A small room is the perfect opportunity to transform a space from ordinary to extraordinary, an idea that Atlanta-based Designer Phoebe Howard and Architectural Designer Andrew Howard upheld when designing this small poolhouse kitchen in Birmingham, Alabama. Using the house’s beautiful river rock scenery as inspiration, Phoebe purposefully chose a grey stone floor for the kitchen that looks like it belongs right in the backyard. The rocks (which are smooth and comfortable to stand on) and the white grout (for contrast) make the floor the prime focal point in the kitchen.

The Design Plan

Since the kitchen is not used for preparing meals (but rather to house drinks and snacks to grab from the pool), it has a dishwasher and two drink drawers but no oven or cooktop. It, however, is used as a year-round getaway from the main house—sort of like a vacation house in their own backyard. The owners always wanted it to function equally well for an autumn football party as well as a kids’ summer birthday party. It needed to be low maintenance and easy to clean.  

The River-Charm Look

Phoebe wanted the space to be a cool retreat and a reflection of the beautiful mountains surrounding it. The kitchen has a casual rustic flavor that is not lacking in high style. The custom cabinetry is painted in two shades of grey and white, and the drawer pulls and latches are in polished nickel. The counters are durable, honed black granite, which is lightened up by a white porcelain farmhouse sink and a deck-mount bridge faucet in polished nickel. The walls and backsplash are white painted wood in a shiplap design. In addition to recessed ceiling lights and lighting under the upper cabinets, Phoebe designed a square light fixture in a bronze finish to hang over the sink. The sheer, grey, and ivory-striped cafe curtains hang from a simple half-inch diameter black iron pole to provide privacy and softly frame the window.