The Refined Farmhouse
Refined Farmhouse
This kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom in Elkins Park, PA was completely renovated and re-envisioned to create a fresh and inviting space with refined farmhouse details and maximum functionality that speaks not only to the client's taste but to and the architecture and feel of the entire home.
The home is an original farmhouse from the late 1800s in this historic suburb outside of Philadelphia, PA and the existing kitchen, laundry, and bath area were outdated, cramped, and difficult to use. Sharp & Grey Interiors was brought in to renovate the outdated space, rework the floor plan to open it up, and make the space not only beautiful but functional for a family of five with three small children.
To accomplish this change the space had to be completely gutted and rebuilt. In the kitchen, we removed a peninsula to expand the kitchen area and added a functional island for optimal workspace and flow organization. The design includes functional cabinetry with a focus on organization. We enlarged the window above the farmhouse sink to allow as much natural light as possible and created a striking focal point with a custom vent hood and handpainted terra cotta tile. High-end materials were used throughout including quartzite countertops, beautiful tile, brass lighting, and classic European plumbing fixtures.
The family was torn on the use of color in the design, as one wanted an all-white kitchen and the other wanted some color. To make both clients happy we used mostly white cabinetry and tile with a pop of blue on the island and the handmade tile behind the vent hood. Blue was also weaved throughout the rest of the space in the rug and other accessories.
The eating space was also reimagined to create usable space for family and guests. With the addition of new custom built-in seating, the family now has more seating and much-needed storage below. A 10ft custom cushion and bolster covered in performance fabric is made for easy cleanup for a family with small children. A custom live-edge farmhouse table, simple dining chairs, and a glass display cabinet finish off the eating space.
The laundry and bath area were completely flipped. The original space had a tiny toilet room and the laundry room didn’t have any usable space or storage. To help create flow and function the powder bath was moved to the backside of the space and expanded to create a larger more suitable space. To save valuable space a pocket door was installed below a reclaimed stained glass transom window. Vertical ship-lap paneling gives a modern farmhouse feel and a herringbone brick tile is complete with in-floor heating. New laundry cabinetry with butcher block countertops was added as well as a stackable washer and dryer.
The end result of this renovation is a fresh, functional, classic hub of the home perfect for the entire family.