Before and After: This Kitchen Now Brims With Life, Texture, and Personality
A “brand new builder basic home” that was “just a bit too vanilla” got some deep customization that totally sets it apart from all of the other homes in its subdivision, and the results are fantastic.
The Naked Decorator—a.k.a. designer Veronica Solomon—has added so much life, texture, personality, and color to this formerly standard kitchen. Most of the major elements are in a neutral palette—wood floor and door, grey cabinets, white countertops, white tile—while the island is a deliciously deep teal. That paint color transforms the island into the jewel of the kitchen, but it could also easily be repainted years down the line for a totally different look.
The gold pendants, handles, and faucet add glam, while the wood pantry door, “hide on hair” stools, and marble countertops add an organic richness. All of the ceramic pieces that we can glimpse through the glass panes are sculptural and personal. Also of note is the black stainless steel fridge on the right edge of the frame.
Here are the cabinets without paint and glass, which really allows us to appreciate their proportions.
This hexagonal cement tile is really special, and it’s rare we get to see an entire wall given to a unique tile like this; usually it’s limited to a small backsplash or bathroom floor. It does a great job uniting this long wall and is basically a statement wall for the entire kitchen.
The glass-front cabinets solve two of the issues we often see with the trendy open shelving: These allow treasured pieces to be seen while actually providing a serious amount of storage, and the glass protects all of the pieces from grease and dust. As if that wasn’t enough, the cabinets have a subtle secret:
The upper cabinets were painted out in a deep gray and then I had a faux painter, Faux by Jenny, come in and add a subtle faux finish.
There’s even more storage in the pantry! Also, this photo emphasizes that the fridge is set apart from the stove and the sink, which is nice, especially when you’re hosting. It can be stressful to have people constantly coming into your workspace to get drinks and such out of the fridge. Perhaps that’s not an “ideal” work triangle, but anything that keeps people out of my cooking zone is great by me.
The gorgeous floor is actually porcelain tile, and Veronica has “it running throughout the entire first floor.” The hues of the faux-wood tile is wonderful with the teal, and the geometry is fun juxtaposed with that of the door and the wall tile. I also enjoy the convenient cookbook nook, because the cookbooks are right at-hand, but away from any cooking splatters.
Thank you, The Naked Decorator!