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With the help of local professionals, the Gilbert family transforms their kitchen into a modern yet cozy space that blends two distinct design styles.
He wants rustic, she wants modern. He likes natural wood accents while she prefers sleek, contemporary finishes. Blending two distinct styles is a challenge and requires compromise, as in any good marriage.
“I am a huge fan of mid-century modern design, so I usually lean towards that with touches of industrial, art deco and bohemian,” says Kristin Gilbert. “My husband KC loves anything industrial, rustic and comfortable. Over the years we have found a great blend of both of our styles with only the occasional compromise (on KC’s part).”
A couple of years ago the Gilberts began their search for a new house for their family, including their three sons. It was a long and arduous process, but one thing they knew they needed: a kitchen they could completely gut and customize to fit their needs and unique blend of styles.
They did eventually find the perfect house with the less-than-perfect kitchen. And although she had lots of ideas for what she wanted in her family’s renovated space, Kristin struggled with marrying her ideas to the finished product. And so she turned to her friend and certified interior designer Theresa Dorlini.
Theresa and her husband John are the co-founders of CIRCLE Design Studio, an interior architecture and design firm based out of Roanoke that offers custom designs for both residential and commercial interiors. Theresa and Kristin met at a mommies’ Bible study group and they quickly bonded over a shared love of modern design.
“Even though I had a clear vision of what I wanted in the kitchen, down to the smallest finishes, Theresa and her team were invaluable in the initial planning,” says Kristin. “They were able to take my ideas and bring them to life through 3D drawings.”
By using 3D renderings, Theresa was able to put the homeowners inside a digital version of their renovated kitchen and show them how the space would look from every angle. She could also manipulate the light sources and adjust the sun angles so the Gilberts could see what the kitchen would look like at different times of the day.
“Even in cases where the homeowners have definite ideas about design direction, it is always helpful to work with a designer who can show you your space in 3D,” says Theresa. “If anything, seeing the space modeled in 3D gives the owners the confidence they are making the right choices for their families and lifestyle, which ultimately makes the process smoother and less stressful.”
In addition to the 3D imaging, one benefit of working with a designer for large renovations such as the Gilberts’ kitchen is finding solutions to unforeseen structural issues.
“With any renovation there are always unknowns,” says Theresa. “You often don’t know what you’ll uncover during demo. The biggest challenge with this renovation was making sure we could route the ductwork for the island hood without having to drop any soffits. The Gilberts did not like the existing soffits, so we knew it was not an option to add new ones.”
The Gilberts also enlisted contractor Luke Schindler of Schindler Remodeling, who proved an invaluable resource throughout the process.
“Luke basically lived with us for six weeks and worked so hard to make this kitchen come to life,” says Kristin.
The Design
The finished kitchen, completed last spring, is an impressive combination of contemporary design and natural elements. Every cabinet, drawer and appliance was carefully chosen and placed to maximize storage and efficiency. Beautiful custom cabinetry and a white subway-tile backsplash give the kitchen a clean, fresh look without feeling sterile or austere, and the gorgeous Silestone quartz countertops add a little luxury to this otherwise cozy cooking space.
There are plenty of custom features throughout the kitchen, such as a lift for the stand mixer hidden in a lower cabinet and a beverage station complete with coffee maker and wine refrigerator. The backsplash reaches all the way to the ceiling, and every light fixture was hand-picked by Kristin, who admits her love of lighting made it one of the hardest decisions to make.
“I wanted the light fixtures to complement one another but not match,” she says.
The eye is also drawn to the massive island in the center of the room, which happens to be Kristin’s favorite part of her new kitchen.
“It serves so many purposes,” she says. “It’s where our kids eat breakfast, where we cook our meals, where we set up for entertaining, where homework is done each day, and on and on. It has become the center of our home.”
In contrast to the white cabinets along the walls, the island cabinets are painted a deep charcoal, adding both visual interest and warmth. A similar shade of gray is also used on the dining room walls, just off of the kitchen, seamlessly tying the two spaces together.
To incorporate natural elements that better fit KC’s design style, they included floating wood shelves built by Schindler, as well as a custom-made wood table in the breakfast nook.
“When we began the kitchen renovation, I searched and searched for a table,” says Kristin. “I couldn’t find anything that was just right. I had always been a fan of live edge wood furniture, so I saw this as my opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece.”
She took her idea to Tim Ellis at Black Dog Salvage. Together they designed a one-of-a-kind table made of a simple iron base, live edge walnut top and a matching bench.
“We couldn’t be happier with the result,” Kristin says.
The Gilberts’ renovated kitchen was truly a passion project. The owners had clear ideas for the space—two ovens, a 36-inch gas range and, of course, the huge island—and with the help of local professionals, they were able to have their dream kitchen become a reality.
