Date: July 1, 2023 | Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton | Photography: Rett Peek |
Designer Kathryn LeMaster helps a Fayetteville kitchen reach its full potential
While it can be tempting to remodel immediately after moving into a new house, sometimes the best results come after living in a place for a while first. Such was the case with designer Kathryn LeMaster’s clients in Fayetteville, a young family in need of a kitchen remodel. “They had been in the house for about four years,” Kathryn says, noting that the time they spent living in the space helped them determine a list of priorities: new flooring, better flow, lighter style, and more personality. “The before was dark and dysfunctional, and the cabinets felt worn from previous owners,” the designer says.
First, she helped address the way space was utilized by partially enclosing a 10-foot opening between the kitchen and living room to create more wall space. “It seems counterproductive because we’re usually opening things up, but we only had half a kitchen wall,” Kathryn says, adding that the cased opening is now 6 feet wide—still a roomy doorway. “It created some balance and allowed the oven to be centered on one wall and sink on the other.”
Kathryn also specified the island be reoriented so it was parallel to the longest wall, which made better use of the room’s square footage while improving traffic flow around the updated appliances. For the flooring, existing slate squares were traded for an easy-to-clean wood-look tile. “One concern we hear from clients is, if we use something different from the other rooms, is that going to look weird?” Kathryn says of their flooring decision. “As long as it’s a distinctly different color and you run it in a different direction, it becomes an intentional transition area.”
Aesthetically, the homeowners were drawn to a pastel palette, white Café appliances, and a minimal yet collected style. “She mentioned liking something in a West Elm catalog, so while we didn’t go modern, you can see something almost Scandinavian in the design,” Kathryn says. Case in point, the open shelving, wishbone barstools, and globe-style pendants all reflect this influence. The homeowners’ desire for lavender, pink, and light blue touches comes through in the island color (“Willow Tree” by Sherwin-Williams), window coverings, and accessories. “We enjoyed this project because it was such a unique color palette,” Kathryn says. “It’s rare we get someone who wants pops of pinks and blushes. It was a challenge that kind of set us free.”
“It’s transitional, but has hints of modern to create that fresh look that keeps it from feeling too formal.”
—Kathryn LeMaster, designer
The Right Hues
An Oushak-style rug from Etsy incorporates the light pink, purple, and blue the homeowners desired as well as a mustard tone that feels at home among the room’s warm metals.
Fresh & Clean
An apron-front sink is timeless and functional, and Delta’s “Trask” faucet ties into the clean and current design. “That style goes really well anywhere from transitional to modern applications,” Kathryn says.
Dreamy Details
Tilebar’s “Seaport” in Chameleon is an elongated subway tile with a hand-thrown look. “It has these sage, seaglass undertones that really helped inform the paint colors,” Kathryn says. Like the rug, faux Roman shades in a floral pattern bring softness to the space. The cabinetry and walls are painted “Gossamer Veil” by Sherwin-Williams.
Around the Curves
A trio of globe pendants (“Somerset” by Hinkley) illuminate the island while adding midcentury character to the design. “Having the bar and arch details fills the space more and also ties into the brass from the curvature of the hood,” Kathryn says.
Design Resources
Contractor Pablo Pagliani Interior design Kathryn LeMaster, Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design Appliances Metro Appliances & More Cabinets, millwork, and painting Pablo Pagliani Countertops Verona Marble Company Flooring Townzen Tile Paint Sherwin-Williams Tile Kathryn J. LeMaster Art & Design Window Coverings Interior Fabrics and Design
