This adorable house in nestled among a luscious natural landscape overlooking the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez wine country in California. One of its best features is the warm, natural sunlight that pours in from every direction. Our client wanted an inviting place to entertain guests with a slightly contemporary feel. She asked us to incorporate some casual elements that speak to the easy, breezy lifestyle of Santa Ynez and her own personal life.

Before…

Although the kitchen was outdated, it had a good layout that the client had grown used to which provided adequate storage and since removing walls was not an option, we felt we had some pretty good bones to work with. On the top of the client’s list was modern and clean overhead lighting, black matte plumbing fixtures, new appliances (except for the refrigerator), glass tile backsplash and a charging station for her devices.

We got to work right away by visiting local showrooms to select our tile, plumbing, cabinetry, countertops and appliances which we presented these ideas to the client in a moodboard format along with real samples of our selections, and also drawings, elevations and 3D visuals to help her see it all come together. Of course, she was instantly delighted with the new fresh approach we were proposing!

Although we weren’t changing the layout, we did change the cabinetry configuration to create symmetry around the sink and stove area. We added a lot more drawers and much needed pots and pans storage plus even a cool charging station inside one of the drawers! We selected two cabinetry for two reasons: our client didn’t want an all white kitchen, and we felt that all stained wood cabinetry was going to make it look too dark and small in this already small space. The solution of combining white and stained cabinetry gave us the casual approach of a bright and inviting kitchen that we were after.

After…

The finished result is a bright, sun filled kitchen with a soothing color palette of the soft blue glass tile backsplash, warm cabinetry in a two-tone color combination, contrasted by matte black hardware. We removed the outdate grid lighting which seemed so overwhelming in the small kitchen and added simple recessed lights for a clean look. Since the ceilings are only 8’ high we opted for no chandeliers or pendants. By taking the backsplash all the way to the ceiling it gives the illusion of added height. I specially love the sleek modern lines of the black matte Brizo faucet with a hint of gold and the reflection of the glass tile. It adds such elegance to this space!

Remember what it looked like before? Uninspiring, cramped and cluttered.

Now, it’s a happy and bright kitchen with a small breakfast nook, a perfect place to drink a cup of coffee or sip a glass of Chardonnay with friends. This quickly became the client’s favorite spot where she can also enjoy the beautiful views of the natural landscape that surrounds this home.

I’ll let you in on a little secret…the client isn’t much of a cook. But I hope that this beautiful new cooking area has inspired her to make some yummy dinners.

Thanks for following along. To view more images of this project click here. If you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen, and need advice and guidance, we’re here to help!

xo,

Claudia