SEATTLE, WA — The kitchen and breakfast nook of this Pacific Northwest home offered panoramic views of Puget Sound, but the dark and dated area was not living up to its full potential. The homeowners tasked Emily Ruff, owner and principal designer of Seattle-based Cohesively Curated, with opening up the space and adding splashes of color that reflected their personalities.
To meet the clients’ desire for a space where they could gather with family and friends, the designer removed a wall to combine the kitchen and dining room. “The biggest challenge was figuring out a way to create an open, integrated space out of a formerly ‘cut up’ floor plan,” Ruff reports. She got creative with storage and was able to build five separate areas of cabinetry to allow for maximum storage, functionality and flow.
“The clients really wanted some bold color and tile, combined with warmer wood tones,” Ruff notes. Since the space overlooks the water, she focused on teal blues to complement the surroundings.
Ruff balanced the cool and warm tones between the soft cabinet color and teal blue backsplash on the wall with honey wood tones on the island and dining bench, as well as unlacquered brass plumbing and hardware that will patina over time. On the perimeter cabinets, she used a painted finish in Benjamin Moore’s Sea Glass, with a custom stain on alder for the island. Panel-ready appliances blend with the cabinetry in the main kitchen and the bar area. White quartz countertops throughout provide durability and ease of maintenance.
The island includes an apron-front sink and dishwasher, directly opposite the Ilve induction range that showcases a French range look. On the opposite side of the island, requested seating allows for direct interaction with anyone sitting in the dining nook. Pendant lights with a vintage feel tie into the design and the age of the home.
The far wall makes the most dramatic statement in the room, with a bold color and pattern featured on the entire expanse. The floor-to-ceiling zellige tile is laid in a herringbone pattern, “creating a beautiful focal point,” says Ruff.
