Quartzite counters and limestone walls create a light and relaxed feeling in this active zone.
Bringing in beautiful organic elements was the game plan for this Texas kitchen, formerly a dark space with 8-foot ceilings. The remodel was part of what turned into a whole-home renovation for the boomerang-shaped midcentury modern ranch house. Beautiful local Hill Country limestone, centuries-old reclaimed beams and stunning quartzite connect the room to the surrounding landscape.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grown children and a menagerie of pets, including dogs, cats and rabbits.
Location: San Antonio
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters)
Designer: Bradshaw Designs
“Their focus for the design was on nature,” interior designer Julie Bradshaw says. “Their property is private and has a lot of large trees, and the neighborhood has a lot of limestone walls. They wanted to bring that feeling inside.” The kitchen makes indoor-outdoor living easy thanks to the doors and windows.
The limestone is a material Texans have used in home building since the days of the settlers. The beautiful indigenous stone brings in a lot of the natural element, giving the walls beautiful texture and color. A 2-inch-thick veneer was used here.
Centuries-old beams in the recessed area of the tray ceiling draw the eye up. When the designers showed the homeowners beams that had come from an old barn in Pennsylvania, they fell in love with them. “You can still see all the notches and hatch marks in the beams,” Bradshaw says.
The layout incorporates a classic work triangle with an island in the middle. The dishwasher, to the right of the sink, and refrigerator, to the right of the wall ovens, are concealed behind panels that match the cabinetry. “We wanted them to just disappear rather than overwhelming the room with too much stainless steel,” Bradshaw says. “We wanted to concentrate on more natural, organic surfaces.” The window over the sink allows the homeowners to watch the world go by in their sidewalk-friendly neighborhood.
Wall paint: Natural Choice, Sherwin-Williams; island paint: Rock Bottom, Sherwin-Williams; beams: WoodCo
Tip: All of the lighting in the kitchen is LED. “3000K [degrees Kelvin] is the best color to invest in. It doesn’t go too blue and cold, nor too yellow and dingy,” Bradshaw says. “It makes everything bright and comfortable.”
“They love to cook. The first time we went over, she had just pulled cookies out of the oven for us that were still warm,” Bradshaw says. Creating a special area for cooking was a priority, accomplished by a generous nook for the range. “Countertop space here was important, and the nook creates a nice symmetrical focal point,” Bradshaw says. “You want enough room to cook and not feel like you’re cooking in a hole.”
A second showstopping stone is the Sea Pearl quartzite on the countertops and backsplash. Quartzite is a very durable natural stone. Creating the almost symmetrical V pattern in the veining in the range backsplash was no easy feat and required a lot of meticulous planning. Another long beam tops off this work area.
In addition to plenty of counter space, the nook incorporates deep drawers with full extension glides for storing cookware. And the side walls have recessed shelves to keep herbs, spices, oil and vinegar within easy reach.
“We kept the cabinet style clean and simple with a slight detail,” Bradshaw says. The hardware is pewter.
Cabinet paint: Fieldstone, Benjamin Moore
The white oak floorboards are laid on the diagonal. Using this continuous pattern was the best way to navigate the home’s boomerang or V-shaped footprint, as many of the rooms are open to one another. It also adds interesting movement and draws the eye to the warm wood.
The designers set up the seating side of the island away from the work area so that everyone can keep the chef company. “We made sure [the stools] were really comfy, and they swivel,” Bradshaw says. They’re covered in a stain-resistant fabric.
To the right of the refrigerator is a wine and coffee bar. Plus a TV for watching cooking shows.
Another item on the homeowners’ list was a “huge pantry.” This generous walk-in not only takes care of food storage but also has additional counter space and houses all of the small appliances.
