The Kitchen as a Work of Art: Achieving Lightness with Dark Cabinetry

The Kitchen as a Work of Art: Achieving Lightness with Dark Cabinetry

Being in the remodeling business for a good chunk of time now, we know that no kitchen project is the same as another, as all clients strive for a unique look – and come to our expert designers to achieve it. The kitchen remodel job we’re sharing with you today required a particularly aesthetics-oriented approach – and the end result, you’ll agree, reflects our commitment to the client’s vision.

A vision of modern class and subtle vintage grandeur

As a designer, listening to a client’s needs is paramount, but even so, there’s always a chance that underlying wishes may get lost in the flurry of conversation. Or the client may lose sight of some particulars while worrying about getting the big picture across. That’s where digital renders come into play. For this kitchen remodeling project, our lead designer Devin did her due diligence and compiled a 3D-rendered image of how the room might turn out. As you can see here, much of her original vision made it all the way to the finished version of the kitchen.

The space afforded us the chance to play with symmetry – flanking the fireplace with a floor-to-ceiling cabinet unit on the left and a ceiling-mounted unit on the right. The L-shaped blue-grey island then pops into view as a central focus, cheekily at odds with the symmetrical cabinetry. Between the two cabinet units, the hollowed island shelf and a third mounted cabinet unit along the side wall, there are enough storage spaces here to serve the whole family. Some were left open or were closed with glass panels, so as to allow for the display of items that complete the décor, while others were closed with solid or slatted doors.

The furniture chosen by Devin also mirrored the existing peculiarities of the space – as the straight-angled cabinets and island matches the large square doorway leading into the living room, while the round table opposite the island bench evokes the upper arch of the hallway entry.

Using light and color to dazzling effect

The black-grey-white color scheme, artistically interrupted by the pop-art painting in the middle of the back wall, works well with the brushed nickel finish of the fridge and stove. The point here being to offset the dark units with softer greys – to this end, the herringbone backsplash and streaked marble counters were added to act as a go-between for the clashing white and black. Black-and-white patterned rugs round out the look atop the warm parquetry that pairs well with the vintage accessories and fixtures scattered throughout. The balance struck between modern and traditional styles makes this a shining example of a transitional kitchen.

Unsurprisingly for such an inviting room, both natural and artificial light were taken full advantage of in the redesign. The rich influx of light coming through the right-hand window glints off the polished brass handles and faucets – as well as the grandiose paneled mirror and black-and-gold hood. On the other hand, recessed ceiling and under-cabinet lights were added to ensure the kitchen will shine after sunset as well.

Not least of all, the artistic touches - from the painting taking center stage on the back wall, and the two light pendants hanging on either side of it, to the gold-tinted accessories in agreement with the tone set by the faucets and cabinet handles - color the kitchen with a subdued, but clear, patina of vintage luxury. Our knack of threading this kind of throwback items into an otherwise modern room is indeed our calling card in the remodeling business.

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Remember, kitchens that adhere to the transitional style will be both warm and inviting and, at the same time, skew modern with smooth furniture lines that really come alive under the right, subtlest kind of lighting. Our designers are always happy to help with advice on how to get the most out of your kitchen and how to achieve the right modern/traditional balance – so don’t hesitate to call us!