A French gray island kitchen with English cabinets is a large kitchen of uncommon character and charm.
In a spacious English style kitchen with French gray cabinets in Allison’s elegant Alabama stone cottage kitchen, a copper and reclaimed pine hood (Vent-a-Hood liner) sets the tone for the cooking space. The kitchen also 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 the walk-in pantry.
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deva says
November 26, 2010 at 4:32 pmI’m so glad I remodeled my kitchen or every time I viewed your masterpiece I would die a little of jealousy!
Allison says
December 1, 2010 at 8:55 amLOL 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!
Gina Lotz says
January 5, 2011 at 12:56 amAllison, 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!
Jane F says
January 5, 2011 at 11:10 amAllison’s cabinets we custom made in England which was much more possible at the time of her reno than it might be now.
Allison says
January 5, 2011 at 11:43 amJane 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.”
Erin says
March 21, 2011 at 4:33 pmAllison,
Your kitchen is divine and the cabinetry, just stunning! I’m looking forward to viewing the rest of your house tour now.
Erin
Allison says
March 21, 2011 at 7:52 pmThank you, Erin! I still pinch myself at least once a week.
Lori says
June 19, 2011 at 10:30 pmI 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.
Allison says
June 19, 2011 at 10:37 pmHi 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.
Kelly Curry says
January 8, 2012 at 8:35 pmI 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!!!!
Allison says
January 8, 2012 at 9:16 pmThank 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).
Eva says
January 22, 2012 at 10:28 pmI 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
Allison says
January 22, 2012 at 10:55 pmThank 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.
Pat@Back Porch Musings says
January 30, 2012 at 10:07 amOh my…this is absolutely gorgeous Allison!
Gigi says
February 23, 2012 at 5:07 pmAfter 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.
Allison says
February 23, 2012 at 8:32 pmThank 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.
Gloria says
June 16, 2012 at 11:40 pmGorgeous! I saw this on Pinterest. I am putting in on my “Wishes” board for when I win the Lottery and buy a second house. 😉
Best,
Gloria
Allison says
June 17, 2012 at 7:50 amThanks for coming over and the compliment!
Allison
tara says
July 1, 2012 at 5:42 pmI love your house. I have been trying to figure out beams in our house…what type of wood are your beams and where did you get them?
Thanks so much!
Tara
Allison says
July 1, 2012 at 6:32 pmThank you, Tara. They are cedar and were purchased from a local yard. I’ll send you an email with the information.
Allison
Kristy says
September 5, 2012 at 11:51 amCan you tell me the color of your walls please? Pretty kitchen
Allison says
September 5, 2012 at 12:55 pmThank you, Kristy. The walls are painted SW 6140 Moderate White.
Vickie S says
September 12, 2012 at 9:57 amHi Allison, your kitchen sings to me like no other! I’ve been looking for the right kitchen island and when I stumbled on yours, I knew I had found the one.
Would you share your island dimension and tips for finding a similar wood countertop on the west coast?
Thank you for sharing your beautiful kitchen.
Allison says
September 12, 2012 at 10:09 amHi Vickie, Thank you!
I based my design on an islands in two kitchen ads (attached), making adjustments with doors and drawers. The counter is just over 4ft x 9ft. The wood was ordered and purchased through a local lumber yard, so make some calls and ask about antique pine.
My guys actually called me to their shop, thinking I wouldn’t like the boards once they were put together – there are a lot of knots and blackened area, but I loved it and gave them the go ahead.
I would love to see your kitchen progress. Let me know if you have any other questions.
regards, Allison
Richard Scott says
January 23, 2013 at 4:06 pmAlison, What a eye for detail you have. The cabinets, hood and that island. The copper back splash in the butlers pantry is a stroke of genius. What about that seal set off by Status Ceramics Frosted Soda tile. Great all around and thank you for using Status.
Allison says
January 23, 2013 at 4:29 pmThanks for visiting, Richard, and for the compliments! I did not order tile until several months after our home was finished. I was waiting to find just the right tile – nd Status Tile is all gorgeous! So glad I saw it at a local showroom. It is THE perfect blend with our Golden Leaf granite.
regards,
Allison
Kim says
May 13, 2014 at 8:38 amHi. I am in love with your kitchen. The layout is very close to what I need. Stove on the wall. Sink in the island. I really love the island, especially the wood top. I would love to do that paired with an apron sink, which will be the only sink in the room. How does a wood top handle having a sink in it? I have 6 children, so my concern is even greater since they won’t be as careful as I would. If you hand wash anything where do you have it dry? Do water drops need to be cleaned immediately? Thanks for any advice, and thanks for sharing your lovely kitchen.
Allison says
May 13, 2014 at 2:03 pmThank you, Kim. Both of us are good about wiping up splashes after using the sink, but we don’t always get all of them. Good Stuff for Wood does a good job protecting and isn’t hard to reapply when necessary. Since you have children, and want to use a more eco-friendly product, my youngest daughter uses BioShield wood counter finish. It’s doing a good job as well.
We use the left side of the divided sink for washing/rinsing and the right side for drying (flat racks in bottom of each side). Water drops don’t have to be cleaned immediately, but I wouldn’t leave sitting overnight.
Thanks again for your lovely comments. Let me know what you end up choosing for your kitchen.
regards,
Allison
Joanne Jarrett says
June 18, 2016 at 2:14 amHi Allison,
Gorgeous, unique, charming kitchen!
Wondering how your area around the sink is holding up as we prepare to install pine countertops with an under mount sink.
Thanks!
Joanne