just me, living here

So here it is. The Sutherland kitchen. Everything in this house is renovated except the kitchen. Honestly, I think this horrible lime kitchen might be the reason this house is still on the market. It’s bold (but not in a good way at all), chopped up in strange places, and rocking a very dramatic, very outdated Italian look. But the bones, Oh, the bones are so good. With these bones, I can make it functional, timeless, and beautiful, just like the rest of this grand old house.

If I lived here… I’d gut it. Everything goes. All of it except the stove. The stove stays. It’s fabulous.

I’d start fresh with creamy white base cabinets in a simple, flat square classic style. Nothing fussy just clean and timeless. The uppers would be a mix of that same cream and a gorgeous warm walnut wood.

On the sink wall, I’d add two pretty glass-front walnut china cabinets sitting right on top of the cream base cabinets. On the stove wall, I’d tuck in two cream-colored closed cabinets on either side and then close off that weird cutout where the kitchen was opened up into the side scullery. That opening just doesn’t work. It’s really messing up the vibe and flow in both rooms. Instead, I’d build in a big, beautiful full-height walnut china cabinet there with tons of storage and so much charm. I have 3 sets of china I inherited from my grandmother and mother that are currently sitting in boxes…because I do not have currently a china cabinet and desperately want one. I digress…

I’d also add an arched opening (that mimics the arched kitchen window) that leads into the den (more about that later because I have plans for that space too).

Fixtures? All brass. I’d go with a big double farmhouse-style sink and an oversized walnut island with cabinet/storage and open shelves on the ends to hold my cookbooks. The fridge would be two customed walnut paneled separate fridge and freezer units. The microwave would be hidden away in the island, because I don’t want to see it and does anybody really?

And lighting… the lighting is everything. I’d hang two oversized modern brass pendants over the island and add pretty armed/hinged big brass sconces on either side of the arched window (which I’d paint black to make it pop). The counters would be a soft cream calacatta marble with just a little reddish veining that is warm and classic. Same stone behind the stove as a backsplash. And the walls? A cozy warm white leaning to cream that lets everything else shine.

Check out my mood board so you can envision it just the way I do.

What do you think? I can already picture myself in here, cooking, hosting, and living.

I’m pretty sure I’d love it… if I lived here.