Gregg and Carolyn Wilson knew the Oldsmar home would be perfect for them, but they didn’t necessarily purchase it because of the kitchen, or any other room for that matter. It was the view that sold them on the 20-year-old ranch. “When I walked through the front door and saw the view out of the back, that was it,” says Carolyn. “Every time my son visits from California, he goes out back by the pool, looks out at the pond and says it is just like we’re staying at a resort hotel, except we never have to check out.”
The Wilsons started renovations almost immediately after moving into the home in the fall of 2012. After removing wallpaper, painting the natural woodwork and redoing the landscaping, Gregg and Carolyn were ready to tackle the kitchen. “The previous owner installed new, well-made cabinetry, but the yellow color of the honey oak just didn’t work for us,” says Carolyn. “We wanted a kitchen design with more character.”
The couple enlisted the expertise of Lindross Remodeling to help them transform the kitchen. Owner Brian Ross, kitchen designer Rob Zeno and project manager Dan Roth teamed up to turn the outdated space into a colorful culinary utopia.
The choice of cabinetry initiated the overall look in the new kitchen. The maple cabinets, from Medallion Cabinetry’s Platinum line, feature inset doors on the perimeter with a White Chocolate painted finish. “We wanted to match the new cabinetry with the existing bar area that connects the kitchen to the adjoining living room,” says Ross. “These cabinets create a furniture-inspired look that really sets them apart from others.”
Carolyn’s wish to incorporate the soft turquoise green color seen in the living room was also granted. The Lindross team suggested painting the glass-front upper wall cabinets Medallion’s Bliss hue. Initially the plans only called for the colorful cabinets to run along the refrigerator wall, but when Carolyn saw the finished look, they decided to include the cabinetry above the range as well. “I had this color scheme in my other house and I loved it,” she says. “It gives such a welcoming glow to all of the rooms, but especially here in the kitchen.”
Original plans called for a decorative wood panel for the cabinet base where the barstools reside, but when Carolyn and Gregg were looking for floor tile, they stumbled upon the Porcelanosa Deco Blanco ceramic wall tile. “I couldn’t take my eyes off the beautiful texture and pattern, I had to have it,” Carolyn says.
Ross and his team installed the 12×36-inch tile onto the base and added lighting to accent it even more. “Your eyes are automatically drawn to the tile,” Ross says. “It was easy to install and the wavy texture creates a very custom look.”
To complement the sleek white tile and the cabinetry, the Wilsons selected Carrera White porcelain tile for the floor. Its subtle veining resembles marble and adds another layer of dimension to the kitchen design.
Instead of a simple white painted ceiling with recessed lighting, Ross suggested adding a coffered ceiling to the kitchen. “I thought this treatment could spice up the design and become a great focal point overhead,” he says.
To tie in with the color scheme, the cypress tongue and groove panels were custom painted to match the turquoise cabinetry. “I couldn’t believe how beautiful it turned out,” says Carolyn. “It was way beyond my expectations.”
Carolyn went one step further with the ceiling when she selected the light fixtures. She had her heart set on a Chihuly chandelier, but found four sconces adorned with Swarovski crystals that fit perfectly into the overall design. “They are actually wall sconces, but we were told they could be mounted on the ceiling,” Ross says. “Talk about an extra wow-factor, the way the crystals glow really completes the look.”
A popular design trend continues to be two-toned cabinetry and Zeno felt the Wilsons’ kitchen was well suited to benefit from this treatment. Instead of sticking with the white-hued cabinetry, Zeno suggested offsetting the center island with Medallion’s Eagle Rock Sable glaze. The rich dark wood tone stands out against the predominantly white kitchen.
The Wilsons also selected a different door style for the island. The reeded design of the center panels gives the island a custom, furniture-inspired look that Carolyn says has become one of their favorite elements in the kitchen.
The countertops serve as the icing on the cake in the Wilsons’ kitchen. Rather than granite, Gregg and Carolyn chose Emerald Green enhanced quartzite, an extremely hard rock that has been formed from sandstone. The full-height backsplash features the same beautiful green stone, which complements every facet of the kitchen. “The stone is probably the most amazing part of the kitchen,” says Carolyn. “It is absolutely stunning. However, Gregg and I love everything about this kitchen.”