Copper and pine produce an English-style kitchen of uncommon character and charm
In Allison’s rustic yet thoroughly elegant Alabama stone cottage kitchen, a copper and reclaimed pine hood (Vent-a-Hood liner) sets the tone for the cooking space — which opens into the family room and two adjacent pantry areas. An antique iron seal from a New York bridge that Allison found handsomely decorates the tiled range guard (Frosted Soda 4” from Status Tiles), creating a focal point behind the GE Monogram dual-fuel stove. 
The kitchen takes its theme from the paint color on the English-style island. Inspired by the British bespoke firm, Chalon, the island has an open pot-shelf on each end. The cabinets were custom made in England, painted with Farrow & Ball’s French Gray, and glazed. Natural pine base cabinets flanking the range are also glazed, and topped by honed Golden Leaf granite. Panels on the 48” GE Monogram fridge are painted with Farrow’s Cream and glazed as well.
Antique pine gives the top of the island the mellow quality of a farm table though the the Rohl faucet is a big clue to its true function. Adjacent to the double-bowl Villeroy & Boch fireclay apron sink is a set of Fisher & Paykel dish drawers which look like regular storage. The floor is travertine.
The ends of the island have great English detail often found in Victorian kitchens: slatted pot shelves, drawers with contrasting wooden knobs, and table legs with tapered block feet. In contrast, note the bracket feet on range-wall cabinets.
This pine hutch has ample storage and heaps of charm.Next to the refrigerator, it visually relates to the cabinets flanking the stove: the same granite counter (making it durable as a buffet) and a copper midriff that matches the hood. The center of the top has a two-tier plate rack. Upper cabinet doors are inset with chicken wire. 
Lurking in the side pantry is a dramatic, pine-backed Farrow & Ball black hutch that serves as a “coffee station.” A bar sink, installed under the pine counter top, has a Newform faucet. Glass-front upper doors are piggy-backed on a pair of horizontal cabinets with chicken wire fronts — home to the mugs and other crockery.
Be sure to see the rest of Allison’s home in the Alabama Stone Cottage house tour, and don’t miss her walk-in pantry.
I’m so glad I remodeled my kitchen or every time I viewed your masterpiece I would die a little of jealousy!
LOL Thanks! I love my kitchen, and I know you love yours too. Your kitchen is perfect for you, and that’s what we all strive for!
Allison, I live in B’ham & desperately need to remodel my kitchen — like yours maybe! Can you share with me the sources for your cabinetry? Also, your great carpenters name and number would be hepful, too. THANK YOU!
Allison’s cabinets we custom made in England which was much more possible at the time of her reno than it might be now.
Jane is correct – they were made in England over five years ago. Once the dollar pound ratio went south, so did the locally owned home furnishings store. The cost and import fees skyrocketed.
An American source I discovered after building was the Workshop of David T Smith. They custom build similar kitchens, and have various degrees of distressing, along with some gorgeous wood varieties. I also recommend Kathy Owens at Kathy’s Designer Kitchens in Homewood. I worked with her in our last home.
Also, look at “Ivette’s Cherry Counter Kitchen” (here at Atticmag). She used Crown Point cabinetry. Also the “Double Island Kitchen” and “Wood and White Kitchen.”
Allison,
Your kitchen is divine and the cabinetry, just stunning! I’m looking forward to viewing the rest of your house tour now.
Erin
Thank you, Erin! I still pinch myself at least once a week.
I want to paint an old piece of furniture I am using as a buffet in my dining room to match your French Gray island. Can you give me more specifics on finishes and glazes used? I am also in the US so hoping to find a color close to French Gray in a paint offered in the US. Thanks.
Hi Lori. F&B paint is available in the U.S. They use a higher quality pigment and no “fillers” so their color is hard to match by going in a BM or SW store – it won’t have the same appearance. Ellen Kennon is a full spectrum paint you may want to look into.
The glaze was a custom mix by the faux finisher. I do know it was black based on the island (the rest was brown based). I believe it was water based, rather than oil.
Jane is really our paint expert. She’ll come around and may be of more help.
I LOVE your kitchen!!!! We are getting ready to build and I have 3 boys and 4 dogs and I was wondering how you are liking your travertine floors? Are they filled? Have you had any problem with staining? Would love any input…thanks!!!!
Thank you, Kelly. We love our kitchen. Our three are grown, but we still have pets in our home. The stone is filled some, but not as much as some limestone I looked at while building. What I was told is you do not want it filled too much, or too thin. Those are less expensive, but break easier and just aren’t as nice. They are sealed (but not enhanced) with Miracle 411 Sealer. I flipped a stain lid on the floor the first year and it wiped right up. We’ve been in our home six years and have not resealed. The only place the stone looks dingy (and needs steam cleaning) is the little hallway that goes into the garage (where the black hutch is located).
I love your house, kitchen and flooring. I would like to have the versaille pattern travertine throughout my house like you did. There is something about natural stone that I love. Do you remember what color yours was called and where you purchased it?
Thanks!
Eva
Thank you, Eva. The color is ivory, and it was purchased from Issis & Sons – which is a locally owned business. The tickets I have do not include a tile company/maker name.
Oh my…this is absolutely gorgeous Allison!
After four months looking for pulls for my kitchen drawers (suffering with those temporary plastic ones that fall out every time I open a drawer) I noticed you have knobs on your drawers.
I’m kinda lovin the knob look! Do you find yourself using both knobs on the drawers that have two, or just grab one and pull.
Do you regret doing knobs instead of pulls? My base cabinets are all drawers, some as wide as 34″.
p.s. of course gorgeous kitchen, but also it’s so nice of you to answer all the questions.
Thank you, Gigi. The only drawers with two knobs that I actually use both knobs to open are the drawers on each end of the island. They are extra wide, self-closing. The pine hutch center drawers are almost 27″ wide. The ends of the island are 37″. I don’t regret the knobs at all. The wooden ones came over from England with the cabinetry, but the metal ones were purchased in the states.