The owners of this two-level Chapel Hill, N.C., home decided the early-2000s French country style of the interiors was feeling dated and needed a major refresh. Designer Jennifer Hutton, creative director and principal designer of Grau Design Studio, worked with the homeowners to create more modern spaces with sustainable design elements and the latest technology for easy living.
Mix of Old and New
In the kitchen, the homeowners wanted to incorporate their existing dishwasher, range and refrigerator into the updated design, so Hutton realized she needed to rethink the placement of the appliances. Relocating the range to an opposite wall improved flow and workspace, but structural issues with the kitchen also needed to be addressed. Two walls that separated the kitchen and dining room were removed to create a large, open-concept layout that allows for more movement throughout the now connected spaces. There was also a black pipe next to the chimney of a fireplace that is anchored to the kitchen’s new island that is a critical component to the room’s stability.
“We weren’t sure how to address this, but when the client said she liked a more ‘industrial’ vibe, we left it exactly how it was,” said Hutton. “We also decided to swap the location of the firebox, so making sure the chimney was adequately supported on the other side was no small feat.”
Various shades of blue and white strike a perfect balance in the renovated kitchen. While the former space felt dark and fussy, Hutton designed a much cleaner look with white KCMA-certified, full overlay cabinetry with a modern profile against warm gray walls (low-VOC paints were used throughout).
“We really decked out the cabinets inside to give them as much storage as possible,” said Hutton.
Upgraded counters offer a hybrid surface of minerals and recycled materials with bluish-toned veins. Sleek cobalt stools the homeowners choose for the new island coordinate with the counters.
This efficient and elegant kitchen also features LED task lighting for better visibility and a few upgraded high-efficiency windows and doors. Going to sliders instead of a French door style eliminated the need for swing space. Improving both the function and style was a key focus for this serious transformation.
Calm, Open & Airy Bathroom
This same philosophy was also applied to the modern update of this home’s primary bath. Hutton wanted to make it feel more open, and she accomplished this goal by including an oval-shaped, white, acrylic soaking tub with a black, single-handle, floor-mount tub filler that takes up less floor space than the previous tub with tile deck. An added niche on the wall above the tub offers easy access to bath products or a spot for candles to enjoy during a relaxing soak.
Next to the tub, a larger two-person shower with a seat has a taller custom, frameless, tempered-glass enclosure. The versatile shower with a matte-black rain showerhead, fixed showerhead and a hand shower with slide bar gives the homeowners the option of an invigorating bathing experience in the morning or the soothing benefits of a rain shower at night.
A mix of tiles in this spa-like bathroom includes large-format, concrete-look porcelain on the bathroom floor and industrial-look porcelain tiles with a matte finish on the shower walls. Hutton chose a Schluter shower system to make sure everything was waterproof and installed properly.
A double vanity about the same size as the previous one has white, rectangular, undermount sinks; a non-porous, scratch-resistant countertop; and upgraded storage inside with deeper access and additional drawers.
“We also did lighting under the vanity, which is great for late nights or early mornings,” said Hutton. “The functionality was certainly enhanced.”
Above the vanity, LED-framed mirrors capture the best light and function possible. An easy-to-clean, water-saving, one-piece toilet with sleek curves and a low-profile silhouette is one of the other improvements in this clever redesign.
The kitchen and bath were part of a larger-scale project in this home that also included turning a drive-in garage into a recreation space with a kitchenette, bathroom, pool table and lots of lounge area.
“We used robust project management to keep the schedule aligned,” said Hutton. “Doing the kitchen and bathroom along with the larger overhaul of the lower level was an easy task for us because one element flowed right into the next.”
SOURCE LIST
Designer: Jennifer Hutton, Creative Director & Principal Designer, Grau Design Studio
Photographer: Sarah Martin
KITCHEN
Backsplash: WOW USA; Cabinet Hardware: Berenson Hardware; Cabinets: Medallion; Countertops: Silestone; Lighting: Mitzi; Paint: Sherwin-Williams; Range Hood: Zephyr
BATHROOM
Cabinet Hardware: Berenson Hardware; Cabinets: Medallion; Countertops: Dekton; Faucets: Kohler; LED Mirrors: Fleurco; Lighting: Shades of Light; Paint: Sherwin-Williams; Shower Fixtures: Kohler; Tile: Happy Floors & WOW USA; Toilet: Kohler; Tub: Signature Hardware; Tub Filler: Jacuzzi
