Tour Our Farmhouse Kitchen
To be honest, I have a hard time calling our kitchen “modern farmhouse.” I have a bit of an eclectic style when it comes to interior design, and I feel like the kitchen is a good example of that. It is a mix of farmhouse with traditional elements. It has its modern moments, but the brass hardware gives it a little vintage vibe I like to mix textures and colors, and I wanted it to feel warm and inviting but also grand in its own special way. I spent a lot of time on the kitchen. It was by far the most agonized over room of the house. I definitely drove Kevin a bit crazy with samples, my hours of research, and even surprised myself when I decided on painted cabinets. We did have to work within a budget so there were some compromises, but for the most part I really am very proud of how it all came together!
First, let’s talk my non-negotiables. Since we have a second floor that is above the kitchen, our kitchen ceilings are 9 feet. I knew that I wanted cabinetry that ran to the ceiling. Our cabinets in our first home had about a one foot gap and it just collected dust. I knew that in our new build, I wanted to utilize all the space even if it means standing on the counter to access it. I did nix upper cabinets on the window wall and opted for an open shelf to make those tall uppers a possibility on the adjacent wall. Next, a large island that would easily fit the five of us was also a must. (Showplace Cabinetry from Bloedorn Lumber). That pop of dark green is one of my favorite features in our kitchen, plus all that extra storage is very handy.
The farmhouse sink was actually the first item I ordered for the kitchen, and I love how classic and timeless it is. I also really really wanted a 48” dual oven/range. We didn’t have the wall space for a double oven to work since our kitchen is open to the living room and dining room and I really wanted a large cooktop. Plus, it really felt like a statement piece. I scoured every appliance store, traveled four hours multiple times, and price compared all our options for our oven/range. Ultimately we landed on the Forno Galliano. I fell in love with the look of it, and the price fit the bill. I do take some heat for its size from my husband and family as I’ll never need all those burners, but the oven and a half is such a nice feature. Honestly, I am obsessed with it and feel like the hours of research and test emails to their customer service was worth it. ( Yes I am that annoying person who reaches out to customer service with a question just to see if they ever get back to me. I am happy to report they did respond to my email inquiry within 24 hours.)
Now let’s talk where we made concessions… Our biggest budgetary concession in the kitchen was countertops. First, it is really hard to get any type of stone in our rural location. Not impossible, but we would have been paying for installers to travel 4 hours. Knowing that, and wanting to keep as much local as possible, we went with solid surface for our perimeter countertops which is also more cost effective than say quartz or granite. I was very nervous about this as I made my selection based off a very small sample but I could not be more pleased with how it looks. It is neutral in color, but has some movement to it which gives it dimension. Plus, the install is flawless! Mark Bradley Cabinetry is local and was fantastic to work with. I can’t find the seam and I know where it is supposed to be. The craftsmanship is second to none, and I could not be more happy.
Our kitchen island is butcher block which I actually ordered from Lowe’s. The wood really warms the kitchen up and gives it a homey feel. There is a decent amount of upkeep with butcher block and I find myself worrying about stains and damage often but the price point sold me on it, and I’m hoping I can learn to embrace the wear and tear.
One other item that could have stretched our budget was the range vent hood. Custom cabinetry hoods are quite pricey as are some of the fancy stainless steel options. Our builder (Irish Construction) custom built one for us and I love how it turned out. I found a reasonably priced vent off of Amazon, painted shiplap to match the walls, and TJ Irish did the rest.
I also chose a more budget friendly refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave. All of which helped make the 48” oven/range possible. Our cabinetry hardware and kitchen faucet is from Wayfair, open shelving from Burrow, island chairs from Target, pendant lights from Overstock, and the above the sink light is from Amazon. All of which were affordable options. I do still hope to have the wall behind the cooktop tiled at some point. Other than that, I am so in love with our kitchen. Most of our meals are spent at the island and even when I am cooking or doing dishes, I never feel far from the rest of the house. It is really a space we can continue to grow into. Our boys won’t be little for long, but I know the kitchen area will continue to accommodate them. That was always my hope for the kitchen, a space that served our family for years to come. Always warm and welcoming. A place to gather at the end of the day and share with one another. The true heart of our home.
