Back to Nature

Renovating the kitchen of their El Dorado home had always been in the back of Gary and Kristi Sewell's minds, but when they began working with interior designer Elizabeth Long of Murphy Long Design, it seemed that the time was right. “I began working with Kristi a few years ago when she wanted advice on a paint color for their den,” Elizabeth says. “We then moved upstairs and redesigned her guest bedrooms and a bath, but the entire time Kristi kept mentioning starting the kitchen next.”

Taking advantage of the home's sweeping views of the south Arkansas countryside was an important part of the initial design process, as was ensuring that the open kitchen and spacious butler's pantry matched the rest of the home stylistically. “We didn't want it to look new because we wanted it to blend with the home while unifying both the interior and the exterior views,” Elizabeth says. Keeping in mind the home's style, which Elizabeth describes as “Western elegance,” she and Kristi developed a monochromatic color palette of rich, earthy colors combined with interesting textures and natural materials.

The project, which was completed in stages so that Kristi could continue using the kitchen, completely eliminated the room's previous forest green laminate countertops and white cabinetry. Instead, granite with a unique leather-like finish is joined by custom-finished cabinetry with seeded glass doors and a custom-designed Ann Sacks tile backsplash. The room was reconfigured to allow space for additional seating at the bar, and a natural slate veneer on three walls visually connects the room to the adjacent living area. “The materials were all carefully chosen to create layers of gorgeous finishes,” says Elizabeth. “We wanted everything to be very natural and a great balance of texture and tone.”

But function, of course, is at the heart of every kitchen, and the space now works beautifully for Kristi. Along with top-of-the-line appliances, Elizabeth incorporated plenty of drawers for easily accessed storage space, a station devoted to baking with a special cabinet for the stand mixer, and stunning views of the Sewells' land from the window above the apron-front kitchen sink.

Design Resources
Interior design: Elizabeth Long, Murphy Long Design, El Dorado
Cabinetry: James White, El Dorado Cabinets
Faux finishes: Susan Jacobs
Countertops: Midway Marble & Granite, El Dorado
Lighting: Second Avenue Designs, Lighting Designs by Lisa, El Dorado
Glass: El Dorado Glass & Mirror
Tile: Ann Sacks
Hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware