I feel like I’m about to give a wedding toast for my daughter who after four mediocre boyfriends/wedding attempts has now found and married the love of her life. There is a lot of emotion, relief, happiness and SO MUCH PRIDE wrapped up in this kitchen—and you know that’s not that easy for me to say. I pushed myself, ran into obstacles, almost gave up on the dream (remember when the cabinets were going to be a classic shaker?) was rescued (by these folks) and now get to make so much soup inside this rustic-modern-Scandinavian-contemporary-minimalist-kitchen. I feel like the luckiest person on the planet.
There is a lot to get into here and you might just be scrolling past this to see the rest of the photos, but STOP AND RESPECT YOUR FORE-FATHERS/KITCHENS:
Our first inspiration were these:
And then we thought we had a plan but as you can see from this post, there was a lot of design work before we even got to those final two.
But I didn’t know how to make that wood work for us and have it work with the wood flooring and ceiling (that was still TBD). All the samples that my contractor gave me of real wood just didn’t work for us – we didn’t love the tone or the look. So in the name of needing to march onward we did and scrapped the whole wood in thing.
For the I Design, You Decide, we had it down to two versions, here:
After you all voted for the white cabinet/black island combo, there were tons of comments about how all the little ridges would turn into grease and grime traps and you were right, so we made some adjustments and went with a plain white shaker:
There were a lot of “PLEASE NO!” but also a lot of “YES LOVE IT” but ultimately, it wasn’t what we really wanted. Then…I was SAVED by Ross Alan Reclaimed Wood.
At the last minute, we were able to make it our dream kitchen with their real reclaimed wood on the cabinets AND the flooring and it turned into what it should have been all along:
So after a 3-week renovation and with a budget of $5,700, we turned it into our dream mountain house kitchen!
JUST JOKING WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS PROPERTY BROTHERS??? FLIP OR FLOP??
This kitchen, the whole house, took a YEAR, with one lead designer (me) + three design support/project managers (Julie, Grace and Velinda), a GC + many subs and while I don’t know how much it cost, I would say it’s anywhere between $50-$75k just for the kitchen. Yes, I’m very lucky I had some help with product placement (brands we love that we reached out to for product in exchange for exposure) but labor is labor, which is your main cost. Paying licensed, experienced craftspeople what they deserve will simply add up (and it should). I’m only telling you because perpetrating the lies of renovation costs and quick construction timing does nothing good for humanity, your marriage/budgeting nor your general mental health.
They say you can’t have “fast, affordable and good.” You can often have two out of the three, and in this case, ultimately what we got was just the one: GOOD, but to be fair, I love it and will even go as far to say it’s “VERY GOOD.” Our contractor Jeff Malcom (of Malcom Enterprises), and architect John Lyles, did a fantastic job, full of high-quality workmanship. But high-quality takes time, especially when you are working with such custom finishes and appliances.
But enough! Let’s talk finishes…AS A WARNING, there is a lot to breakdown, especially with wordy-mc-wordy here writing it, so today’s post is just about the finishes, and we’ll cover how we integrated all the appliances and the coffee bar/dry bar very soon, as well as all the interior organization of the cabinetry.
The Reclaimed Wood Cabinets & Flooring:
I have to immediately start this with Ross Alan Reclaimed Lumber, a young family-owned custom reclaimed wood and furniture builder in Los Angeles who made our kitchen (and ceiling/floor) dreams truly come true. We had the layout all done and even some of the boxes built when they came into the picture. This was the original intent for the house, but I had never done wood before nor did I know how to do it, so we ultimately had settled on a classic shaker.
They said “calm down, of course we can put our beautiful reclaimed wood on the cabinet fronts and the flooring.” What we used here is a 200-year-old reclaimed beechwood from a barn that had fallen down in Ohio and we were able to work with our local cabinetmaker to get them installed and looking, frankly PERFECT.
Ross, pictured below, happened to be up there the day that we were shooting so we got him in a photo (we missed you Georgie!):
But I don’t want this to just be a post of TADA HERE’S OUR NEW FANCY KITCHEN without respecting the process, the design agonies, the decisions, and give you tips on how it works. We touched base with Ross and Georgie so they can walk through the steps you should know about what went into making this dream kitchen a reality (with a big grid of photos of all the “ugly” stuff before it had it’s makeover montage and turned into a prom queen):
- Find a local reclaimed wood dealer (or work with Ross Alan, if you’re local—highly recommended). If you don’t want that more typical reclaimed wood (like us), they will need to mill off the top and bottom pieces to get the fresh middle. This is usually out of beams that are really thick and have been de-nailed, and then they use the offcuts for paneling or other projects.
- For the cabinet fronts, they planned 1/4″ veneers which were then applied to 3/4″ baltic birch plywood doors (this yielded a 1″ finished product). To create that continuous flow of wood grain from floor to ceiling, they had to take a sample of each piece used when they were installing the top portion of the cabinets back to the shop and find pieces with the same characteristics, coloring and sizing to line it up perfectly with the doors so it looked like one solid piece was used from ceiling to floor. It was tricky, but they made it happen.
- As mentioned, the 1/4″ veneers were applied to the plywood doors using glue and 23-gauge pin nails with a nail gun. They then filled in the cracks and crevices with a walnut wood filler.
- After the doors were assembled, they were sanded down and received two brush-on coats and two wiped-on coats of a water-based matte finish polyurethane (they sanded between every coat applied). At this point, the doors were ready to be installed onto the cabinet boxes.
- All the trim was done on site and applied the same way.
According to Ross Alan, the cost for material ranges between $9-$12.50 a square foot (depending on the accent material chosen). To clad, finish and install the cabinet doors, it was $65 a square foot, and the island cladding installation was $14 a square foot (in addition to the material costs).
For the island, we used Ross Alan’s corral and snow fence boards which were milled to 5/16″. Because that wood is naturally grayish with a lot of variation, we went with an ebony stain so that it would be more refined. The photo on the bottom left was actually us testing out what a heavily textured wood would look like in black, but for the finished product, it was NOT painted.
The wide planks are FULL of texture and character (I wish you could see how great they are IRL), but in all black, juxtaposed with the lighter beechwood throughout makes it SO special and modern. We finished it off with a few coats of water-based matte polyurethane to keep it from losing color and also to protect it from water, kids, etc.
That matte finish means there is NO shine, so all you see is the beauty of the reclaimed wood, and there was barely any color change from unfinished product to sealed product.
The Countertops:
We had a marble all picked out when we thought we were going to have shaker painted cabinets, but once we went to this reclaimed wood, we felt that we had enough texture so we switched to Cambria (in their White Cliff Matte) and I literally couldn’t be happier. I know that real marble is a lifestyle choice and it’s one that we made for our LA house but I’ll say it again: things that age look better in older style homes (unless you have a full staff to maintain and clean up after you). So for this house, which feels mid-century/brand new, going with a quartz which is less maintenance felt like the better move.
This Cambria quartz is so beautiful and far more durable than a natural high-maintenance marble (it’s a composite stone, which makes it stronger). Plus, it looks so clean and refined.
