News & Insights

“Dreary, dark and dated.”

That is how Kyleigh Phillips described her family’s kitchen before the transformation.

“It didn’t function well, and it was stuck in the ’90s, with an electric cooktop and no hood to remove cooking smells,” Kyleigh said. “Three years after moving into our home, we were ready for a change.”

We were so thrilled she came to us to help her transform their dull kitchen into a contemporary, functional gathering place for her active family of four.

The Phillips family hosted more than 25 people for Thanksgiving in their new bright, inviting kitchen. “It’s the hub of our home,” Kyleigh said, with strategically placed solid, custom Mouser cabinets, functional lighting, and low-maintenance Cambria quartz countertops.

The biggest change was switching the electric cooktop to gas and moving its location from the island to the wall, which created a better flow and allowed for a hood to remove cooking smells. Kyleigh, a fashion blogger, was heavily involved in the design process, even designing the unique tile pattern above the gas cooktop.

The Phillips family kept their double ovens and refrigerator, but they opted for a microwave drawer in the island to free up counter space. On either side of the island, we maximized storage with shallow drawers that are ideal for spices and other small items, recipe cards, etc.

We converted the Phillips’ workstation, which Kyleigh called a “catch-all for clutter” into a glass hutch, beverage fridge, coffee station and floating shelves. The glass hutch is mirrored with small glass cabinets on either side of the hood and the frosted glass pantry door. These elements add continuity with the hanging glass lights — a focal feature — and break up the monochromatic floor-to-ceiling cabinets.

Strategic lighting illuminates the cabinets, and accent feet below the range and sink invite charm into the otherwise modern kitchen. The Phillips sanded the existing dark cherry floor stain to illuminate the natural wood tones, which contrast nicely with the white cabinets and wood grain of the island. Similarly, the fixtures — a mix of black and brushed nickel — add interest to this memorable room.

“The first post-renovation Thanksgiving gathering was the ultimate test,” Kyleigh said, and the kitchen “passed with flying colors.” The large single bowl sink handled large serving dishes with ease, and the pull-down faucet allowed for targeted rinsing. Family and friends were easily able to maneuver around the island to visit and eat.

The kitchen is comfortable yet contemporary. It serves the family’s daily needs as well as their entertaining whims. The Phillips said they look forward to enjoying their “dream kitchen” for many years to come.

We had so much fun working closely with Kyleigh on this project and we are so grateful for her kind words.

“Greg made sure we had no wasted space. It is truly our dream kitchen, and a standout feature in our home. Everyone at Richards is so helpful guiding you along through the process step-by-step. Even when the guys were here installing cabinets, they would always answer any of our questions and they were SO clean. Living in your home during the remodel and not having a true functioning kitchen is very stressful, but they made the process as smooth as possible, and they finished the job on time.”

Features in this New Kitchen:

• Main Cabinetry – Mouser, Centra line, Amity door style in Maple, Paint White
• Island Cabinetry – Mouser, Centra line, Amity door style in Alder, Gull stain
• Hardware – Knobs and pulls in Ash Gray
• Countertops – Cambria Quartz, Brittanicca is the color with Basin edge profile
• Sink – Stainless, single bowl, under-mount
• Faucet – Delta Cassidy, single-handle, pull-down in Brilliance Stainless
• Splash – Field tile is Color Market, Siberian, matte
  • Accent tile is Anthology, Casablanca, Taza