The Lettered Cottage

You are here: Home / Friends / One Room, Three Ways: Kitchen – Way #1

One Room, Three Ways: Kitchen – Way #1

By

Hi, and welcome to my first “One Room, Three Ways” (ORTW) post!

Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 11.17.44 AM

Here’s a shot of what our kitchen looks like right now:

Lettered_Cottage_Kitchen_Before

We just recently painted the walls Benjamin Moore’s “Gray Owl” (lightened by 50%), and we’re hoping to paint the cabinets sometime this Summer or Fall. We still haven’t painted the wall that leads upstairs, so you can still see some “Algonquin Trail” on the right in the photo above.

This is just one of the kajillion looks I’ve been having fun dreaming about lately:

Lettered_Cottage_Kitchen_Inspiration_Way_1

White cabinets, carrera countertops, a white subway tile backsplash, and a coordinating gray-painted island. It’s definitely a lot of white and gray, but if we went with a look like this, there’s always an opportunity to bring in color through art, kitchen stuff, and accessories…and dirty dishes in the sink- ha! I left the hardware and faucet alone for this pic because my eyeballs were achin’ by the time I got done with the rest of it, but those could also be switched out for something else, too. (Note: The photos I post this week are just-for-fun ideas. Nothing is set in stone, and I’m sure I’ll think of a kajillion more ideas before we actually start changing anything in there- LOL!)

I’ll be back tomorrow with Way #2, and if you’d like to see what the other ORTW hostesses did for their Way #1’s, just click on their buttons below!

At-Home-On-The-Bay-1 Jennifer_Rizzo_Day_1 Dear_Lillie_Day_One
Jeanne_Oliver Thistlewood_Farms Eclectically_Vintage

And don’t forget, we’re hosting a ORTW link party on Friday if you’d like to link up a ORTW post, too!

PS- Kevin and I are working on putting together a “Presto Change-o” class for ShootFlyShoot.com, so if you’re interested in learning how to use Photoshop to create inspiration photos like the one above, stay tuned for details about when that will launch! 🙂

For more pics between posts, join us over on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram!

Instagram Pic_Lettered_Cottage

Click here to subscribe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer Rizzo

    I love the subway tile, they grey walls and the marble. My dream materials! 🙂 Thanks for joining in. It’s amazing how those little changes make a huge difference!

  2. Tara Bird

    Hi Layla and Kevin! I love this look — we did something similar in our kitchen when we remodeled this spring. Light gray walls, white cabinets and we went with a white/black/gray swirly granite becaues I was told carrera wasn’t as durable (marble is more finicky than granite?) and we have two very busy little girls and I could just see red food coloring ruining the carrera. I can send you a picture if you’d like. I can’t remember the name of our granite…;)

  3. gertie @ The Old Block House

    I love the white cabinets with the gray walls. Our walls are a gray that I like, but am not completely over the moon about, but now I’m thinking if my brown cabinets were lighter, brighter w/white, our gray would look cleaner & fresh.

    • Brooke

      Gertie, you are correct. Light gray didn’t look great with my cabinets which are cream. I want to paint them a whiter white (not pure white of course) but it will be a lot of work! So if you paint your cabinets and want to use gray perhaps you should copy L and K’s trim color. 🙂

      Love view 1, looking forward to view 2.

  5. Courtnie

    LOVE! Do your island lights give off lots of light? I’m about to replace our over head light in the kitchen. I’m afraid to commit because I want to be sure there is enough light!

  6. Melanie Ritchie

    Classic white kitchen, love it 🙂 a pop of turquoise accessories or my personal fav RED!!

  7. Thistle

    Love the white cabinets! So pretty and such a clean look! I know whatever you pick will be amazing!!!!! And that’s me over there…..frantically waving my hand for the Presto-Chango class! Sign me up!

    Have a great day rock star!
    karianne

  8. Kristin S

    Layla, this has nothing to do with the post, but one of my favorite things about your blog is to watch it load. The plank wall background loads first and it just makes me happy.

    On the task at hand… my mom wants me to trade out my laminate countertops for granite similar to what you have and I so want marble. It looks so clean. Can’t wait to follow your journey of making your beautiful home “yours”.

    And… what a joy to pray for you guys in the adoption process and happy anniversary!

  10. Kelly - Talk of the House

    Happy anniversary to you guys! I love the look you have planned for the kitchen, and yes, I know you will change your mind a zillion times. That’s the fun of it! My husband would LOVE for me learn to do the presto-chango thing in photoshop, and then perhaps, I wouldn’t redecorate so much! LOL

  12. Violet

    Love the gray & white. I’ve been trying it in my kitchen. What gray would you use on the island? I’d planned on using blue (my fav) as an accent until yesterday when I put down a heavy stack of yellow LuRay dishes on the counter looking for a place to store them. When I went back into the kitchen, the yellow really warmed up the cool tones. What do you think of using yellow with the gray & white?

