Using black lower cabinets and white uppers, satin brass hardware and an artic white ledger panel natural quartzite wall tile backsplash, our kitchen is getting a modern update.

inspiration: Elizabeth Dawson | photography: Jennifer Hughes

Updating the kitchen has always been on our to do list…as in from the second we bought the house. We actually had the brilliant idea of moving and renovating part of our kitchen all in one week. I still remember my dad making kitchen cabinets & making space for our fridge; while my husband and I unpacked the U-haul truck.

The remodeling on the kitchen has happened in stages & and as our budget allows.  The kitchen posed significant problems because the space designated for the refrigerator was too small. We couldn’t open the fridge door without running into the pantry door hand & wall.  We also needed extra storage and cabinets.

I really love the timeless elegance of a Tuxedo Kitchen. Upper white cabinets and darker lower cabinets have the perfect look I was going for. I have Saltillo tile all over my house- & I don’t plan on replacing it.  The orange undertones in the kitchen were overpowering -the brown cabinets, pulled the orange tones from the Saltillo; it was all too much. I feel like the black and white is going to ‘mute’ everything and each will make its individual statement, while still working together cohesively.

Brass Kitchen Hardware. I found these sleek & think kitchen hardware pulls & I immediately fell in love with them.  They were exactly what I was looking for, bringing the touch of brass I wanted on the cabinet doors.

Solid Brass Toe Kick.  I was at a restaurant when I first saw how these looked against, black lower cabinets and it was love at first sight. They are tucked away enough under the cabinets that they don’t overwhelm the space, but they add a small eye catching details that pairs perfectly with the kitchen hardware.

Cabinet Paint: DuraPoxy Premium Interior Enamels.   For the kitchen cabinets, I ended up going with a DuraPoxy enamel, because they are beautifully resilient.  Rich, vibrant color that lasts. Formulated to produce an extremely hard, durable epoxy-like finish to resist stains and hold up to repeated washing. Easily wipe away everyday stains such as coffee, finger prints and marking pens.

Backsplash: I chose a non traditional backsplash for my kitchen because I wanted a stone look that mimicked the stone on the outside of my home. This was the perfect choice for us.

Counter Tops:  We went with the Lyra from Silestones. It had the perfect amount of white and grey undertones that we were looking for. As much as I wanted to go a bit lighter, we chose not to because this is better at hiding, life’s little mishaps. If they ever do happen.

Bar Stools: I absolutely love the bar stools. The clean lines, the bit of back support, and the white on the seat are just perfection.