The faucet from Kohler is beautiful and brought in one of three hits of brass in the room (which is just enough for a mountain house). That bridge shape is just so pretty, and I love the Vibrant Polished Brass finish. As a reminder, as part of my partnership with the brand, I was able to preview their finish to order program which means I can personalize select faucets by first choosing a style I really loved and then bringing it to life in a finish of my choice, which is then made to order (you can visit your local Kohler Signature Store or Kohler Experience Center to learn more about the program).
For anyone wondering why we put the sink (also from Kohler) in the island, take a minute and read our kitchen layout post but I will tell you this—it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and here’s why:
THE DISHES ARE ALWAYS DONE…mostly because I’m always standing there waiting for my soup to cook, talking to whatever guests are sitting on the stools. So I keep the kitchen clean. all. day. Whereas if it were along the window wall, I would put it off because I wouldn’t be able to talk AND do the dishes at the same time.
The Lighting:
The island pendant is the Ellis Light from Katy Skelton (please note the leather wrapping) and is so beautiful and everyone, LITERALLY everyone, I know wants it. It isn’t meant to give off all the light in the world so we have track lighting for the island and the window wall counter. The sconces are The Urban Electric Co. and bring in that super modern lantern vibe that I love.
The matte black ties in with the island pendant and the brass plays well with the brass plate on the Allied Maker flushmounts over the peninsula (and that Kohler faucet). Because there were a lot of “lighting moments,” keeping everything linear or smaller was important as to not overwhelm the space. Those little mini dome ceiling lights were also great as not to block the view between the kitchen and the living room.
The Window & Door:
The window and door are both white oak, from Marvin and yes, as beautiful in real life as they look in these photos. You will be hearing a lot about them this year because what those windows did for the house was nothing short of transformative. The style (the pretty wood!), the different functions, the insulation, the amount of beautiful natural light in there is just insane because of the windows.
The door (this is a side door that opens up to a set of stairs leading to the driveway) was custom designed by us (which is easy to do with Marvin) and as you can tell, it’s STUNNING.
Speaking of light, look up and you’ll see two skylights (from Velux) bringing even more much-needed light into the previously very dark kitchen. They were covered in snow a week before this shoot but don’t worry, they are absolutely designed to withstand all the elements and when you are standing at the cooktop (more on appliances in another post, but this is from Viking with a built-in, pop-up downdraft that we got via Build.com), it’s the most perfect soft light ever.
The Seating:
The final mix of stools ended up being PERFECT. They both “go away” in the most perfect way, keeping the space feeling as big and open as possible but at the same time, they are BOTH so comfortable! People sit for hours and hours and hours at the island while I cook soup after soup after soup.
Had I gone with a natural wood color at the island, it might have taken away from the wow-factor of the ebony-stained wood, but with the black-on-black stool (from Industry West), they blend in seamlessly. Same goes for the Article stools are the peninsula. The tan leather (which is buttery soft, FYI) and the light wood frame work so, so well with the reclaimed wood cladding.
All the Details:
The Light Switches:
The light switches and outlets are from Forbes and Lomax and I never knew how cool I could feel dimming the lights. It’s not a necessity but if it’s in your budget, it’s lovely to look at and functions so well.
The Hardware:
We used a combination of small and large handles, knobs and ledge pulls that we sourced through Schoolhouse. They are all in the same matte black finish and the mix makes it feel so custom, special and still streamlined.
I think the big star here is Ross Alan and the integrated appliances we sourced through Build.com, which you’ll learn about next week. This kitchen is a warm modern dream of a room and I feel utterly unworthy to be cooking soup in it.
I know the work that went into it was intense. The time and budget weren’t nothing and the help was extreme. So I want to give a huge thanks to Julie, Velinda and Grace for working so hard on this project. It was such a learning curve for me, and I hope to impart all of our lessons to you, if you are interested.
I hope you guys know me well enough to know that when I say I couldn’t love this kitchen more, it’s 100% the truth. I walk into this room and breath a larger breath than I thought my lungs could hold. Nothing is perfect in life but when you get close to it, you would be remiss to not recognize how lucky you are. I can’t wait for the winner of I Design, You Decide to come up here and let me tour you around this house for hours. Speaking of which we are now opening that up to many more winners (not for a full 5 days but for a day visit/party…we’ll reveal more as soon as we start to lock logistics down). I’m just so grateful that this is my job. I kinda want one big EHD reader house party/rager. Stay tuned…
Meanwhile, I know there is a lot to cover so please ask all questions in the comments and if you are so inclined, please share. And if you want even more of the mountain house kitchen reveal, hop on over to House Beautiful who ran an exclusive interview and story on the space.
One more HUGE thanks to my design team – Julie, Grace and Velinda who were with me every step of the way and were so integral to the success of this project. Another big thanks to Ross and Georgie of Ross Alan Reclaimed – their attention to detail and high quality was really impressive (and just so lovely to be around and work with). Our general contractor is Jeff Malcom and Architect is John Lyles – I highly recommend both of them if you have a project in the San Bernardino mountains as they are lovely people and highly experienced.
Here’s all the rest of the resources – stay tuned for the big ‘inside the kitchen cabinetry’ (we partnered with Neat Method and they did MAGIC inside those cabinets) and Appliance posts. Coming soon!
Resources
Finishes:
Pure White by Sherwin-Williams | Cambria White Cliff Matte Quartz Countertop | Dry Bar & Coffee Bar Countertop by Bedrosians Tile & Stone | Brick Wall Tile by Bedrosians Tile & Stone | Reclaimed Beechwood Flooring by Ross Alan Reclaimed Lumber | Reclaimed Beechwood Cabinetry Cladding by Ross Alan Reclaimed Lumber | Island Black-Stained Reclaimed Wood Cladding by Ross Alan Reclaimed Lumber
Appliances (all via Build.com):
Viking 36″ Built-In Natural Gas Cooktop with 36″ Built-in Downdraft Ventilation | Viking Panel Ready Dishwasher | Viking Panel Ready Ice Maker | Viking Panel Ready Refrigerator | Marvel Panel Ready Refrigerator Drawers | Edgestar Wine Cool | Viking Double Electric Wall Oven
Lighting:
Ellis Pendant Light by Katy Skelton | Vic Sconces by The Urban Electric & Co. | Mini Dome Sconce in Brass and Opal by Allied Maker | LED Track Light Head from Lamps Plus | 8-Foot Track in White from Lamps Plus
Furniture & Decor:
Esse Counter-Height Stool in White Oak by Article | Sling Counter Stool in Black Leather/Black Metal by Industry West | Black & White Rug
Fixtures & Hardware:
Purist Faucet in Vibrant Polished Brass by Kohler | Whitehaven Apron Sink by Kohler | 4″ and 8″ Ledge Pulls by Schoolhouse | Knurled Knob by Schoolhouse | Edgecliff Pull by Schoolhouse | Edgecliff Appliance Pull by Schoolhouse | Switches and Outlets in Antique Bronze by Forbes and Lomax
Windows & Doors:
Sliding Picture Window by Marvin | Custom Side Door by Marvin | Skylight by Velux
*Catch up on all mountain house posts here, and don’t miss the first reveal of the kids’ bedroom here.
That is a stunningly beautiful room. Congratulations to you and the team!
thank you thank you. xx
Emily, it turned to be a cheery, bright and light, cosy yet rustic, yet scandinavian, modern, …. a great kitchen. I am very happy for you 🙂
Gorgeous. This is really a fantastic kitchen. You were so right to go with the reclaimed wood.
