Our client loves her kitchen table and did not want to part with it. When we re-oriented the room, the table just didn't fit very well. The idea surfaced to build custom banquette seating around the table and into the back of the island. By creating this area, we could have the best of all worlds.
The table would stay, it would be center stage, and situated right under the skylights. We then had the opportunity to add built-in storage into the banquette seating. The creation of the custom banquette allowed for a long bank of lower cabinetry, providing more storage. We decided against a seam in the countertop and opted to add a wood top along this stretch of counter area instead, which created more serving and prep space.
The Built-In Banquet
Countertops are such a big deal! We focused in on identifying just the right stone for the countertops in this space. We took lots of field trips to "unearthed natural art galleries"...I mean stone yards. After a few visits to a few different stone yards, and then some serious 3D modeling to show the beauty of the stone we ultimately landed on, a granite slab was the winner. This charcoal toned granite with veining in chocolate browns, and milky whites stole the show for us. Once we determined how we would integrate these darker tones into the overall design plan as well as use it in spots for backsplash, the rest of the kitchen became lighter.
Finding the Right Stone
We created a command center when you first enter the kitchen from the garage. In the command center, the family now has one spot to organize mail, homework, tech charging, and storage.
Once we realized how much cooking and entertaining this family loves, we turned the former hall that ran between their powder room, and behind their kitchen into a walk-in pantry for food storage and prep space.
The Command Center + Pantry
We used light oak and white painted wood in the rest of the kitchen. We love reeded wood. Reeded wood is a sheet of wood with a profile rounded in a series of scallops. We chose to use it on the sides of the banquette and on the wall, where the family calendar and weekly menu are displayed. The use of this wood ties directly to the wood-style, slatted tile used in the command center and at the coffee bar. We bookended the walls between the white cabinetry and the light oak cabinetry to create a play on white and oak which we carried throughout the kitchen. We decked out all the cabinets and appliances in brass hardware. We chose fabric that spoke back to the dark countertops and the white wood for the custom cushions.
Custom Cabinetry
This was a dream project. We had tons of fun along the way and the trust this family gave us as we navigated from start to finish was unwavering. We are so very grateful each time the doors open to us using our imaginations to help families enjoy their homes a little bit more. This family is near and dear to my heart. I requested an all-time seat at that custom banquette. So far so great! I've already enjoyed a zucchini muffin, which was the maiden bake in their new GE Cafe series oven; color: matte white, handles: brushed bronze. Thank you so much M & S.
The Before
