REVEAL!!! One Room Challenge- Week 6

It’s finally done!!! After 6 weeks of hard work, I’m so happy to finally have the kitchen finished. There was a lot of sweat, a few hang ups, and a couple of fights if I’m being honest here (thank goodness we kiss and make up or this project would have went up in flames:) ), but I couldn't be happier with my European inspired kitchen. I am still so bummed about my tile for the backsplash (it was somehow lost in transit and the replacement is backordered), but I hope to do some more photos once it comes.

Here’s a little trip down memory lane of the previous real estate sale before…and after!

The house was kind of in rough shape when we purchased. This was the day we closed (and ripped out of the laminate floor). We always jump the gun before remember to get pictures.

After!

I wanted this kitchen to have soul and feel old in a European farmhouse kind of way. I knew we would need to incorporate earthy elements like reclaimed wood, natural stone, and plaster…all the good stuff that gets better with time.

This range and hood are definitely the star of the kitchen. I knew when I selected black countertops I would want a black range, and I just love the brass accents…they go so well with my sconces and hardware. I’ll be honest, I haven’t cooked a thing in this yet because it just came and we were so busy finishing the kitchen, but I cannot wait to try it out. And the plaster hood was a labor of love! Once that beam went up I think I sat and stared at it for an hour. We got that plaster finish silky smooth, and I make everyone that comes over run their hands on it.

Can we talk about this island? Not only is it functional, but I can’t get enough of the character! The guy we bought the wood from told us it came from an old saw mill in a town nearby, so I’m glad we have some local history in our kitchen. They were really weathered, so we planed them to get a smooth finish. I filled the bottom shelf with a big bowl for potatoes, a wire basket with linens, and my beechwood serving bowls. I love being able to grab something right off a shelf. I don’t have a very wide kitchen, so the open shelf on the bottom doesn’t take up visual space, plus you get to see the pretty black range!

I absolutely love marble, and had it in my last house, but I knew with this hood that a dark countertop would really set it off and ground it. I’m dying to use soapstone somewhere in my house, but just couldn’t justify the cost here, so we went with a black mist granite in a honed finish for a similar look. The slab I got has such pretty veining, and I’m so happy with it. The good thing about granite is it’s one of the most durable natural stones and low maintenance, so it was definitely a win here. I did get get a dose of marble in a pastry board the hooks on to the island.

We opted for an under counter microwave. I probably could have put it in the pantry cupboard and made smaller doors for up top, but I didn’t think about it when we were tearing out and rewiring. I’ve been asked a lot how I like them, and I don’t mind it at all. I know you have to bend over, but most people have to anyway for their ovens, so I don’t see how it’s any different. This is the third house we have put one in and it’s so convenient for kids. The counter space above it with my kitchen aid is what I call my baking station, and it has been nice to be able to melt/soften butter right below. I placed my sugars and flour close by for easy reach, and the top drawer to the right of the stove holds my measuring cups.

A lot of European kitchens have little to no upper cabinetry and it always feels so airy and fresh to me. I love the convenience of open shelving, and wanted floating ones. We used reclaimed 2x12’s here and I love that these are a solid piece of wood vs. a boxed out shelf that looks thick. They have so much character! I try to think of functionality in my kitchen, so I filled them with things I use the most. All the plates, bowls, and glasses are on the bottom shelf closest to the sink for easy reach and putting away. The upper shelf holds our pitchers, and the opposite set holds our mugs and things I use for baking like cookbooks, mixing bowls, and casserole dishes.

If you read last week’s post, then you know I went back and forth on lighting. The kitchen originally had a pendant above the sink, but I felt like I had a ton of hanging lights all throughout the house and no wall lights. I planned on switching the pendant to a sconce and possibly hanging pendants over the island, but once the hood was up and the island was in, I just couldn’t block the view with pendants. The right side of the kitchen has tall 24'“ deep cabinetry, while the left only has the lower cabinets, and once I sat and looked at it, I just felt like a good sized pendant over the sink, and sconces framing the hood was what the kitchen needed. I’ve had my eye on this traditional/modern aged iron pendant for a while now, so I decided to get it for here. I found these Visual Comfort sconces in brass that goes perfectly with the hardware on the cabinets and range. Long story short, the lighting was not in the original plan, but I’m so happy with how it came together!

When I designed the hood, I left enough counter space on each side of the range for for my utensil crocks and oil bottles, and we did these little niches inside the hood that are wrapped in reclaimed wood we had left over from the island. Again, I really try to think of functionality and how I actually cook, so I put spices, a butter dish, salt and pepper shakers, and measuring spoons in them. It seems like I am always needing a teaspoon so I got a set just for here.

And there she is! Thanks for stopping by and make sure to check out the other reveals here. Links for sources below.

XO
Whitney

Cabinet paint color
Cabinet hardware— Knobs Pulls Latches
Island bowl
Island wire basket
Island beechwood bowls
Terra cotta vase
White Dishes
Glasses
White pitchers— Large Small
Glass pitcher
Herb print
Rug and art on shelf are vintage, small stool, cake stand, mixing bowls, and cheeseboard are from HomeGoods.