Absolutely stunning. That wood! The amount of natural light! Gorgeous. The white painted ceiling was a great choice for the kitchen. The whole thing is inspirational. You have completely changed my plans for my kitchen!
ooh!! Good. let me know if you have any questions for yours 🙂
I love this reveal!
Best #mhm update yet
The invisible stools are such a good tip 👌🏻
Thank you! Brian wasn’t convinced about the stools, I think because historically i’m all about ‘contrast’ but with this house I’m not. I want as few finishes as possible (I say that now, we’ll see how the furniture turns out). But I love that they both disappear and aren’t big ‘moments’. He loves them now. thank you 🙂
Yes! My first thought would’ve been to have contrasting stools, or for them to relate to each other by both having some element of black/wood. But I love so much more this way! Same with the hardware – I may have picked contrasting knobs/pulls on the black island, but this looks so sleek!
One question – How did you determine where to put handles and where to put finger pulls? Are handles on the integrated appliances, and finger pulls on regular drawers?
Wow, this is gorgeous! The light is amazing, I love it all – the chairs are awesome! Well done team EHD
Out of curiosity, why did you decide to go with black light switches?
I am also curious about the black switches –would love to know the thought process there and whether contrasting switches is trending right now?
But I agree–SO stunning!!!! BRAVO!!!
Yeah, I saw the black outlet on the island was all Thank goodness, they went to the trouble of finding a color that blends into that surface like we’ve been telling them to for years, then was startled to see black ones on the white walls! No no, those ones are meant to be white like normal lol!
I personally love the black switches.
This is absolutely stunning. (And so is “Georgie.” Seriously, I’d find it hard to pay attention to the budget with that dude around. 😉 Ha!)
It really is the perfect kitchen for a mountain home. Wow. Just wow.
Oops, I guess that’s “Ross.” 🙂
Fun fact is that Georgie (Ross’ wife, not shown but we WILL get a photo of them up there) is equally adorable. Wait thats not the fun fact, the fun fact is that she is the voice of Goldie in Goldie and Bear, a cartoon series my kids love and they recognized her voice!! it was so cute/funny. I forget how it went down but Charlie brought it up to me when they were over for a playdate 🙂 Here she is: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2967701/
Couldn’t love it more, it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful! While I’m sure the photos don’t compare to how spectacular it is in real life, you really get a sense of how utterly blissful it must be to exist in that space. Congrats to the team for all your hard work creating such a masterpiece!
thank you thank you. I really just don’t ever want to leave. The built-in dining banquette goes in next weekend!
Bravo! Those cabinets are breathtaking and it’s remarkable how they’re so visually interesting but you don’t feel like you’re being suffocated by wood with the flooring/beams.
Love the stool combos on the island/peninsula
I love the all black stools against the white counter. And I also like that the backs of the stools are even with the counter. The stools look cushioned too? So comfy and stylish? Win, win.
They are SO comfortable. Both sets of stools have padding, but the black ones with the back are ones that you can sit in for hours and hours (and people do).
This kitchen is stunning!! I’m so happy to hear that the black stools are comfortable! One more question on the stools.. are your floors protected from scratching underneath? Do you you pads underneath the legs? My stools from CB2 are scratching my new hardwood floors because the pads I have are not sticking 🙁
Oh hey, you can often put plastic caps on the end, which work better than pads because of the whole sticking, not sticking thing. Sometimes you can replace the foot entirely or sometimes you add them. If all else fails throw down an indoor/outdoor rug and keep that floor protected!
Just ordered the sling back counter stools in caramel! thanks for validating they are comfy. So excited! Step one in my long term plan to recreate your mountain house kitchen in every perfect detail (I kid) (Sort of).
The kitchen looks great, full stop. But the House Beautiful article is misleading. Since the voting process was abandoned, and many votes were overrided or made irrelevant by new directions. It’s not bad to say “Hey, it did not work out and we had to just decide ourselves.” Instead, the HB article says this is the house the internet designed, and makes it sound like a lot of control was yielded over to the audience. I wish HB had told a more real, if less flashy, story.
That’s probably on HB. The new leadership has really shifted the focus from “beautiful interiors” to “get millennial clicks.”
Ooh, i haven’t seen (and yah, they write the story/;choose titles). So much of the house was decided by you guys (bathrooms, especially), but I HAD to change it to reclaimed wood once it became an option. We also have a bigger/better plan to let more people come hang out in the house … stay tuned. xx
Hi Janet,
I’ve been reading this blog for years(!!) and readers have voted on every single decision. Some of the times that voters decisions have gone against Emily and Brian’s decisions, they’ve over ruled. And sometimes the vote came in and then a third idea was realized with comments and careful thought. But the end decision was always made WITH input and votes from the blog community. This IS a house made with community involvement!!!
this is the MOST beautiful kitchen i have ever seen. i love EVERYTHING you did. i can’t even get into specifics because then this comment would go on FOREVER and ever. and i’m actually supposed to be working at the moment. congratulations on an amazing kitchen. i’m so inspired by this!
thank you thank you thank you. xx
What an absolutely gorgeous kitchen. I LOVE all of the integrated appliances. Good choice. I’ve pinned nearly every image.
One question, and I may have missed this from bygone posts, but why did you choose to have the peninsula as well as the island?
It’s the Bar!! we wanted more storage, and it still keeps it super open. There are fridge drawers (you’ll learn all about them in the appliance post) and even a huge ice pellet machine + all our plates/bowls. But mostly because we liked the separation that still kept it super open. More counter space, etc.
Aha! I knew there would be a good reason.
Great job! It’s amazing how that island — a stunning focal point — magically gives the entire design that modern touch, which is carried throughout by the cabinet hardware and other elements. Using reclaimed wood was genius and gave the space a genuine rustic, organic Scandinavian vibe. Great job!
OH my, my it turned out beautiful!!! No wonder you are so happy about it!! I would have never thought about doing the dark stools against the dark island and I love that!!! You are right that so many design shows make renovations look easy, fast and affordable! Anyone who actually does this themselves realizes it really is not the case! I appreciate that you show the “real side” of renovation! Brzvo on a beautiful job!!!
I love all the projects you do, but this is my favourite reveal EVER!
Gas cooktop under a working window is a dangerous situation, and often a building code violation.
There is a downdraft. You’ll learn all about it in the appliance post. 😉
Please do go into detail about the cooktop under the window in your next post. It looks like the center panel of the window is stationary, is that why it was allowed? Was there a minimum clearance required for the window trim?
I’m currently designing a kitchen using IKEA cabinets that are 15” deep and have found that most ranges specify upper cabinets to be no deeper than 13”. It seems like outdated advice which is why I’m so curious about how you navigated code requirements and your cooktop situation.
In California it is not a code violation. I am in the process of permitting one for my own kitchen and we verified with the building department that we are good to go.
I have a cooktop in my island with a down draft and honestly this is a big mistake if you care at all about indoor air quality Put your range/cooktop on the wall and vent outside. period. I also think this kitchen is pretty but missed the mark on this issue BIG TIME.
Congratulations! It’s so beautiful!
