The Collected Kitchen – Farmhouse Style Design Plans

I can’t believe I’m tackling another room makeover before the holidays! You guys. It’s insane but I love it. I had a couple opportunities that I couldn’t pass up and everything sort of fell into place, so here I am. Making over my kitchen.

I’m probably going to be disappearing for a bit so I can really crunch down and finish this project before Thanksgiving because I REALLY want to have a working kitchen by then.

So, here is the plan:

 

It all started with the island I wanted to build. I had a growing list of other things we wanted to do to the kitchen, but I am sick of our garbage can sitting out in plain site (it is too big to keep tucked under the sink). So a couple months ago on our way back from Chicago, I pulled open Sketchup and started drawing up the digital plans for what I had in mind. When I finished, I realized how it would be a shame to add a pretty island without having stools to go with it. And if you are going to have a decent-looking island with stools, well you really need a new backsplash. And you can’t do a new backsplash without pulling out counters to replace them, can you? 😉 Ya see how this was a snowball effect of awesomeness that I am super duper ridiculously excited about?

After I put together this mood board (or a rougher version of it), I started doubting myself. Let me start by saying I have never had a problem with mixing metals in rooms. As a matter of fact, I don’t have a problem mixing wood stains either. I just put together things I love and if it makes me happy, then it’s a winner. But I was feeling like I needed validation for my choices. Even after seeking it from friends and family, they all basically said in their own way, do what YOU love and it will turn out great. Trust your gut. So, I’m throwing caution to the wind, mixing metals and woods, textures and tones. I realized my favorite take on kitchens is the “collected” look– one that isn’t matchy matchy or quiiiite like anything you have seen, but also familiar enough that it still fits in the farmhouse style.

Here are some things I’m most excited about changing:

1. Ceiling fan – The one I selected is from Lamps Plus and is actually an outdoor ceiling fan and light. But it’s simplicity and industrial style speak to me. It is the 52″ Casa Solera Industrial Bronze Outdoor Ceiling Fan.

2. Backsplash – I’ll be doing a tutorial on installing this! I’m about 90% decided on this selection. I love love love the herringbone. In real life it is a little darker with a little more gray. But I need to put a square of it in place and see how it looks. I have a couple of other options that are very similar in tone– light, mosaic design, and either a hex or subway-esque pattern. Pictured above is the Arabescato Carrara Herringbone Pattern

3. Hardware – Ya’ll I’ve been crushing hard on brass hardware for too long. Years. And now is my chance! I picked the Antique English Cup Pull and the Hint of Heritage Regency Brass Knob.

4. Countertops – I’ve long admired the look and feel of butcher block countertops and after looking at several options, and while we want a warmth that wood counters bring, we don’t want the dark color. So we are going with the Maple Butcher Block Countertop

5. Faucet – The farmhouse sink we are getting only has a single mount, so even though our current faucet we bought last year still is great, we needed a new one. Since I LOVE our master bathroom faucet so much, we are going with the Cassidy Single Handle Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet.

6. Barstools – We bought these on sale a couple months ago actually, but now they will actually be USED on a regular basis! This was back when I first drew up the plans for the island… they are the Adjustable Round Wood and Metal Stool

7. Sink – I’m finally jumping on the farmhouse apron-front sink bandwagon and I am not ashamed! I love it and I don’t care who knows it! This is by far the most cost effective option, costing hundreds less than anywhere else. It is the IKEA Domsjo Double Bowl Sink.

8. Pendant Light – Okay okay so this isn’t really going to change. I bought and installed this light months ago, but I still love it… it still looks like a Pottery Barn light, only much less expensive. It is the Allen + Roth 8 in Bronze Standard Mini Pendant Light with Clear Glass.

9. KITCHEN ISLAND – HOLLA! Ya’ll. So excited to share this build with you. It is freakin awesome. It will have reclaimed barn oak on the top, shelves on one side, a pull-out trash cabinet on the other… NO MORE VISIBLE TRASH CANS! Plans will be up after the big reveal, but I will probably share sneak peeks on my Instagram.

10. Wall Paint – The wall color isn’t changing, but I felt it was necessary to include this in the design plans so you get the feel for the colors in the room. The blue is Sherwin Williams Timid Blue.

11. Kitchen Cabinets Paint – Cabinets will be repainted to Benjamin Moore Dove White. More on why later… but suffice to say some areas need to be repainted and now is as good of a time as any!

12. Window Treatment – This has been such a hard window for me to find treatments for, but I’m finally going to just put in some bamboo blinds. It will coordinate well with the warmth of the counters and will add some style without taking up space. I think I might get matching bamboo blinds for our patio doors as well, since they are a part of the kitchen/dining room space.

The canisters pictured I threw in there because that is actually what I use on on my counters, plus they coordinate with the faucet. The chandelier is vintage–it’s what’s hanging above our dining table and coordinates with the new cabinet hardware.

 

That’s about it… so what do you think? Am I crazy for loving the look for mixed finishes?

 

UPDATE!

To see the Butcher Block Counter Tutorial go HERE.

To see the Kitchen Tile Backsplash Tutorial go HERE.

To see the Kitchen Reveal go HERE.