When updating a home, the most impactful transformations start by honoring what already works. For this Fair Oaks Ranch kitchen, designer Donen Kemnitz of Favorite Design Co. bypassed a full demolition to update and highlight the room's existing soul. By pairing original, high-quality structure with meaningful local craft, Kemnitz turned a 20-year-old space into a timeless hub of family life. Here, Kemnitz shares how legacy elements and collaborations with local artisans can redefine the heart of your home.
favoritedesignco.com | donen@favoritedesignco.com
(Responses edited for length and clarity.)
This home has strong New England influences. In what ways did you honor the client's East Coast roots while keeping the design fresh for the Texas Hill Country?
The client has always been drawn to the home's overall style because it reminds her of the houses she grew up in on the East Coast. We wanted to lean into that New England vibe while pulling back on its farmhouse feel. We were inspired by Jean Stoffer’s Sutton Blue, so the client, our local paint company, and I worked together to create the perfect blue for the cabinets in this space.
To build on that coastal feel, we selected a quartz that reminded her of the ocean for a full-height backsplash on the butler’s cabinet. We then grounded those East Coast notes in the Hill Country by collaborating with local makers. Robert Rustin crafted a custom island from walnut sourced directly from a local ranch, balancing Texas-regional craftsmanship with timeless coastal design.
It's notable how much you didn’t redo in this project. How do you decide what stays and what goes during a kitchen update?
This kitchen is a perfect example of creating something new without starting from scratch. Favorite does full-service design for new builds and remodels, but we also love doing “room refreshes,” and this kitchen fell somewhere in between those concepts. We made significant changes to the countertops, lighting, island, and furniture. But we kept a lot, too. The cabinets were in excellent shape, and as the project unfolded, we realized the patina and character of the concrete floors added so much to the space.
When you are creating something new, you don’t want it to fall flat with everything bright and shiny. It can take time for a room to grow character, so we like to preserve existing charm and bring in items that add instant character whenever we can.
The wet bar got a second act as a coffee station. What did you do to repurpose this underutilized corner for modern needs?
Like most kitchens built in the 1990s, this home had an adjoining wet bar that was no longer needed. We wanted to make this space more functional, so we removed the swing doors and permanently cased the opening. We added a panel-ready fridge that blended in without screaming, “I’m a wine fridge!” The family invested in a new espresso machine, and we added an under-cabinet railing to hold coffee cups. The cabinets had been recently painted a taupe-gray that went beautifully with our custom blue in the main kitchen, making the coffee bar feel purposeful and like a true extension of the kitchen.
This project features a robust roster of local makers and antique shops. Why was local trade collaboration so vital to this design?
The local trade and artisan collaborations are really what made it such a privilege to be a part of this project. While selections and materials stand out on their own, decor, custom work, and art are what truly make a space feel lived-in and functional. We had so much fun sourcing items that were beautiful while serving a real purpose. We shopped locally for vintage finds and brought in custom, artisan-made pieces, including a commissioned painting that reminded the client of her grandmother's rose gardens. Although you can make significant updates with new finishes, the trusted trades we work with and our collaborations with local artisans are what make this kitchen truly unique.
Trusted Trades
Plumbing Olde Town Plumbing | oldetownplumbing.com
Electrical Good Times Electric | goodtimessa.com
Painting Newlands Pro Painting | facebook.com/Newlandspro
Cabinetry & Woodworking R. Rustin Cabinets & Joinery | rrustin.com
Stone Pietra Granite | pietragranite.com
Fine Art Shiloh Billingsley | @craftsbyshiloh
Vintage & Antiques Boerne Farmhouse | boernefarmhouse.com
Mainly Vintage | @mainlyvintageboerne
Johns Road Antique Mall | johnsroadantiquemall.com
Artisans & Decor Lake and Ember | lakeandemberco.com
Rebecca Switzer | strange1strings@gmail.com
Dan Smith
“Although you can make significant updates with new finishes, the trusted trades we work with and our local artisan collaborations are what make this kitchen truly unique.”
“Create something new and timeless without starting from scratch.”