Perfection! I LOVE the reclaimed wood. It’s stunning, has a history and reflects values of skilled craftsmanship. Sooooo glad you did the flooring to match. This whole kitchen is divine and everyone who had a role deserves applause. I’m excited for the organization discussion as I still think that design post is the most educational post ever about process and precision of good decision (dream closet a close second). But especially thank you for keeping it real about time and money. We can all read your blog and learn and dream. But irl kitchens like this are out of reach or require significant sacrifices for most people. I’m debt free in a less than perfect kitchen as I write this and just want to put out there that you can be happy in many ways (in case this beauty make you want to immediately go get a loan and copy this whole thing as I did for a hot second). I’m so happy for you and your lovely family and thank you for putting another lovely kitchen in the world and sharing it with us!
thank you 🙂 And congrats on being debt free, thats amazing, INCREDIBLE actually. xx
You Nailed it! Great job. An absolute stunner.
That wood is STUN.NING. I’m convinced that it couldn’t turn out better if you tried. I’d be sleeping in this kitchen just to wake up and stare 🙂
So beautiful! I love it. Thanks for your transparency!
^^This! Love it too.
Perfect! I love everything about your beautiful kitchen and think you have absolutely nailed scandistyle.
This is the kitchen that dreams are made of. So so beautiful!
Emily, it’s really lovely. Could you share what you decided to photoshop for the reveal pictures? And what is your thinking behind that type of editing?
we didn’t photoshop much. Just the normal editing which includes: color correcting, white balancing, straightening. Often the back of a room will look darker to the camera so we might lighten that, or maybe we can’t see the wood grain on the island as much as in person so we just try to make in the photos how it does in person. But all light switches, outlets are here and unless there was dirt on the ground its pretty much as-is. 🙂
Allll the heart eyes. Just…stunning. Goddammit that wood (and the stools!) are so good.
*GASP*
This is THE reveal. It’s glorious.
Emily!!! This is soooo beautiful!! I love everything about it, congrats!
And, as one of the readers that yelled about the seating choice from your LA kitchen reveal: This time you nailed it 100%. I almost screamed at the black ones, that are almost invisible… and the height is just exactly perfect!
GREAT JOB!
ha. thank you. Glad to know I’ve got you back 🙂
LOL! You never lost me, I’m in awe of everything you do 🙂
I’m so glad there is not gong to be another counter chair-gate! 🙂
The kitchen is the stuff of dreams. Congrats on you and the team’s hard work paying off in a BIG way! At the moment my eye is on a more personally attainable goal of finding that carpet runner ;). I’m looking for this kind of modern, warm, scandi palate for my new home. Could you share a link to the carpet runner? Congrats again on the beautiful work. Love all the inspiration the blog provides.
Beth, get ready to be so happy!! It’s from Ikea and only $20, here is the link: https://rstyle.me/+T4yg3IuT-OHRk9hH91cS8A
Absolutley gorgeous!!!
Absolute perfection! Maybe you already mentioned this but I’d love to know where your sofa is from … thank you :).
Misha, it is from Article and I can confirm that it is very cozy! Here is the link, https://www.article.com/product/1523/burrard-seasalt-gray-right-sectional-sofa
Stunning!!
OMG! And that acronym doesn’t even cover it. I am usually not a fan of light wood but sheesh this kitchen takes my breath away. And the black accents so in love! Stunning.
This is SO good. I love everything about it.
This is so beautiful, and fresh, and stunning that my jaw was literally dropped for half the photos. Well done. This might be my favorite thing i’ve seen you do yet. Sigh. Such beauty.
Where is the double oven?
behind the cabinets – stay tuned for how we worked that out 🙂
It’s amazing!!! The wood is so gorgeous!
Congratulations! This is so gorgeous and personal, much much better than the traditional designs. What a lovely heart to the home! Enjoy!
The kitchen is perfection, but can we stop for a minute and talk about how hot Ross is?! A good-looking handy man who can make your kitchen dreams come true? Sign me up!
This was the highlight of my day!!! Yay! So so great!!! Trying hard not to be super jelly. Always hate cooktops in islands…so happy you put the sink there. So happy you chose quartz…it’s just perfect 👌🏻
So good I got a little teary! I am clearly invested in the mountain house and so in love with this kitchen! It is perfect – way to go guys!!!
OMG, thank you Ashley. that made me a little teary. I LOVE how invested you might be and certainly is one of the biggest reasons we do all of this. thank you. xx
this is the most beautiful kitchen i have EVER seen! it is amazing that you found a way to get your original vision. when you revealed the decision to do the white shaker cabinets i felt sort of disappointed in that this-is-the-kitchen-everyone-has sort of way, but THIS is so incredible and unique and true to your brand! i am absolutely in awe! (why am i so personally invested?? i don’t know! i just love it.)
This kitchen you’ve created… holy cow you should be so proud! It is just stunning, congratulations!!
This kitchen is perfection!!! The sets of stools are amazing- I love that they visually disappear. Well done, team EHD!
I love it!!! I love how you did something very unique and not what everyone else is doing (safe white shaker) and true to the style of the home. Modern, rustic and simple. It’s awesome. Good work!
I love everything about this kitchen. It is beautiful, looks like it has soul, and looks like “you” in a way a lot of the progress designs didn’t. Way to go team!
This might be the most beautiful kitchen I have ever seen! Also, I love how many times the word “soup” is mentioned in this post. It makes me believe you can have a dream worthy kitchen that still functions for a real life family! Congratulations to you all!!
It is beautiful! Throughout all the process posts I was a little nervous about the kitchen (as I think you were, too), but it turned out wonderfully. I really like that you painted the ceiling white so that the wall of beautiful wood cabinetry stands out. I would love to see more detailed photos of the glass cabinets and what’s inside.
thank you!! And yes. I WAS SO NERVOUS. it was such an investment that i’m so glad I don’t have to lie to myself about how much I love it (which is a good mental health self-defense tactic). When I walked in after the cabinets were installed I was almost in shock, like out-of-body because I was truly so relieved at how much I loved it.
I just splurged on a robot vacuum and feel exactly the same way — I thought I might have to lie to myself about how much I liked it. But no! I really love it! Ha! It’s all relative 🙂
Beyond stunning!!! You really outdid yourself on this kitchen. It couldn’t have turned out more beautiful!
I’m blown away! This is absolutely gorgeous! I’d never want to leave this space! 🙂
Long time reader, first time commenter here. This is SO good!!!! Truly incredible. Pangs of jealousy inducing to be honest! Exceptional..
Incredibly lovely! What a fantastic kitchen! So many great ideas!
Love it! I hope that we can get a video tour of the cabinet and appliance organization in the future!
Love the ebony island, light fixtures, and both seat stool choices. Not a fan of the reclaimed wood. It’s the streaks and yet that’s the charm of them I bet. Looking over the kitchen it looks like you are nailing the light, bright Scandi cabin. Can’t wait to see more.
Amazing! Stunning! Every detail is beautiful.
Wow, it’s all stunning! And the stools turned out perfectly. It was nice to see the whole lengthy decision process to make me feel less crazy for taking several tries on grout colors or drawer pull sizes.
I feel like this turned out perfect for the vibe you were trying to achieve and I’m truly obsessed with the black island and will be running off to incorporate something like that into one of my designs! The only single thing I could think to say in a suggestion would be another window, or art or something feels like it’s missing abode the stove top window. But that’s extreme because I love it all!
