White hot
September 1, 2020
Rubbed brass accents bring a touch of warmth to this classic Cotswold kitchen.
by Cathy Martin • photographs by Laura Sumrak
There’s a timeless allure to a white kitchen, but with a little imagination you can put a unique stamp on even the most neutral of spaces. Interior designer Melissa Lee of New South Home did just that in this new Cotswold home for a family of four, teaming with Catherine Walters Interiors to create an impeccable space that blends seamlessly with the home’s soft, cream-colored palette.
Working closely with the homebuilder, Joyce Building Co., Lee took the popular cooking-center concept to heart in designing the custom 7-foot, brass-strapped stainless-steel hood over a 48-inch Thermador range. With white walls, white quartz countertops and soft gray cabinets — a subtle twist on the ubiquitous gray wall/white cabinet combo — the hood stands out as a focal point in the space, which is open to the family room.
“White kitchens are classic,” Lee says. “The concept was always to have that brass in there to help warm the space up a little bit.” Other brass accents include the cabinet hardware, lighting and barstools, which are upholstered in a soft gray linen.
For homeowners who remain committed to white or muted colors in the kitchen, Lee suggests using texture and lighting to create an individualized space.
“The island is one place where I can convince [clients] to do something different,” she says, including adding pops of color and trendy elements such as rattan barstools and pendant lights that can be switched out over time.
Given the versatility and crisp, clean aesthetic, it’s unlikely the popularity of the neutral or all-white kitchen will go away anytime soon.
“You can’t go wrong with white,” Lee says. SP
