Kitchen of the Week: White, Wood and Colorful Touches
A designer creates a bright space with a large island, a baking station and room for displaying collections
After purchasing this house in Henderson, Nevada, a couple with four young kids enlisted designer Christy Mancera of Cera Construction to make it better suit their lifestyle. Mancera, who used Houzz Pro software, reworked the entire floor plan to make the home more family-friendly.
In the kitchen, the designer focused on how the homeowners like to work and live. She created an efficient layout with a large island, a dedicated baking station and ample display space for personal collections. “My clients wanted to make the kitchen more functional for their family, create an open feel and bring in lots of natural light,” Mancera says.
In the kitchen, the designer focused on how the homeowners like to work and live. She created an efficient layout with a large island, a dedicated baking station and ample display space for personal collections. “My clients wanted to make the kitchen more functional for their family, create an open feel and bring in lots of natural light,” Mancera says.
Before Photo
After: Mancera removed a wall, almost doubling the size of the kitchen. This opened up the working side to an eat-in breakfast area and windows (shown in a photo at the end of the story).
Mancera also moved a doorway so it’s now close to the refrigerator. This allowed her to extend cabinetry, countertop space and display shelves in a long run along that wall.
Mancera also moved a doorway so it’s now close to the refrigerator. This allowed her to extend cabinetry, countertop space and display shelves in a long run along that wall.
A new pantry with an arched door (at left) added much-needed storage, and a neutral palette of white and warm wood sets the stage for the homeowners’ colorful glassware, pottery and cookbooks.
“She wanted something that felt really light and airy,” Mancera says of the wife, who took the lead on the kitchen planning. “She also wanted to be able to show off her favorite pretty things within the design.”
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“She wanted something that felt really light and airy,” Mancera says of the wife, who took the lead on the kitchen planning. “She also wanted to be able to show off her favorite pretty things within the design.”
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A large island grounds the space and defines the working area of the kitchen. The new layout centers the range and hood on one wall, flanked by symmetrical cabinets. Wall ovens sit on one end, the refrigerator on the other. The marble-look porcelain backsplash extends to the ceiling for a clean, cohesive look.
“I worked hard to give these clients a high-end look for a cost-effective price, and using this porcelain helped me do that,” Mancera says.
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“I worked hard to give these clients a high-end look for a cost-effective price, and using this porcelain helped me do that,” Mancera says.
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White appliances from GE’s Café line complement the white cabinetry and bring a fresh twist to the space.
“I just love the new white appliance options and how they allow me to do white on white,” Mancera says. “It’s a refreshing change from stainless steel.”
“I just love the new white appliance options and how they allow me to do white on white,” Mancera says. “It’s a refreshing change from stainless steel.”
Mancera added warmth and an organic feel to the room with wood finishes. These include the maple island base, range hood detail and open shelves.
Mancera splurged on lighting to give the kitchen personality and flexibility. Milk glass pendants hang above the island. “Lighting is so important to a home,” Mancera says. “It really brings its soul out. These pendants are one of my all-time favorites.”
Mancera added strip lights beneath the upper cabinets, tucking them into small recesses. She installed the same lights under the custom range hood on a separate switch. “The kind of light that comes with vent hoods can be really harsh, so we used the LEDs instead,” she says. “It can be nice to switch just the vent hood light on at night when you want a little light in the kitchen.”
She also added dimmers to all the light switches. “My clients can create a beautifully lit space when they are entertaining at night.”
She also added dimmers to all the light switches. “My clients can create a beautifully lit space when they are entertaining at night.”
Mancera made room for her clients to display some of their favorite things with shelves located at one end of the island.
Luxury vinyl tile was a budget-friendly choice for the flooring. “These look so good that you honestly cannot tell that they are not hardwood floors,” Mancera says. “The LVT is super durable, it doesn’t scratch and it is softer on the feet than hardwoods.”
Luxury vinyl tile was a budget-friendly choice for the flooring. “These look so good that you honestly cannot tell that they are not hardwood floors,” Mancera says. “The LVT is super durable, it doesn’t scratch and it is softer on the feet than hardwoods.”
In addition to the sink, the island contains the dishwasher, a pebble ice maker and additional storage.
The counter stools work well with the wood tones in the room. These have a rope-like texture on the seat backs. “This texture on the counter stools adds softness,” Mancera says. The seats are kid-friendly pleather, which looks like leather and is easy to wipe clean.
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
Custom cabinetry, built in Cera Construction’s in-house shop, helped keep costs in check. Deep drawers in the lower cabinets hold plates, pots, mixing bowls and more.
“I love working with deep drawers,” Mancera says. “They can accommodate plates, large serving platters, mixing bowls, pots, pans and strainers.”
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“I love working with deep drawers,” Mancera says. “They can accommodate plates, large serving platters, mixing bowls, pots, pans and strainers.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A feature wall with zellige tile, wood shelves and LED lighting gives the homeowners a place to show off favorite objects. A nearby glass-front cabinet doubles as a baking station and offers additional display space.
“The neutral palette was a great base for them to add color and show off their favorite things,” Mancera says. LED strip lights run along the bottom of the shelves to light the items and countertop below. The glass cabinet also has lighting in it.
Cristol chandelier, Visual Comfort
“The neutral palette was a great base for them to add color and show off their favorite things,” Mancera says. LED strip lights run along the bottom of the shelves to light the items and countertop below. The glass cabinet also has lighting in it.
Cristol chandelier, Visual Comfort
The homeowners store mixing bowls, baking utensils and ingredients in this baking station and keep the stand mixer on the countertop. They can work on baking projects with little ones outside of the main work area.
Here you can see the way the LED strips lights are recessed into the underside of the top shelf.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Here you can see the way the LED strips lights are recessed into the underside of the top shelf.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The breakfast area begins at the end of the cabinetry run. Mancera suggested an oval table by designer Lindye Galloway paired with Wishbone-style chairs and a fluted pedestal base. A cascading globe chandelier — one of the project’s splurges — gives the space a striking presence and its strié glass ties in with the milk glass island pendants.
This whole-house, down-to-the-studs remodel took seven months to complete. “Houzz Pro was so central to our communication between our clients and our team,” Mancera says. “The reason we were able to finish this project in seven months was because of the efficiency of Houzz Pro.”
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This whole-house, down-to-the-studs remodel took seven months to complete. “Houzz Pro was so central to our communication between our clients and our team,” Mancera says. “The reason we were able to finish this project in seven months was because of the efficiency of Houzz Pro.”
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Find a local remodeling professional
Shop for kitchen products
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of six
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Size: 342 square feet (32 square meters)
Design-build firm: Cera Construction
Before: The original kitchen had a basic work triangle and a large island, but it lacked personality and smart storage. A desk area went unused, and the cabinets didn’t maximize space. A partial wall on the right made the kitchen feel closed off from the rest of the home.
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