Large and elegant but utterly simple, this showpiece kitchen has a wonderful blend of natural surfaces.
White stucco walls, unvarnished wood, neutral stone and touches of wrought iron come together in a perfect old-house kitchen created by a pair of Belgian antique dealer-designers. While the architecture of the room lends itself to the rustic look that has come to define contemporary Belgian kitchens, it’s the restraint that matters here.
This is a huge room with a two story, vaulted ceiling bisected by barn beams and braced with wooden trusses. It’s located in a small building on a property outside Bruges used as a party, wedding and photo shoot venue. Rather than fight the architecture, designers Brigitte and Alain Garnier let it determine the kitchen.
A large, square island that helps establish the grand scale of the space as it occupies its center. Cabinet doors have natural wood finish similar to the beams overhead and provincial kitchen doors. Cabinet hardware is barely there. A stone counter on the island is punctuated by a prep sink and a butcher block slab inset opposite the range.
The imposing black range (likely Belgian, possibly French) is framed by two large windows. Behind it are charcoal-gray flat ceramic tiles reminiscent of Scandinavian stoves and a lighted vent hood is concealed behind molding in a soffit-like space under the beams – finessing a chimney. A large, stone apron-front sink, to the left of the stove, matches the counters. Across the room, an enormous painted Provincial style armoire serves as a dish pantry – proving the maxim that less truly can be more.
I love that it is all wood! No painted. That island is huge but why must I state the obvious! The china cabinet is lovely. But I am just enjoying all the texture from the antique woods.
Certain parts of the styling in this kitchen that aren’t ‘me.’ But those natural materials just make me feel so relaxed and at home, and I LOVE them. Why do I feel like I could take a nap on that big island or on the beautiful floors? I think it says something about my need for sleep…But mostly, I think it all looks so touchable and REAL. Can’t miss the great stove, either.
I feel the same way you do, RHome. I want to run my hands all over the floor and backsplash. Love the enormous armoire too.
Oh how lovely. I love Bruges, and to be in this kitchen working, eating, enjoying, so perfect outside Bruges would be a dream come true.