I love it. It’s so peaceful, yet functional (and looks pretty kid-proof!)
Takes your breath away! Beautiful!
This is STUNNING.
This Kitchen could break the internet! It is absolutely gorgeous, beyonf gorgeous really. I’m so glad you didn’t settle with the basic white shaker cabinets, that wood looks like it was destined for a mountain house kitchen.
One word comes to mind: exquisite. ❤️
UNREAL!! You’re defining my life dreams with this kitchen!
The wood and windows are EVERYTHING! Congrats to all on a beautiful kitchen and gathering space. Ice pellets, cocktails, and soup in a mountain/lake setting sounds like heaven on earth.
FABULOUS!! New and old, modern and classic. This hits all the right notes.
Gorgeous kitchen! Where did you get olive oil dispenser and the other shorted dispenser from?
I think one of my favorite things is the way the white ceiling/wood cabinets of the kitchen balance the wood ceiling (at least on the loft portion)/white walls of the living area. Such a great view from one room to the other. And it just seems like it’s one of those rooms that you walk in, take a deep breath, and it’s good for your soul. I was NERVOUS about the kitchen during the voting process. This, however, is unreal. Here’s to many years of you cooking and hanging out in that fantastic space!
Can we get an inner cabinet + coffee bra reveal as well please! 🙂
yes! it’s coming. is a ‘coffee bra’ a thing? OH HA BAR. I was about to google it 🙂
For the past 2 years I’ve felt drawn to light, natural wood tones (think bowling alley floors, light maple cabinets in a slab style) but haven’t seen much of it. And now — here’s your new mountain kitchen with EVERYTHING I’ve been thinking of. Including the finger pull handles on big drawers. It’s like you read my mind, then improved on what I was thinking about.
This is a fabulous kitchen. Kudos!!
Same! Same! 😭 Absolutely stunning scandi kitchen Emily! I don’t know how you’ll ever leave this house to go home to LA. I’d be living full time in the vacation mountain house for this kitchen!
It’s hard. it’s so hard to leave. When people ask me if I’d rather live here i just blurt out YES so fast that I feel guilty. Which is why we are FINALLY finishing the playroom. xx
Oh this is so good!! Usually I look at something and would at least change a few things to make it my own, but this kitchen… I would NOT change a thing.
Thank you so very much for your honesty regarding the price.
Cost is something no one wants to talk about. Maybe out of fear readers will be shocked by the price tag and begin to feel a disconnect with the designer.
So thanks again.
Agreed. Your honesty about price and the way you champion paying for quality work points out the true cost of having renovation done. Thank you for this!
To Ms. Wordy McWordy & EHD Team …
WOW WOW McWOW WOW WOWZERS!!!
PS. Keep all the words up – you are a great, fun and interesting writer with a huge ♥️
Truly, this kitchen is a work of art. I love how all the micro decisions came together into a serene, cohesive, peaceful whole. So, so, so lovely.
it turned out FRIGGIN’ GORGEOUS! excellent job – inspiring!
so so beautiful! the wood is stunning – such a good choice!
enjoy!
This is SO lovely! As a Kitchen Designer I laughed (what is this property brothers??? Flip or Flop??) and very much appreciate all the honesty about the time and money it takes to achieve such an incredible transformation. Congrats and WELL DONE!
Stunning! It’s a liiiiittle too much reclaimed wood for my taste, I would probably do a bit more contrast, but this kitchen is so so so pretty! I’m also obsessed with the no baseboards look, and I hope you discuss that in detail soon! I’ve always loved how it looks but you so rarely see it anywhere!
I absolutely love it!!! I seriously love the ceiling too, was that in the original plans/original to the house? I can’t remember you mentioning it before but it totally ties the whole room together. Altogether so beautiful!
It truly came together in a beautiful peaceful way. Seems like your dream kitchen actually came to pass! I like the decision to keep the bar stools at each area tonal and blending in. My question about the wood is are those aged cracks actually cracks? It seems even harder to keep clean than grooves if so! Looking forward to more posts about the details and heading over to HB for their feature now.
Hey! The aged cracks were filled in with a walnut wood filler to make it easier to clean, Ross & Georgie thought of everything and we are very grateful for that!
Wow, it is so very beautiful! I especially love the layout and how calm it feels. The window wall with the cooktop is so elegant yet also down to earth. And the view across the island into the living room with the huge windows is my favorite. It feels like it flows seamlessly with the rest of the house yet is purposeful and thoughtful in fulfilling all the kitchen necessities!
This is one of the most beautiful, original, elegant, homey, tasteful, and I have to say it again, beautiful kitchens ever. That wood. And the quartz is the perfect choice, the manmade material creates an edge amidst all the wood.
Kudos. Standing ovation. Thank yous.
Also, can I say that you guys took our feedback about how to showcase/post your house designs and are knocking it out of the park? The leadup, the Instagram sneak peeks, the reveal – this way I will be able to absorb the upcoming details posts. Thank you for not only being wonderful designers but also content creators who are willing to listen, learn, and evolve.
From ugly duckling, to swan beauty! It’s an amazing transformation…not just the aesthetics, but your attitude towards the room. I love your honesty about design regrets, something tells me there won’t be too many with this space! Congrats on making it to the finish line and thanks for giving mountain/lake house inspiration to those of us that have similar homes. It’s a refreshing change!
Beautiful. I love it.
Beautiful kitchen! Random q, where is that pretty rug from?
EK, it’s from Ikea! https://rstyle.me/+T4yg3IuT-OHRk9hH91cS8A
Stunning! EHD crushed it. I really want to win the contest so I can see it in person.
Hats off to you and your team. It is just lovely.
The kitchen is gorgeous. I’d definitively would feel great having one lije that myself 🙂 what a transformation! Congrats to all involved in making it
This is one of the very best kitchens I have seen in years. Well done to the entire EHD team & to all of the craftspeople and contractors. Wow wow wow.!
It’s just stunning! Amazing work from all.
Be still my heart! Your best work yet
Gorgeous! I never thought I could love an EHD space as much as I love Charlie’s Glendale nursery, but this is soooo good. You all have so much talent!
So clean, simple, detailed and INSPIRING!!! Love, love, love!
Wow Wow Wow!!! This is a wood lovers DREAM! All of the agonizing decisions that had to be made to get to this point must feel totally worth it! One of the last shots gave a tiny glimpse of the living room ceiling- Ross Alan Reclaimed knocked this project out of the park with ALL THE WOOD!!!
This kitchen is absolutely a dream.
I also want you to know that it is helpful and practical. I live. year round, in a mountain house as I happen to live in a mountain town. A much as I adore the Portland House and your gorgeous LA home, this house has the most aesthetic connection to my own home. I will be referencing the choices you made here for years so THANK YOU!
Holy Cow!
The kitchen is stunning and above what I imagined. I can see this kitchen 20 yrs from now still being style forward and not overly trendy. It’s beautiful! Mazel!!!!
This is a home run! The wood cladding is gorgeous and gives the perfect custom, modern, scandi, mountain house vibe. I love all the choices you made, from the simple quartz counters, the light fixture, the black light switches/plates, the stools… Thank you for showing us the evolution of this kitchen. I learned so much. Congratulations and I can’t wait to see more of the house!
