Erin Riley of Erin Paige Design and her boyfriend decided on buying a first home as a fixer-upper. This formerly cramped, outdated kitchen space had a few good qualities – its high ceilings and overall good structure.
By switching the refrigerator and pantry first, the fridge was able to be placed in a more easily accessed area. A finishing end panel disguises a place for a mail and junk area.
The couple demolished the wall separating the kitchen from the living area themselves, replacing it with a shorter wall with a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling stone.
For their “rustic-luxe” design, the couple built a wood barn door out of reclaimed materials. The door replaces a former double door, which made the guestroom on the other side impractically small.
The light gray cabinetry is the compromise between the couple’s contracting preferences. “This way it still feels warm, comfortable and updated at the same time,” said Riley. “And hopefully this will prove to be a little more timeless and classic.”
“My personal taste would have called for a really fun backsplash with an intricate design and some bling, but this house really didn’t need all of that,” explained Riley. “It really needed a subtle look since there are so many other interesting elements in this great room.”
Now facing the living room and the dining area, the kitchen island was moved to define the kitchen and help traffic flow.