Behind the Design: Warm Wood Haven

When my client told me they had toddler twin girls, I immediately knew we had a connection! There is something about being a twin parent, that instantly makes you go “I see you, and I understand your struggles.”

As got to know them more, their needs became very clear. He is a professional chef, but doesn’t spend as much time cooking at work anymore. He needed a space to continue his craft while feeding his family and entertaining friends. She wanted everything to look beautiful and be more functional. And of course, the twins had changing needs, so the kitchen had to adapt as they grew.

We settled on natural white oak as our cabinetry material, because it really connected with the natural setting. They had already installed new oak flooring, so the combination became a warm retreat from the daily ups and downs of family life.

Since appliances were the most important piece for him, he selected the perfect range top and oven combo. (It took forever to get here, but that’s a story for another day!) We also decided to panel the fridge and dishwasher to seamlessly integrate them into the design. For entertaining, we created a wet bar/coffee station where their guests would have easy access to an ice machine and a beverage fridge without intruding on the main kitchen. The appliances really dictated the layout for this one, so onto the biggest struggle—storage.

Storage for most families is truly a hardship. We have so many items that we want to access on a daily basis and then many we need to use a few times a week. To solve this problem, we worked to get a full-sized pantry with roll outs, pot storage underneath the range top and 9 drawers in the island! Now, we still didn’t get EVERYTHING into this kitchen, but the key is to have flexible storage so when your needs change, your kitchen can adapt with you.

From there, it’s the small details that make the biggest difference. The hand applied texture on the plaster hood. The molding on the base of the range, sink and island. The brass fixtures that keep the design modern yet classic.

So there’s your glimpse behind the scenes to see how we made design decisions for this custom kitchen! When you build or remodel your forever family home, it’s important to slowdown and make selections that will last.