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I was thrilled and a little stunned when House Beautiful magazine invited us to design the kitchen for their 2024 Whole Home showcase in Asheville, North Carolina. I feel so honored to be included among the eleven crazy talented interior designers and build teams that were asked to collaborate on this incredible home design.
My goal was to create a tranquil, elevated "unkitchen" that was both naturally-inspired and included ALL the thoughtful storage solutions, taking inspiration from the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
For this showcase, we designed not just a kitchen but also a hardworking "dirty kitchen"—both spaces uniquely tailored to reflect our studio’s signature rustic modern style and thoughtful functionality.
Intentional Kitchen Design
My kitchen design centered on creating spaces that balance style and practicality, maximizing storage and usability in ways that would elevate the experience of daily life in the home. To achieve this, I incorporated a host of creative storage features, including peg drawers, blind corner storage, spice pullouts, our favorite paper towel pullout, and more. These touches, though often unseen, help keep a kitchen seamlessly functional, clutter-free and easy to maintain.
With the North Carolina scenery as my muse, I mixed white oak and alder cabinetry, plaster accents, and handmade zellige tile for a grounded, organic feel. One of my favorite details to take note of, is the mixed wood tones between the island and surround cabinetry by ID.ology, all topped in the dreamiest Cosentino Silestone slabs and peppered with unlaquered brass hardware.
The beautiful Monogram range needed a moment all it's own... did you peep that leather and brass handle?! I designed a plaster tapered modern hood that matched the wall color, Farrow & Ball's "Farrow's White," flanked by custom iron and glass shelving to accent the appliances.
I'm a huge proponent of getting creative with upper cabinetry. I wanted the kitchen to feel like a room more than a kitchen – hear me out. When you walk into a kitchen that's just uppers and lowers, it feels very copy and paste from other kitchen designs. Opening up the space by eliminating upper cabinetry, or in this case, by using custom iron and glass cabinetry by Architectural Grille was an easy way to make the room feel less standard.
Over the sink, we skipped the upper cabinetry altogether. This let us use some really cool architectural sconces above, letting the countryside views become the focal point of the kitchen design.
Get the Look: Pot Filler | Sink Faucet | Brass Knobs | Brass Pulls | Landscape Artwork | Window Artwork | Clouds Artwork | Ceramic Vase | Red Hydrangea Stems | Purple Hydrangea Stems | Cast Iron Dutch Oven | White Dinnerware Set | White Serving Bowl
The New "Dirty Kitchen"
In addition to the main kitchen, we created a “dirty kitchen,” a hardworking, secondary prep space where functionality takes center stage. This hidden gem features integrated pantry doors, allowing for easy storage access while maintaining the clean, natural aesthetic of the home. The "dirty kitchen" not only amplifies storage but also enhances the flow and usability of the main kitchen, providing extra space to prepare, store, and keep essentials organized – a host's dream situation!
This back pantry space was finished with a darker palette using Farrow & Ball’s “Hopper Head” paint and a custom plaid wallpaper from Spoonflower. And the brass mesh drawer fronts are a fun accent to this moody design.
To bring it all together, we collaborated with exceptional brands like Cosentino for countertops, Monogram for appliances, Kohler for plumbing, Spoonflower for wallpaper, and Wayfair for hardware and decor.
Get the Look: Plaid Wallpaper | Bar Sink Faucet | Brass Knobs | Storage Canisters
A Project with Purpose
Asheville holds a special place in our hearts, and, unfortunately, Hurricane Helene has left a lasting mark on the community. Seeing the impact firsthand has been difficult, but it has also been powerful to witness the resilience of Asheville’s residents. House Beautiful has extended their support to the community in a generous way, donating all the project’s materials and product placements to Habitat for Humanity—a beautiful initiative that truly embodies the spirit of giving back. If you'd like to join me in giving to the efforts to rebuild the community, I invite you to view House Beautiful's Hurricane Helene Relief Resource Guide and donate to one of the many organizations that are on the ground in Western North Carolina.
This Whole Home project isn’t just a celebration of beautiful design; it’s a symbol of community resilience and the power of collaboration. Working with House Beautiful on this kitchen was a privilege, and we’re excited to share the story of this project with you all.
Explore more about this design and our creative process in the full article on House Beautiful’s website here. And keep an eye out for the feature in House Beautiful's November issue!
Published: House Beautiful Magazine
Photographer: Brie Williams
Builder: Living Stone Design + Build
Stylist: Lucy Bamman
Special thanks to the project sponsors: Architectural Grille, Fabricut, Farrow & Ball, Feeney Railings, Fibreworks, Hunter Douglas, Lee Industries, Minted, Monogram, Harlequin, Serena & Lily, Spoonflower, The Container Store, Trane, Visual Comfort & Co., and Wayfair Professional
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