Kitchen Remodel

This North Raleigh / Durant Road kitchen had seen better days and was original late-1990s. Kids are now grown, and it was time for these empty nesters to have the kitchen of their dreams. Studio H partnered with a local remodeling firm who did the work while we focused on the design and sourcing to ensure cohesion and our signature polished, timeless-yet-modern vibe.

The homeowner wanted a black-and-white kitchen, but not cold or stiff. We mixed the cabinet and countertop colors for dramatic contrast, then pulled in gold hardware and fixtures. You can’t see it in the pictures, but the black granite has a leathered finish to reduce glare.

The current layout essentially functioned – no need to move things around. But we did expand the island and add a butcherblock top next to the side-by-side double ovens. And upgraded everything in the process! New composite undermount sink, new pull-down faucet, and new cabinet design expand the storage possibilities in every corner.

Check out the new island light fixture – our client wanted something that didn’t take up visual space, but illuminated the island’s work and entertaining area. She wanted it to feel modern and disappear without obstructing the view behind it.

The backsplash behind the hood was a Studio H original design (tile layout is not as easy as it looks and requires lots of math and placement) and accents the cooktop – which we moved out of the corner. And check out the built-in pet feeding station underneath the wall unit (we got rid of that unusable desk workstation). A dark, moody paint with a hint of forest green finished it off. Because of the amount of natural light, light-colored backsplash, and abundance of white cabinets (and lots and lots of lighting!), it doesn’t make the room feel oppressive.

While we were at it, we also replaced the entryway light fixture with a dramatic cascading chandelier which better highlights the two-story foyer.