The week was full of plans, dreams, and bustle as I prepared to photograph a recently completed design project. Coming off of a successful rebranding and website launch for my interior design company, doing so somehow took on a fresh level of excitement. I’ve finally come into my own and defined who I am as a designer, both philosophically and artistically.

When I was first introduced to the space, I saw a single-family home nestled in the lush woods of Reston VA. Built in 1972, the rooms were surprisingly spacious even if divided up by function. The kitchen contained basic white cabinets that had been quickly installed by the previous owners to entice potential buyers. You could tell by the wear on the finish as well as the sagging hinges that the cabinets were a (very) inexpensive builder’s grade. The current owners had made the best of it with area rugs, window treatments, and decorative accessories, but it was far from their dream kitchen.

The first order of business was to sit down at the draftboard and improve the function of the space. This was accomplished in a few ways. To increase the visual height of the space, I removed the bulkhead and brought the cabinets to the ceiling. At my suggestion, we finished the interior of the wall cabinet to the left of the sink and installed clear glass to highlight some of the beautiful dishes that begged to be on display. The range was replaced with a 30” cooktop and double GE Café series wall ovens. I separated the ovens and refrigerator with a functional landing space. The owner mentioned liking butcher block so I took the opportunity to design a custom maple butcher block top for that area. On the other side of the refrigerator had been a 24” deep closet that served as a pantry. By removing the drywall and putting in 15” deep tall cabinets, I was able to open up the space while at the same time, allowing the clients to better organize dry goods. With everything visible on adjustable shelves, they had a much better chance of using up products before they could expire.

With the space plan approved, the real fun began. The client chose a clean farmhouse sink by Houzer, Virginia Mist granite in a leathered finish, and a light gray finish for the cabinets. During a brainstorming session, the client loved the idea of mixing metals in the kitchen and doing a brushed brass on the hardware. She pleasantly surprised me by finding exquisite knobs from Anthropologie with a weathered copper face and brushed brass base. All on her own, she found coordinated pulls from Atlas. I immediately approved her choices!

For the photoshoot, we cleared off the countertops completely and started with a blank slate. By the sink we arranged a charcuterie board with a rustic loaf of sourdough, sparkling wine, and the client’s own delicate stemware. With a menu board, luscious fruit tart, and jumble of vintage and new cookbooks we completed the cooktop area. The butcher block was brightened with bowls of fresh fruit and the countertop below the glass cabinet just needed a splash of greenery and whimsy (in the form of a catchy letterboard) to complete the tableau.

The best part, of course, was popping open the Prosecco at the end of a long photo session and toasting to many happy days in the client’s dream kitchen!