This lovely plan for a traditional coastal kitchen mixes neutral tones and textures with just enough blue and green accents.
I mentioned in my Home Goals, part 3 that I would tackle the kitchen this quarter so our new home better reflects who we are. So we're diving in headfirst with a kitchen mood board, the perfect starting point for any room makeover.
Honestly, this kitchen is already pretty fabulous as it is. It just needs some personality! When we first toured the house, I figured the layout and countertops would frustrate me, but I actually love them!
It has really great bones, beautiful hardwood floors, tons of natural light, white kitchen cabinets, a neutral countertop and a large pantry. I LOVE the original Kitchen Aid double ovens. They are tough workhorses. And the "appliance garage," which is missing its doors, is a handy spot for our microwave and toaster oven.
The island cooktop was already installed when we bought the house. I thought I'd rather have a sink in the island, but the cooktop there has worked out great. We use the island no less than 50 times a day, and it's ideal as a serving buffet when we have guests.
All in all, I love this space! It just needs some personality. Take a look at where we're starting…
One of the first things I did after we moved in was paint the kitchen Edgecomb Gray over the previous light yellow. It took a while before I loved it, but I LOVE the color now!
We carried the color through the kitchen into the hallways and up to a loft area with no windows, so I needed a neutral that works in both low light and bright light throughout my home. It's perfect.
As you can see, it's a great space and the perfect blank canvas to build on! I have big plans and can't wait to get started. Here's the mood board I put together to gather all of my ideas in one place.
If you want to learn how to create your own mood board, I've got a tutorial for you!
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I've kept some of the elements that came with the room, like the flooring and solid surface countertops. Almost everything else is simply adding color, texture and personality to the space.
Lighting in the Kitchen
We have 8 can lights, under-cabinet lighting and the chandelier over the kitchen table. There's plenty of light, which is a cook's dream. But the light over the kitchen table is broken (not to mention ugly) and needs to be replaced ASAP.
I'm going to hang this gorgeous brass chandelier over the table:
Then I'd like to add a pendant light with a woven shade over the island. I know there's a way to convert a can light into a pendant, so we'll try our hand at that. The can light over the island is centered above it, so it'll be a fun way to add texture and personality to that spot!
Window Coverings in the Kitchen
I've gone back and forth on adding curtains in this room. I usually LOVE curtains everywhere, but I don't want to block any of the natural light.
I also don't have much room on either side of the windows next to the French doors, so I don't think I'll put curtains there. But I will add my favorite striped curtains to the windows to the left of the garage door.
There's definitely room to hang curtains beside the windows without blocking any light. I think they'll be there mainly for texture and to soften the room, not really pulled closed at night.
The sun shines really brightly through those windows in the afternoons, so it'll be nice to have the option to block it when we want to.
And now for the window over the kitchen sink. I have fallen completely in LOVE with this Fabricut Fleur Botanical fabric. Trust me, it's even prettier in person. I'm either going to make a Roman shade for that window or pay someone to make one.
This gorgeous fabric is really the starting point for this whole design, and I'm obsessed with it. I have a sample sitting in my office, and I catch myself just staring at it sometimes!
The final window coverings will be the same bamboo blinds I used in our last home. We're adding them to the French doors in the kitchen (and in our bedroom and my office).
They're the Designer Series Woven Wood Shades from SelectBlinds.com in the Jute Wheat color. (If you use my code TURQHOME, you'll receive an additional 5% off your order.) They look so pretty in person, and I can't wait to put them on the French doors. See more about how to pick out bamboo blinds HERE.
Rugs in the Kitchen
I'd love to put this striped jute rug, sized 8'x8', under our kitchen table. Yes, my kids will make it dirty, but it hides stains well, anchors the table area and adds more texture to the space.
I'd also like a runner beside the island where I'm always standing to cook. Maybe something in this blue herringbone pattern? I'm not sure how well this type of rug holds up to stains, so I may need to research it more, but this is the idea.
Seating in the Kitchen
We're keeping the X-back wooden chairs around our kitchen table. I've had those for years and love them!
I'd like to swap the bar stools at the counter for something more woven and better suited to the space. This woven Parisian counter stool may not be the exact one we end up choosing, but it'll be something similar.
The stools we have now came with us from our previous house. They're bar-height, which has been fine, but they're a little too tall for the counter. I'd also like stools with backs.
I also plan to add this bench (with a cushion and drawers) on the wall with the 3 floor-to-ceiling windows. We need more of a drop zone where we come in from the garage, and a place to sit down and put on shoes, with drawers for shoe storage. I think it'll be perfect there!
Accessories & Paint in the Kitchen
Most of the accessories from the mood board are already here. My collection of cutting boards hangs beside the pantry door. I love them there and plan to keep them.
We've also hung some mudroom and entryway essentials beside the garage door. I've had the mirror with hooks and cubbies for probably 20 years. I may paint it or sand it down and refinish it, but it's a real workhorse for us.
We recently got the dry-erase calendar, and I may paint its edges brass, and the clock too. The hooks became essential when my kids were in school last year. This summer we're using them for my purse, hats and masks.
I'd love to add a lamp on the kitchen counter behind the sink, and maybe one of my favorite easy plants.
As for how I plan to use Comfort Gray in the kitchen? I'm seriously considering painting the pantry door and the garage door that color. I have a little swatch painted on poster board hanging on the pantry door right now, and I become more obsessed with the idea every day!
And finally, the gorgeous cabinet knobs and pulls from the mood board. I'd love to replace all of the chrome knobs in the kitchen with these lovely brass ones. I'm not sure I can get 42 of them without a major sale, but we'll see! I'll be watching for a serious discount!
I bought the handle for my dishwasher cabinet door cover, and I'd love for them all to match. But again, I'm going to need a sale to make that happen!
So, what do you think? Do you have any tips for my kitchen makeover? If so, I'd love to hear them in the comments!
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