Text by: Kathryn Pritchett

This wine country home had sophisticated country details but the galley style kitchen was closed off from the rest of the home. “It was quite dark and dreary and had no life,” says designer Julie Williams. The clients had retired to this home in order to be closer to their children and grandkids and they wanted a kitchen that would suit the two of them most of the time but would also work when family was over.  “A lot of thought was put into creating spaces for family gatherings,” says Williams. By opening the wall to the new family room Williams connected the kitchen to the other social areas in the home.  This also allowed space to include an island for informal eating.  In addition, she designed a small bench seating area for morning coffee and paper reading. Smart storage features include a custom hutch that not only stores serving pieces but also includes a charging station in the top drawer for the owner’s iPad. Williams chose a traditional cabinet style in keeping with the home’s overall style but used a mix of finishes—cream painted cabinets on the perimeter and distressed and glazed alder for the island. “This brings a down-to-earth quality to the room,” says Williams, “you don’t have to be worried about dinging something.”  Kashmir gold granite countertops and bronze fixtures add warmth while a simple subway tile backsplash allows the owners’ collections to shine. Interior Designer Margot Oven chose the fabric for the window coverings and the cushion for the bench seat. Red accents in the fabrics as well as the hutch’s interior paint color add a little spice to this warm and inviting kitchen.