Absolutely stunning. That is a cook’s dream kitchen. I’d make soup any day in that space!!
This might just be your best work!
Speechless……🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This is so SO gorgeous! Love everything about it— bravo!!! It is warm, cozy, inviting all while being modern and minimal! Did you use Pure White by Sherwin Williams for the walls *and* the ceilings? White is so tricky (and it’s so expensive to paint), but you really nailed it here. Would love to know if both the walls and ceiling are the same?
Ashley, thanks! Yes, all the white (walls & ceiling) is Pure White by Sherwin-Williams
Lovely! The reclaimed wood is the star!
I was so so sad when you were going to do white cabinets. This is just perfect. Beautiful.
I mean… It’s perfect. Fabulous job!! Do you have a matte polyurethane brand that you can recommend? Looking to coat my white oak beams but not change the color at all! Thank you!
Hi Mel! We emailed Ross & Georgie to triple check this, they used Minwax Water-based Polyurethane in a matte finish. Here is the link, https://rstyle.me/+Y5EHM-ba2VvgXBgxBdnnMA
I hope this helps for your white oak beams, which sound lovely by the way!
AMAZING!!! Wow, I love this kitchen so much and it looks absolutely stunning! All the finishes and the lighting make it look so interesting and authentic, yet it is still very Scandinavian and surely a really relaxing room to hang out in. The wood definitely has a huge impact! I was also delighted to see that you used the exact same rug I have in my bedroom – Ikea, right? It adds a lovely pop of pattern and texture in a neutral space. Well done, I can’t wait to see more of the mountain house!
This is GORGEOUS!! I was really happy with the Shaker renderings, but for me it’s a case of “you can’t want what you don’t know exists.” I had no idea you could use reclaimed wood in this way and it is breathtaking. A++
Oh my goodness. This is my favorite kitchen I have ever seen. I am trying to figure out what to type about it, but I’m speechless. It’s just so good. Wow. Just wow.
(Also, as we went through the I Design, You Decide process I was pretty underwhelmed by some of the choices being made. I love that as we are seeing it come together it is all working SO WELL. I am truly eating humble pie in my head, because I was so wrong about how this was all going to look. Emily, you did a great job and you should go eat the best soup ever made because you totally earned it!!!!!!!!!!!)
Gorgeous! This is definitely my new dream kitchen! One question though – what made you do track lighting instead of cans?
Love this space! And I have loved reading the comments…you have created a real crowd pleaser with nary a white shaker cabinet in sight!
THANK YOU for price transparency as well as sharing your process and agonies along the way…my husband and I are deciding whether to embark on significant remodeling projects in our house…I needed the reminder to be realistic about price as well as to persevere with design decisions and research until you fall in love!
I absolutely LOVE this kitchen!!!! Your design is spot on and the details are not missed. 🙂 Just curious how the door going outside would look if it were black?
So is there no vent above the cook top?
There is a downdraft vent, stay tuned for the post that will talk all about the integrated appliances!!
Turned out beautiful! How thick of an edge did you do on the countertops?
Ashley! It is 2″ for the edge of the countertops 🙂
So glad to hear how happy you are with the final design! Will love to hear how the kitchen cooks for you in a couple years as well.
This kitchen is a dream!!! My favorite thing is that island…SO GORGEOUS IN BLACK!! Love, love, love. The only question that I have is why would you add black electrical outlet covers on a white wall?? I get hits of black, but that is really distracting. Was there a design reason behind it?
Great article! Thank you for sharing so many details. My sister and daughter in-law are both embarking on remodeling project and your article has so much useful info. Just recently began following you after admiring your work on HGTV so long ago. Love your work!
Stunning, gorgeous! Love love love.
It is really beautiful and this is a great post that really helped me to understand all that went into this kitchen. “Simple is not easy”–I always remember a teacher that said that, and I think that’s what you have here. Congratulations and thank you for sharing part of the process.
Perhaps my favorite space you have ever done. You knocked it out of the park. Most importantly, you captured scandi modern perfectly!! Dying to see the rest. Fan-freakin-tastic!!
LOVE IT! Beautiful! I would like to know how your contractor and cabinetmakers got around the fear of the frame shifting in your wall to wall cabinetry.
Looks like the House Beautiful site is down—did this ABSOLUTE DREAM of a kitchen break the internet/their site?!?! Haha
Wow! This is a gorgeous kitchen, I hope you and your family enjoy it for many years. Normally I am not a huge wood-in-the-kitchen lover, but this, this kitchen is absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations to you and your team. Happy cooking and entertaining.
Gorgeous wood and cabinet finish!!!
I’d love to hear more about the Quarter Round Mouldings that were place at the bottom of every cabinet.
Was it necessary or was this a design choice?
It seems I haven’t seen them in kitchens in a long time. I’d love to hear more about this choice. Thanks!
I noticed that the glass cabinet doors are not fully framed glass doors as seen in the rendering. Just curious to know why you decided to design it that way instead? All in all, your team did an incredible job! I could spend hours standing and staring in awe!😦
Hi Rosie! We had to tweak the design of those glass & metal cabinet doors because for the bar & coffee cabinets those doors actually open up & then retract into the cabinetry. There is a significant gap (about 3-4 inches) between the cabinets to allow room for the cabinet door and sliding hardware so when the doors are closed with a slim metal frame and glass only you would’ve seen that gap. So the outer wood frame was our solution to the problem! Hope that makes sense, very hard to explain *insert hand on face emoji here*
I realized this when I took a closer look at the photos AFTER hitting the post button. Argh! I completely see it now. Sorry, my emoji looks frown-y. It was supposed to be more like a surprised look like ]:-o
Thanks for the explanation! 😀
THANK YOU for no open shelves!!! Beautiful kitchen.
I didn’t know this is how my dream kitchen would look but oh my gosh that’s my dream kitchen *major heart eyes*
Love it! I don’t remember if those black counter stools were in your original set being considered, but I think they are great- they seem to have met all of your criteria except for arms, which I think you already knew might not be possible if they were to be hidden away. How did you end up with these?
Love it! As an architect the grilles showing in the toe kick of the cabinets really bug me but I feel like in person that stuff shows up less than in photos.
Is there a reason you went with the quarter round trim instead of just doing reveals at the base of the walls and cabinets? The house is so modern that the trims feel so out of place to me. I usually just do 1/2″ x 1/2″ reveals in more modern projects, it seems like a much cleaner way to do it.
BRAVO! IT’S STUNNING! And I really loved the behind the scenes look. I would never have known how the cabinets were made with reclaimed wood as a veneer. So cool! Fantastic post overall and so glad you didn’t settle and totally achieved your dream kitchen. AND I am sooooo excited about your banquet!
This is my favorite, favorite, favorite room you’ve ever done.
This is literally the most beautiful kitchen I’ve ever seen. Ross Alan is actually my favorite local lumber yard, so watching this has been a little bit like watching two of your best friends get married!
You have no idea how happy this made me when I opened Instagram to see this picture first! It is my (current!) dream kitchen and I’m so excited to start work on our reno!
Emily – I love the choices you’ve made here. It really looks super cohesive and delightful.
