The Kitchen, Breakfast Nook, & Laundry Room
Welcome to The Colorado Cottage – Part 1! This is one of three reveal posts for this project, and to kick things off I’ll dish the pretty details of this home’s Kitchen & Breakfast nook, and give you a peek into the tiny (but mighty) laundry room!
I can’t start this series off without saying “THANK YOU” to my amazing clients. They’re so near and dear to my heart. For over a year and a half, we dreamed together, celebrated wins together, and problem-solved the “hiccups” (and there were plenty on this one) together ;). I’ve come away with so much respect for them as individuals and a couple, and I truly wish them all of the best things in life as they finally get to settle into their beautiful & newly renovated home. Now, let’s get to it!
Behind the Design…
This project is so unique to my typical aesthetic, and I love that it pushed me in a slightly more traditional direction than some past projects. It’s so fun to dabble in different styles while keeping a clean-lined & organic Hill Interiors “stamp” on things. When I first began to dream up a concept for this home, I took inspiration from the homeowners’ travels and personal style, and blended it with a clean and natural “cottage” feel with obvious nods to their home’s beautiful natural Colorado setting. We really honed in on organic, storied materials such as handmade tiles, woven fabrics, natural stones, an earthy color palette, and plenty of warm wood tones and natural finishes. The finished space almost feels like a retreat you’d find in a European countryside plopped down into the foothills of the Rockies, hence the name, “The Colorado Cottage”. Let’s dive into the heart of the home first, shall we?
The Kitchen…
Before:
And After!!
Streamlined Functionality…
Ugh, I love these before and after shots SO much. As you can see, we removed and/or extended several walls to increase the island space and below-counter storage as much as possible (since we removed a few uppers) and also to allow us to squeeze those double ovens in the corner there. The traffic and task flow is infinitely better than it was before. Also, since this couple plays host to friends, family, and lots of grand kiddos often (see the chalkboard we added for them to doodle on?! My heart!), the added seating capacity around the large island will be put to great use as well. There’s nothing I love more than creating spaces where loved ones can gather together comfortably.
We added plenty of functionality to the mail center and pantry area as well. This cozy “desk” provides a spot to sit down and sort through mail, organize odds and ends, charge your devices, and pop open a bottle of wine while you do it. I’m all in on making the smallest mundane tasks more enjoyable, aren’t you?! In the pantry just through those petite French doors, we added beautiful custom cabinetry topped with Walnut butcherblock and extra electrical outlets to hide away the small appliances too.
Elegantly Simple Finishes…
As I mentioned before, keeping the aesthetic soft and natural with plenty of organic texture was a must. For the finishes, we opted for a warm & soft, taupe-y grey on the cabinetry that served as the perfect supporting partner to all of the other stars in this kitchen. The pendant lighting and hardware are a gorgeous Antique Brass finish (don’t you love the detail on these handles?!) which picks up the warmth in the veining of the stunning Quartzite countertops and the tile as well.
These handmade Zellige tiles were installed in a “random” (though in design… nothing is ever really random) mix of natural and white finishes. They lend such beautiful depth, pattern, and interest to this space. With a light taupe grout, the final look feels like a classic and fresh take on the trendy checkerboard pattern we’re seeing everywhere lately. I always love a timeless finish with a twist, and this tile hits that nail right on the head.
The range hood and shelving were custom-built to fit this tricky space. Keeping closed cabinetry all the way across the top felt bulky and I really wanted to give an airy height to the room. Removing a few upper cabinets and replacing them with open shelves surrounding the re-centered range hood did the trick. The combo of the White Oak wood tones and gorgeous lime plaster on the range hood adds warmth and subtle texture without overpowering the tile and stunning Quartzite countertops.
The Laundry Room
This little laundry/mud room may be tiny (SO tough to photograph, you guys! My photog is a rockstar for trying), but don’t let it fool you! It packs a huge functional and aesthetic punch. We added ceiling-height cabinetry to match the kitchen as well as shelving above that adorable wall-mounted schoolhouse sink.
The Breakfast Nook
Before…
After!!
What a cozy and cute breakfast spot, right?! I’d be up for a cup of coffee on that bench any day. We opted to keep the original shutters and added a built-in bench (with a hidden storage compartment), centered and replaced the light fixture with this beautiful rattan piece, and added some gorgeous White Oak shelving to tie in with the kitchen adjacent to this space and the incredible White Oak post and beam that spans the entire width of the room (More on that beauty next week). Custom bench upholstery and some super chic black wishbone chairs surround their existing oak table to finish the look off. It’s Colorado Cottage perfection.
(Psst! You can shop this wood dough-bowl candle and these mugs.)
There she is, friends! I hope you enjoyed this first of three reveal blogs for the Colorado Cottage! Part two will be here next week and will cover the Living Room, and believe me, you won’t want to miss this one. Here’s a little teaser to hold you over … 😉
(Shop this coffee table here)
As always, thank you so much for reading along! If you’d like to stay in the loop so that you don’t miss future project reveals or shop & design promotions, be sure to sign up for my newsletter by popping your email address into the bar at the bottom of this page. Thank you, friend! See you in your inbox.
Xoxo,
Alyssa
(Photos are by Karen Mitchel of The Elan Studio)