Date: December 30, 2018 | Story: Tiffany Adams | Photography: Rett Peek | Styling: Lauren Cerrato |
A desire for a lighter palette and greater functionality sparked this Little Rock kitchen renovation
Above: Double wall ovens were swapped for a large range with equally large ovens below it.
Designer Meridith Hamilton Ranouil has been working with Cathy and Lee Sing for close to 15 years; however, it was only recently she got the opportunity to transform the heart of the couple’s home, the kitchen. “I had just completed a design for their laundry room but we hadn’t yet started construction,” the designer recalls. The couple talked with Meridith and decided if they were going to tear up the adjoining laundry area, they might as well take the opportunity to redo the kitchen.
One of the main requests was to lighten the palette, which the designer did with a mix of cool and warm tones. “She wanted a white kitchen, but she wanted it to feel warm,” Meridith says. Features such as the pairing of tan Taj Mahal countertops with a lighter backsplash and cool walls with wood floors perfect this blend.
As for functionality, one of the biggest updates came in swapping the existing range, which was located in the island and had a downdraft vent, for a larger, built-in commercial-style range and oven combo (which is set against a far wall) with a hooded vent. This gave Cathy, who loves to cook, more stovetop workspace as well as more prep space on the island. “When our daughter, Alexandria, comes home from Connecticut, we all enjoy cooking together—and this kitchen has really been a joy to cook in,” Cathy says.
RINSE AND REPEAT
A touch faucet allows the Sings to turn on the water easily with the brush of an elbow, meaning dirty hands don’t taint the stainless finish. They requested a single-bowl porcelain sink to accommodate large pots and pans.
COME TOGETHER
Meridith wanted a mix of brass and brushed nickel for the hardware, but couldn’t find exactly what she had in mind. She helped design this meld that blends beautifully with both the cool and warm tones found in the space.
UP THE WALL
A mosaic tile was laid on the vertical for a twist on an expected application. “We wanted to do something a little different than the traditional horizontal,” Meridith says.
GOT YOU CORNERED
Deep V-shaped drawers fill the corners of the cabinetry near the range and are also found in the curio cabinet on the opposite side of the room. “These allow for easy access to objects and mean there’s no wasted space in the design,” Meridth says.
“Over the years, the Sings and I have built such trust, and I was able to use a lot of different custom and out-of-the box design elements because of this.”
— Meridith Ranouil, designer
TURNING TABLES
The Sings already owned the dining set seen in the breakfast nook. However, they refreshed the chairs (Cathy painted them herself!) with chalk paint and new upholstery featuring an ‘S’ for the couple’s last name.
Artwork by Hazel Sweeney, which Cathy found at Little Rock’s Cobblestone & Vine years prior, was a guiding point for the room’s light palette.
ON DISPLAY
The back wall of the kitchen previously had a built-in curio cabinet housing Cathy’s china and numerous inherited pieces. Meridith enlarged the storage space here by turning the corner with the design and making use of the entire area. Working with Wood-Mode, she designed custom glass-front doors to lend a slightly contemporary flair to the room.
Design Resources
Design Meridith Hamilton Ranouil, CKD, Allied ASID, MLH Designs Contractor John Hanks Construction Appliances Metro Appliances & More Art Cobblestone & Vine Cabinetry Restructure Design Countertops Casa Blanca Granite, Marble & Tile Fixtures Southern Bath & Kitchen Hardware and lighting MLH Designs Monogramming Kwikstitches Custom Embroidery Paint Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams Tile ProSource of Little Rock Upholstery and window coverings Designer Effects
BEFORE & AFTERS