Can’t wait to see more unveil over time!
Emily, this space is incredible. You can do no wrong- and that’s a good thing because you are inspiring my entire new construction home!! (Plumbing going in now) I’m using the New Ravenna Gaston tile you used in the Silver Lake Hills home and I can’t wait to see it in person! We live in Kansas City but want it to feel like California. Anyways, congratulations- you have a stunner of a kitchen.
Unbelievably beautiful. It’s like your whole career led to these brilliant choices. Special shout out to the color mix, island light, and all seating. Congratulations!
I love it! Thanks for keeping it real with the actual budget and timeline! You guy rock!
That is just beautiful! And seems to clean and…spare? – is that the right word? — for a mountain, get away home! I love my “stuff” but on a short holiday, getting away from all the “stuff” sure seems magical!
Wow Wow Wow!!!!! Your kitchen is amazingly fantastic!!
I LOVE everything about this space (as usual!). Thank you for sharing the “real” work that goes into a remodel. Couple questions- 1) you said you didn’t paint the black island, was the wood burnt to get that look? 2) Are the glass cabinets for the coffee bar framed in metal or is it painted wood? I’d love to get that same look in my living room cabinet that my husband is supposed to build for me. 🙂
Hey Carissa! The black island was actually stained using Minwax Ebony (2718) Stain, here is a link: https://rstyle.me/+kBum7ahlBZu7d5vvY9lUdw . And the cabinets have a matte black metal frame that the glass is set in, hope that helps! If you need any more details feel free to email us 🙂
You took the feeling of the inspiration photos and came up with something very personal and so much better. Faced with a remodel, rather than new build, you encountered all the decisions we find so overwhelming. Lastly, I appreciate the importance of working with and supporting true craftsmanship.
THAT.IS.SO.GORGEOUS. I mean, truly..and original. I absolutely loved your detailed post (I love all of them). I greatly appreciate your inclusion of the actual cost, as well. Thank you. Each day that I receive one of your posts, I am a happy person! I feel that I am getting an education and possibly the ability to recreate such beauty at my home.
HOLY SHIT! This is insanely beautiful! WOW! I love everything about it. Especially the island pendant, hardware and built in coffee bar! Amazinggggg!!!!!
Amazing! Would you mind sharing the details for the pendant light above the dining table?
Also, I’m SO excited for the “inside the cabinets” post – I’m designing our kitchen now and need all the help I can get!
Such a zen space, I love it!
WOW. Just WOW. Everything came together perfectly. The wood cabinets are simply stunning. The stools are perfect and blend in as you said, and it’s so great to hear that they’re comfortable to boot. The light is AMAZING. Congrats!!
I am so thrilled that there is not one white cabinet in this entire kitchen!!! Love the wood, love the black island, LOVE the glass front cabinets. Really a triumph – especially considering how many changes there have been to the plans over the last year. Personally, I’m always in danger of overthinking things, but you clearly thought about all of it just enough to get to that perfect moment.
Such a beautiful kitchen but more than that, I appreciate how willing you are to share your design choices and problems along the way. Thank you
This is the kitchen I have always wanted from you and I didn’t even know it!
Just beautiful.
And I am going to start saving now so I can get new pulls from that line when my cupboards are painted–thanks for sourcing them!
This is so beautiful! You guys nailed your original vision. I’m so glad you stayed the course!
PERFECTION! That wood is beautiful, every detail of this kitchen is perfect!
AH MAH GHAAAH! SO beautiful!
Amazing! It’s beautiful. And the seating could not be more perfect. Two thumbs way, way up.
YES! Fantastic job. I am so curious about the cabinets, there are some really narrow doors, what are they for? I love the island and the pendant above it, and that quartz is the best. It makes me want to redo my kitchen :))
The reason I know this is perfect is that though a few of the design choices are ones that I normally really dislike, here they are incorporated in such a manner that reflects an integrity of your overall concept and so I love them. And that wall of gorgeous cabinetry. Swoon!!!!
Hands down, bar none some of your absolute best work. And that’s really saying something! Wow wow wow wow wow. Well done all!
You did it!! Simply beautiful and reflective of you and your family.
I’m in if you have a reader rave. I would love to meet you in person. You are my inspiring and I look forward to reading every single one of your posts.
Well, aside from the lack of a climbing wall and a couple of nooks (for the under five set), this kitchen is perfect! Totally Scandi-whatever you wanted it to be.
I think I spy the Lewis sofa!? I have one too. And if I managed to choose the same sofa before Emily posted about it, then I have officially graduated from the EH school of style! I have learned so much.
Beautiful! HUGE round of applause for everyone’s hard work! Thank you also for being open about price and time line. 🙂 Congrats!!
It’s nice, but everything seems so much the same all over, nothing really stands out. The floors blend into the cabinets which blend into the the door and the window frames. Guess I need more drama.
Still not crazy about the fixture over the island either.
But I LOVE the blackened island. That’s a tiny kiss of drama that I really needed.
Well, the blending obviously was intentional.
It’s beautiful! I would love to see photos of the hidden appliances opened up. Refrigerator, oven, microwave 😊
I can’t stop looking at these pictures. I don’t have words to describe how obsessed I am with this. Emily & team, you truly are artists. I don’t have a design background but I can recognize incredible technical skill when I see it. I keep noticing details and thinking how did she know that would work?? How did she know to do that?? Kudos all around, I’m in awe.
This is YOUR best work – completely in awe of what you were able to do here.
Ahhh, this kitchen is soooo me. Sometimes you design things where I think, “That’s nice,” but it seems too high-end–not that this isn’t [!!!] but the warmth and “friendly factor” here are just through the roof, which is what I love most. The kitchens in the Lake House and your home in LA were more traditional, whereas this is modern, simple, and so warm and comfortable. You really ARE so lucky to have the kitchen (and house!) of your dreams.
I also wanted to add that the “before” shots made me LOL. Yes, I’d seen those pictures before, but…! The before kitchen was like a weird, dark obstacle course, wasn’t it?!?!?!
Absolutely stunning!! Those black stools are PERFECT and I think I’m going to buy them for our breakfast bar down the road. Congrats – so worth it all I’m sure!!
Ok, the house is incredible!! And you look like you have legs for days in the HB article. But now I need to know, did Sara Tramp get married – based on photo byline? We need staff updates please!
Well done team! Perfect for a mountain house.
Have you had trouble with skylights making a room too hot? Do you need to consider which direction the house is facong when placing them?
Wow. Just, wow.
Emily & Co. – If you never designed another thing, you would go out on top. This room is really perfection. The reclaimed wood is off-the-charts gorgeous. The workmanship is stellar. (all that matching!!??!!) Incredible. I hope more people look into reclaimed wood when designing cabinetry because I have never seen (or heard) of anything like this.
If I were you, I’d be cooking soup 24/7.
Bravo!!!!!
P.S.
I’m so glad you went with the sink on the island! I told you you’d be spending more facetime with people there than at the cooktop! And all those clean dishes is just a bonus. 🙂
Congrats, again!
Question… Did you ever consider not using a backsplash? I’m considering it for my kitchen and see more and more kitchens on Pinterest without a backsplash and they look so clean and pretty. Any thoughts on this? Also, how many inches is your minimal backsplash?
