in almost five years ago, it was separated from these adjoining spaces by two peninsulas, one on each side, inhibiting the flow. This was only one of the design elements she was ready to retire, including dark colors that closed in the dining space and chalk paint on the doors that no longer served their family and were hard to keep clean.
She went for bright and airy–yet classic–denoting the push and pull between a traditional and modern aesthetic.
Selective open shelving with strategically placed glass-front cabinets opens up the space. She chose the color Snowbound for her walls. It is white with a grey undertone, cooling off some of the warmer tones in the room and one that withstands the changing of seasonal décor. Riggin has a classic marble backsplash and quartz countertops for durability. One subtle design element she couldn’t resist was installing different countertop edges on the island countertop than on the rest of the kitchen.
In explaining her space, she was asked about her decision to forgo the traditional kitchen appliance triangle. She explained that by putting all of the appliances onto one side of the island, she was able to pull the familial flow of traffic outside of her workspace so the activity of daily life can still carry on around her, yet not be directly underfoot.
On the opposite side of her kitchen is a hidden workspace.
“We have changed as a society when it comes to the number of our appliances we own and use,” she notes. In order to create a space for those appliances where they are accessible, yet hidden, Riggin installed a wall-to-wall pantry and beverage station. An added appliance cabinet with deep base drawers keep all of the appliances in close range but hidden behind closed doors when the space needs a quick clean.
The island is the centerpiece of the kitchen, literally and figuratively. It allows delineation of the space while providing extra workspace and storage. Outside of sheer functionality, it’s a design element. The countertop is rounded on the edges creating a pill shape for the high traffic area to eliminate potential bruises and add softness to the space. Riggin added detailing under the countertop as a layer of interest and design as well as shelves for visual interest.
When asked about an insider design tip, she warns against purchasing the 20-pack of drawer pulls for a space like this, explaining that mixing up hardware size keeps the space visually interesting. For example, the proportion of a drawer pull should be based on the size of a cabinet or drawer. Her rule is to divide a drawer by three and add a little bit to find the correct size for the space.
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