the big sur house kitchen renovation

I know it’s been quite a while since I posted. From a front garden, a bathroom reno (ongoing), client work, and now a kitchen renovation, I’ve been busy! For now, I want to share the Big Sur House kitchen with before and afters, sources, and how it came to be.

We bought the house in March of 2018. There was quite a bit to do, as any of you have followed along with me know. This summer we decided to tackle the kitchen. I’ve had three years to think about and plan this small kitchen. At first I thought I could make the original wood cabinets work, but they were discolored and had a white plastic frame underneath. I also wanted something simpler with cleaner lines. I made the decision to start from scratch.

So what did I want this small kitchen to consist of? One of the priorities was a sink large enough to wash a pot! The previous one was smaller than most bathroom sinks. It also wasn’t centered under the kitchen window which caused my Virgo Type A personality agita. The other must have was a dishwasher. I decided to keep the old subzero under-the-counter refrigerator/freezer as it added much needed space for items AND even an ice maker. That left some interesting configuring to fit a small 18″ dishwasher. But where there’s a will there is a way!

The kitchen is mainly a galley with most cabinets and appliances lined up on one wall. On the opposite side was some storage, a refrigerator, and the washer/dryer (very European!) We replaced the original washer/dryer and the refrigerator for something that fit better within the space.

My trusty contractor, Brendan Wahl of BWahl Construction, and I got to work planning out the small space. On his recommendation, I hired Jali Morgenrath, a Big Sur local, to build the cabinets. I wanted something simple but different from shaker cabinets. I went with a plain cabinet and drawer front with a simple bead around the perimeter. Jali was so quick (3 weeks!) that the cabinets were ready before we were. They ended up sitting in the living room while demo continued.

The demolition happened in June and luckily we didn’t run into any issues (rare but it does happen sometimes!) I returned from a family vacation to a clean slate.

At last it was time to start putting this baby together! I went without a range hood. In the three years I had lived here, I’d used the fan exactly twice. We just don’t do that kind of cooking around here and big meals are often on the grill. That freed up space for my copper pots and a floating shelf.

The most difficult decision to make was the finish on the cabinets. Originally I was going to go with all natural oak cabinetry. While I loved the look, it was just too much of a good thing with the wood ceilings and floors. I opted to paint the bottom cabinets a rich green, reminiscent of the redwoods seen out the window. I chose the color Benjamin Moore Backwoods but used Fine Paints of Europe in a satin finish for the durability. I’ve been using Fine Paints of Europe on cabinetry for over 20 years and while it may cost more, it lasts forever! (My white cabinets in Santa Barbara were painted eleven years ago and still look like new). The large pantry I left in a natural oak finish to add some warmth. With pull out shelves and a place for the microwave, it has become a real space saver.

Across from that pantry I added a pull out pantry (to make use of every inch of space) and added large cabinets above the washer/dryer and refrigerator. They hold everything from laundry detergent, light bulbs, paper towels, and lesser used appliances, all hidden neatly away. To brighten up this small part of the kitchen, which is also the entry, I opted to paint the ceiling and cabinets white. Again, I used Fine Paints of Europe specially mixed to match Benjamin Moore Super White.

I chose to forgo a backsplash, wanting a simple clean slate. The walls are plaster painted in Benjamin Moore Super White Aura Bath and Spa paint. To make the small space feel larger, I chose simple floating white shelves that my contractor made. While I love styling shelves, the two shelves to the right of the sink had to be purely functional as well as pretty. Our everyday glasses, plates, and bowls are now easily accessible.

The 1 ½” floating shelves are 11″ deep to accommodate the large dinner dishes. The bottom shelf is 20 ½” above the counter to allow for the Smeg coffee maker when my parents and daughter visit. There is 13 ½” between the two shelves. It was important to get the proportions correct. I had my contractors hold them up until if felt right :).

Once all of the major pieces were in place, the real fun began! I was finally able to style the kitchen and get all of the pantry items out of the guest bedroom. It’s all in the details to bring a new space to life. Here are the deets…

I wanted to design a kitchen that was timeless, organic, practical, and beautiful…a place to share with family and friends. It needed to “belong” here in The Big Sur House, where nothing is quite perfect but has character and soul. The kitchen may be new, but it already feels like home.

Thank you for coming along with me on The Big Sur House kitchen renovation. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.