What’s New
We are excited to share this recently historic home remodel, built in 1824. This project presented us with some unique design challenges that we were able to overcome, resulting in a beautiful finished product and a very well-functioning kitchen.
Also known as Antebellum architecture, this property not only gives us an intimate look at how people once lived in this southern region but also shows the characteristics and style of a stunning southern design, which remains rich in history.
Design Challenge: The Floor Plan
Keeping the existing floor plan was not ideal for this particular kitchen layout. We needed to incorporate a washer and dryer into the space. Since it was an older home, there were not many areas to “fit” this in. Combining the kitchen and laundry rooms was the best option for this design solution.
Before
The current laundry room and kitchen were part of an addition that was built onto the home in the 1970s. Wanting to stay true to the original layout, we closely followed the existing design but opened up the space by removing the wall between the kitchen and laundry room. The way that addition was built allowed us to open up the entire area.
New Floor Plan
With the vision of removing walls, this was the newly revised floor plan, showing how much space we would gain and how a more unified space would be created.
The Design Process
The design process began in the center of the kitchen with the hood over the 71” wide La Cornue French Range. The beautiful callback to old-world style set the tone for the rest of the kitchen.
Creating Symmetry
We used the cabinets to create symmetry in the room by using two sinks under the windows. From here, we filled in the spaces from the wall to the sink cabinet and the sink cabinet to the range with the client’s requirements. They chose to use two large pantry cabinets on the walls to optimize storage, and we also had room for two dishwashers. They got a double set of drawer cabinets between the sink and range.
To recap, that’s two sinks, two dishwashers, two pantry cabinets, fourteen drawers, and no wasted space. Only custom cabinets by Walker Woodworking could have achieved this level of customization and given the homeowner exactly what they wanted and needed.
Refrigerator and Washer & Dryer
We still have to find an area for the designer column sub-zero refrigerator and freezer units – each is 30″ and a washer and dryer.
On the wall opposite the left window, we made an area resembling the furniture to house the refrigerator and a stacked washer and dryer, all hidden behind the cabinets.
Hutches & Farm-Style Island
Even with what we had already placed in this space, there was still room to add two hutch cabinets and a farmhouse-style island. Both added elegance and charm to the already beautiful design, not to mention extra storage and seating areas.
Once we had the cabinet layout details done, it was time to move into the next part of our goal: to create a look that represented an English Farmhouse style. The remaining finishing touches were mostly cabinet finish selections. With some guidance and creativity from our in-house design team, we offered the homeowner several unique options. Using the redesigned floor plan, the walls were removed and moved down to the exposed brick of the original home. Initially, the client wanted to use a shade of green that would have complemented the white she had selected well. However, we just couldn’t settle on a color that looked good with the exposed brick. Our next option was a shade of blue that could be painted and glazed to complement the exposed brick. The team at Walker Woodworking made a few samples using colors the design team selected and some photo inspiration to perfect the glazing. We will let the photos speak for themselves.
Completing The Look
For the final step, we needed to design an island that reflected a farmhouse style from the early 1800s. We believed the island was the perfect piece to bring in natural wood tones that looked weathered and aged, using quarter-sawn white oak and a cerusing technique.
Greenbrook DesignYou have just waved goodbye to your last child as they head out to college. While you adjust to not having kids in the house, you also begin to realize that you now have more space, but you’re not sure what to do with it. There are many ways to reuse the space, expand existing spaces, or make room for something new. Let’s take a look at the design possibilities available to you.
In the second of our three-part series on selection tips, we want to focus on tile. Backsplash, shower walls, and flooring are just a few of the many uses for tile since it is beautiful, durable, and timeless. Sometimes considered a small part of the design, it has the potential to make a big impact on the design. Here are some helpful tips when choosing tile.
While cabinets tend to be the focal point of the main spaces, such as kitchens and bathrooms, it is the details that add the final touch to the design. The selection process can be one of the highlights of the design phase, but it can also be overwhelming with multiple styles, colors, and options. In this three-part series, we want to give our best tips for the top three categories of selections and help make this as enjoyable and simple as possible. Our focus today is hardware.
In our final part of the selection tips series, we want to focus our attention on lighting. Good lighting can make a difference in the room; no one enjoys struggling to see around the shadows cast by insufficient light or the glare of one placed too low. Here’s what should be on your list of things to look for when selecting your lighting.
There’s no denying the appeal of HGTV’s popular renovation shows such as Fixer Upper, Love It or List It, and Property Brothers. These programs consistently deliver impressive home transformations, turning outdated properties into stylish, modern living spaces—all within the span of a neatly packaged, one-hour episode.
While unexpected challenges and budget concerns occasionally arise, the hosts reliably navigate these obstacles, keeping projects on track and showcasing the kind of resilience and problem-solving that resonates with homeowners and renovation professionals alike.
Greenbrook Design