Q + A with Kelly - Sage and White Kitchen

Muskoka resident Sarah wrote in asking Kelly for advice on how to update her kitchen. "I would love to know how to update this space as the cupboards are still in great condition, what counters and colours do you recommend? I’m into painting the cabinets a light sage green to work with the existing backsplash. Also, how you would make this space look more grand? The cupboards are super low so I’d love to know how we would re-do the top space or cupboards to make it fit better or seem larger?"

Kelly says: Thank you so much for your questions and for sending photos along to discuss some design and colour options to make your new kitchen feel brighter and more spacious!  I LOVE that you are open to adding a subtle colour to your cabintery and sage is a perfect choice!  It's not only still considered a neutral with its grey undertones, but there are many warm sage tones that blend well with your blonde flooring.

Sherwin Williams has some stunning, subtle options but I like how Clary Sage SW6178 blends with a blonde floor and think it would work well in your space. Painting your cabinets also allows you to completely re-design the hardware style and size. My suggestions to make the space appear brighter and more open is to bring in a delicate brushed bronze handle that will reflect some light and add a warm sheen. Keeping with a slim profile in a warm golden tone like the Cyprus line from Amerock allows your handles to make a subtle statement while still being fashionable and functional. Use larger handles on the lower cabinets to ground the base and then mix in smaller handles or even fun glass knobs on the uppers, to keep it light and bring the eye upwards. 

For counter tops, I highly recommend a durable quartz that's stain and scratch resistant with almost endless options for style and design. Because you want your kitchen to appear larger and grander, keeping the counter top lighter will make the area feel more spacious and bright and I love how the Canadian-made Strato by Hanstone works with this selection. Again, pulling the warmth up from the floor and blending with the subtle bronze hardware, Strato offers soft golden veining making it luxurious but keeping it classic and subtle. A tip for keeping tighter spaces like counter tops feeling large, is to keep them organized and clutter free, so hide your small appliances, add in small touches of greenery and stash away items to keep the area open.

You mentioned possibly working with the existing backsplash, but from a design standpoint and from a renovation standpoint, the backsplash should be chosen to accent the space and bring the other elements together. The current laminate counter top once removed, would leave a 3" unfinished space that you would then have to match and patch. For the limited work and cost to add a fabulous new backsplash that complements a new design in your kitchen, in my opinion it's well worth the time and money.

I would suggest again, keeping it light and bright but utilizing texture to bounce light around and create movement in your space. If you love a linear tile, then this new mixed and textured tile by Centura may be perfect! The Urbano Collection in Pure would keep the space open and bright with the colour, but add a subtle design element with the textured tile that also allows light to reflect and bounce back to the eye making it feel larger. Another option would be to use a smaller tile but in a vertical pattern like a fabulous white herringbone that would again draw the eye upwards and make the space feel more open and bright.

A few other suggestions, based on budget, storage and space could be to add more glass in the upper cabinets and/or remove some uppers and replace them with open floating shelving in a blonde wood similar to the tone of the flooring. Under cabinetry lighting will also assist with making your space feel brighter and open and one more trick to make your cabinets appear taller in such a vertically open space is to add a simple crown detail at the top. I would suggest a subtle angular one to draw the eye inadvertently upwards and then add one or two, no maintenance, artificial greenery to the top of the cabinetry creating movement and filling space.

I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration for updating your kitchen in your new home. It would be a pleasure to assist you in the future should you decide to update your space and I would be happy to answer any other questions you have!