    • Layla

      Hi Violet!
      I’m not sure about the gray paint color on our island yet, but I love a great yellow/gray/white combo- that sounds so pretty! 😀

  13. Christie

    I love the look of the white cabinets! I painted ours white last year but now they are chipping where water/heat–whatever has met the molding detail on the cabinets. 🙁 !! A whole lot of work and now I need to redo it! I used a brush….thinking I should use a paint sprayer next time for more even, light coats? Whaaaa! :'(

  14. Linda

    Can you tell me what color white are the cabinets? Mine are a creamy white now and thinking about going brighter white. Love the gray walls!

    • Layla

      Hi Linda!
      That white is just Photoshopped in there, but if we paint our cabinets white to match our trim, it will be Simply White by Benjamin Moore. 🙂

  16. Annie

    Love the gray & white. I also really like your bar stools. Could you tell me where you purchased them? Thanks 🙂

  18. Erin @ Dwell & Tell

    You do such an incredible job with these.

    We’re considering similar options but I reallllllly wish I had your photoshop skills to help us decide. Unfortunately painting ll 2400-ish square feet of walls and trim will keep us busy for awhile (I’m kind of overwhelmed by the thought), then we’ll move onto the kitchen (?).

    Hugs from Bham.

    Erin @ Dwell & Tell

  20. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage

    I love the clean look of white kitchens with marble counters (that’s what I have in my kitchen)! Love the idea of a gray island too – classic look you will never tire of (and my dirty dishes really do add lots of color)!
    Kelly

  22. Kris

    I love the concept of One Room Three Ways. Most people I know (myself included) can’t afford to bust out a lot of money to completely re-do an area and these are great examples of big changes on a small budget. Thanks!

  25. Mitzi

    Love love the white cabinets and subway tile. I would be very careful with marble counter tops in a kitchen. We have honed marble in our bathroom. While they are gorgeous, water marks are everywhere. Maybe there are new products to help prevent that?

  27. Lynn

    I love the granite and tumbled travertine backsplash you have now. Why replace them?

    • Layla

      Hi Lynn! The granite and travertine were chosen by the builder of this house, and they don’t reflect our style at all. We plan to live here for a long time, so we’d love to choose ones that do at some point. 😀

  29. Beth

    I love the look of my white kitchen cabinets, but I HATE the fact that they show everything and are constantly dirty. If you like cleaning, white is fabulous!

  31. Heather

    I am a fan of gray but wonder if I might like to see the top cabinets kept their current wood tone, the bottom cabinets and breakfast bar a slightly darker gray perhaps than the walls… and love your granite… vs. the hard to maintain marble. Would love to see what this combination would look like. The barstools might look nicer with the same granite(there is gray in the granite too?) or upper cabinets repeating their color. They are good looking. This based on the family living area beyond the kitchen being all the light gray too. Seems a tad of contrast might be interesting. I am sure whatever you decide on will come out beautifully!

  32. Kristine

    I LOVE your blog- so many ideas and so much inspiration! I wanted to ask you what version of Photoshop I would need to take the class?

  33. Jane

    I love the plans for your kitchen, It will look much more bright and modern. I noticed your granite and it looks like we might have the same thing. Ours is called Summer Wheat. Any chance it’s the same?

    XO,
    Jane

  34. Lisa

    That is exactly what I would do, Layla! Love the white cabs, backsplash, counters! Especially with the warmth from the wood floor and chairs!! So pretty (as is what you are currently living with – even if it’s not your style! )

  35. Lisa

    Hi Layla,
    I was wondering if you might have any information on where the corbels could be purchased. I really like the shape of them. I have corbels now that are a little too old world looking. I would love to replace them with something like yours!

  37. Cheri

    Love it! Our new kitchen is being installed this week! White cabinets and a silestone top on our island that looks like Carrera but holds up better and is cheaper. Going with black formica on perimeter. I’ll send you pics when we are done .. hopefully everything will be picture ready by next Monday! (fingers crossed)

  38. Janny

    Sign me up for the presto class. Love view 1 and looking forward to the others. Also love the bar stools!

  39. Kathy

    I love your website and all of your ideas!! Do you or anyone have a great granite option for Carrera? We are updating our kitchen and are using the white cabinets, pine floors, but prefer a granite that’s light and airy like Carrera…but not Carrera. 🙂

    • Layla

      Thanks, Kathy! I don’t know of a granite that looks like carrera, but maybe someone else will chime in here with their thoughts? Good luck with your updating! That’s fun stuff! 😀

  40. Carrie - Curate | by Carrie Corson

    Love this look it’s a cottage classic. I would love to learn the presto change o in Photoshop too:-)

  42. Jennier

    So far I like #1 the most! It looks so cozy and welcoming! Can’t wait to see it finished!

    BTW- What software do you use to create these?

  44. Marian (Sweetopia)

    Lovely! Similar to what I’m doing… lotsa white (no grey), and add color with accessories. That way I can change it up with the seasons… Can’t wait to start with baby blue accessories, and then red ones for Christmas time!
    Hard to pick a fave of yours though… Love all the ideas in these posts, but am tied on option #1 and #3.
    Have fun playing with your options!