I LOOOOOve it! (in my high pitched Cameron from Modern Family voice)
Wow!! It’s a different design for you and yet it’s still utterly Emily. It’s just perfection. Well done on pushing yourself. What an inspiration.
What does Brian think of it?
What’s going on with the fireplace in the background?? Did you “schmear”?
Beautiful I was very excited to read this post. I love all your mountain house posts. Thank you for sharing.
This is going to sound weird, but I’m sharing anyways.
I DREAMT ABOUT VISITING YOUR HOME! 😀 It was a mix between your old LA home, the new one and also a little bit of the mountain house. I was travelling in California (I’m from Italy, so not exactly next door) with my family and my parents and I had to drag all of them to visit your home, since I knew you were having an open house. Luckily mom is just as obsessed with interior design as I am, so she was happy to come. Anyway, your home was insanely big, way more than I assume it is (Versailles big), and as beautiful as it is pictured on the blog. Oh and we met your kids. Very nice and well behaved, at least in my dream 😀
(This kitchen is just wow. There is no way I would/could ever spend that much in a kitchen, but wow. So perfect. Thanks for keeping it real with the costs!)
So gorgeous. Absolutely love the wood and the two different types. Looks amazing. Also that long black bar light. Curious about your decision on track lighting??? I love my kitchen super bright at night too. Would love to see some photos when it’s dark too. Thanks for the inspiration.
This is so beautiful!! The perfect combination of modern, cabin-y, bright and light! I’d love to copy some of these ideas for my kitchen!
I have a question about your hardware. Can you talk about mixing metals? Your sink faucet is that beautiful brass but all the other metals finishes are dark. I love the look of brass in the kitchen (lighting fixture, faucet, drawer pulls, etc) but never thought to mix metals. How do you go about doing this and making it look good and balanced?
I’m so in love. With this amazing reclaimed wood, it has the warmth that the usual beautiful modern kitchens don’t have. You and the team did an incredible job.
Like everyone else I think this kitchen is gorgeous!!! Luck duck for sure!! I hope you make more than soup in here!! (I’m sure at least hot chocolate, :)) Congrats!! It’s perfection!
Dead. Just, dead.
i love your design aesthetic, which is why eagerly await new posts, and you’ve always designed beautiful kitchens, but this one is truly aspirational. seeing all of the pieces come together: the ceiling and fireplace, and now the kitchen, has been really lovely. well done!
Looks so fabulous – a perfect family retreat. Quick question – which software did you use for the renderings? I’m in design school and like that look. Is it sketchup? Didn’t look like Enscape. Thank you!
Absolutely fantastic! There isn’t anything I don’t love. When you posted the options, I feel in deeply in love with the Ellis Light from Katy Skelton. Until I saw the price, so I dried my tears and tried to move on. Then I discovered a seller on Etsy that makes one that is almost identical and I could actually afford. It is on its way to me right now, and I really hope it is as good as I need it to me.
Will you share the seller please?!
Wow wow wow. So beautiful – great job!
I am literally speechless!!!! I plan to study EVERY SINGLE NOOK AND CRANNY! I am so so happy for you and your family….wishing you many, many weekends in this beauty! Positively STUNNING!
AND thank you for sharing it with us. What an inspiration!
I DIED 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Love, love, love the cabinetry and the way it works with the flooring. Fresh, different that we’ve seen from you, and so mountain house-y, in the most clean way! This is the post that has made me say “ahhh, this really looks like a mountain getaway”
Hi Emily. I’m researching wall ovens and am torn between Viking and Thermador. I currently have a 15 year old Viking oven (we’re moving and renovating) that I have been disappointed by from the start. The interior heat is very uneven, wherher or not convection is on. But that’s the old Viking, before they were bought and under new management. What do think? Happy with your oven?
By the way, BEAUTIFUL job!
AH!! This is SO beautiful! I will be referring back to this post for months / years to come! Thank you for sharing the entire process and allllll the pretty pictures too!!!
What an amazing perfect mountain house! I love this so much! Such nice details. I love the side door too!
A day late and a dollar short…BUT. This kitchen is PERFECT for this house. As a construction project manager/architect I love that you gave kudos to the entire team. They say it takes a village to raise a child, well the same can be said for an amazing finished construction project. It hits all the boxes you were going for! You should be very very proud!
It’s ah-may-zing…truly, congrats! 100x better than the first plan. Innovative! I love the blend of rustic and modern.
I love it. Congratulations. You worked so hard for this. xo
Just gorgeous!
Wow, Emily (and team)!! I can’t imagine this kitchen turning out any more perfect. It’s absolutely stunning!!
Kitchen is beautiful! My attention to detail self is noticing that you didn’t use a typical trim on the lower walls/floor. That is really genius! Keeps it minimal but also keeps it from being too modern. Wish I would’ve thought of that for our house before we started replacing all the trim!
Okay, so where is that beautiful vase from on the peninsula? I live everything about this kitchen, that vase included!
Love the lighting choices and stained island!
Cannot wait to see how you them cabinets set up there and whats behind each door.
it looks HUGE!
I went to House Beautiful and it was good to see a few more up close shots that you had there.
Where is your fridge? Is it on the far wall away from the stove? Where are your dry goods and spices kept? Everything appears to be a distance from the stove, making it cumbersome to cook. Overall, aesthetically, your kitchen looks wonderful but I am wondering how practical it is to cook in.
Where is that oil cruet from? It is amazing.
Wow, Emily, this is stunning. I feel relaxed and inspired just looking at this light-filled room with all of the natural wood, and the windows pulling nature into the room. It’s the feeling of being on vacation just by looking at the room. And this isn’t a style I naturally gravitate too.
I read and enjoy all of your posts, but I think this one really shows the depths of your talent and your range as a designer. And I didn’t think there was room for improvement! Congratulations and ENJOY this home!!
Oh my goodness, Emily! Your kitchen is gorgeous! I’m so happy for you, it just looks like it was supposed to be this way. It looks effortless even though it wasn’t. Wow! Thanks for sharing!
Can you tell me more about the flooring. Love the grain. What’s the width, how did you finish it. Floors take such a beating, especially with snow, boots, later spring rain and mud. My full time mtn house (ranch style) has wonderful 1×1 white ceramic tile – blah. Thanks for showing us a beautiful way to have so much wood.
Beautiful house Emily. You’ve come along way from when you would pick up free stuff off the street to decorate your college rooms. Even then though…you had a style. So very proud of you!
Where do you dry your dishes? Do you usually have a drying rack on the island, or is there some hidden built in drying area we aren’t yet seeing?
The wood is the best choice you could have made! It’s SO cozy and warm but still modern!
How does the stove work without a hood? Just wondering.
I also could not love this kitchen more. I think it’s my favorite room ever, actually. I’m so glad you didn’t have to compromise in the end. This is pure genius, and completely original. And that wood!
It’s beautiful and bright. I love it and am hoping to get the same look.
When you choose the windows, do you use the LoE 180 to keep them that clear?
(Thanks for sharing your work and thought process on all your projects. I really enjoy all your posts.)
Wow, this is gorgeous!
I’m really happy for You Emily, such a stunning kitchen! I’ve been following along with the whole process from chilly London, and am so pleased you ended up using this beautiful wood, really truly lovely.