Kitchen of the Week: Classic Style for a Southern Belle

This South Carolina couple built a brand-new home, but they didn't want all of it to feel so ... brand new. Designer Brittany Feldt of Kitchens, Baths and Beyond worked with them on a look that would feel more timeless and celebrate their eclectic side.

Kitchen at a Glance
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Who lives here: A couple and their toddler daughter
Size: 288 square feet

The owners wanted the kitchen to feel clean, white and crisp, with plenty of space in which to eat, prep and cook. Feldt devoted a good portion of the kitchen's square footage to a large, central island, complete with bar seating, a prep sink, storage, pullout trash cans and oyster-shell chandeliers.

The marble countertops require some care and maintenance, but the couple was willing to take the extra care to keep them in good shape. Feldt also sealed the counters with an extra-strength 15-year sealer.

Countertops: Bianco Avion honed marble; cabinetry: Madison, Touchstone Fine Cabinetry

Using White Marble: Hot Debate Over a Classic Beauty


Classic materials and architectural accents — such as the corner display shelves next to the windows and faux legs below the sink — create a built-in look with premanufactured items.

This set of windows gets quite a bit of light during the day, so Feldt made sure nothing in the design would restrict the kitchen's main natural light source. The corner shelves, sheer window coverings and library lights above the sink all draw attention to the windows.

Library lights: Barbara Cosgrove


Three types of cabinet hardware add to the kitchen's slightly eclectic look. Feldt struggled to find cabinet hardware that matched the appliance hardware, so she picked out hardware from different collections that works well together. Pewter latches on the upper cabinetry mix with pewter pulls and painted knobs with an antiqued finish below.

Microwave: Wolf; dishwasher: Bosch; ice maker: Sub-Zero; upper cabinetry hardware: Top Knobs M1786; lower cabinetry pulls: Top Knobs 834-96; lower cabinetry knobs: Top Knobs M101


The couple loved the idea of having the hood stand out and match the floor, so Feldt had an insert hood custom wrapped in the same heart pine used on the floor. (The distance from the bottom hood to the open flame on the stove eliminates any fire hazards, per National Kitchen and Bath Association guidelines.)

The porcelain tile behind the stove has a glossy finish and a sealed, antibacterial grout that makes cleaning easy.


The clapboard walls, made of painted pine panels nailed onto the kitchen wall studs, were part of the design vision from day one. Feldt designed an additional clapboard ceiling treatment overhead to tie the kitchen together and create visual interest.

The kitchen sits between the home's formal dining room and the living room, which opens to the kitchen. A doorway next to the refrigerator leads to the upstairs bedroom, making the kitchen a hub for family activity.

Sink, faucets: Rohl; stove: Wolf

See more Kitchens of the Week

URL: Kitchen of the Week: Classic Style for a Southern Belle http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21931.html