The Best White Paint Colors - Sherwin Williams

White paint colors can be the most challenging to select! (Before you read on, be sure to check out our Best White Paint picks from Benjamin Moore!)

Luckily for you, we’ve been through the trial and error process of finding the best white paint colors. We’ll share our favorites below, but it is important to note a few things about paint:

  • Pay attention to the LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of a color. The higher the color, the lighter it is.
  • Also pay attention to how much natural and artificial light your room gets. You’d be surprised how easily a color can be transformed with lighting. If natural lighting is an issue, bring in lamps!
  • If a color does not look good in one of your rooms, likely it is the wrong color. Lightening the color by adding white to it will not save it most of the time. It’s better to go back to the drawing board.

I’ll do a longer post about paint very soon. For now, let’s get to the good stuff!

Here’s our list of the Best White Paint Colors by Sherwin Williams:

I’ll focus on our very top three choices and why they work so well.

Our Top Three White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams:

  • Pure White
  • Extra White
  • Snowbound

Let’s start with Sherwin Williams “Pure White”

This has been a great color for an exterior of a home if you’re doing siding and are going for the “farmhouse” or “coastal” look.

We used here it on a beach house:

Why it works:

Pure White - SW 7005 - (LRV - 84)

It’s a great white without getting too bright or too blue. I’ve found that it’s a little too bright for interior use, but have loved using it on exterior siding.

Next Up: Sherwin Williams - Extra White

Extra white is a true white with a blue undertone, making it a great compliment to carrara tile or countertops. Here in one of our projects, the shiplap is painted Extra White.

Why it works:

Sherwin Williams - Extra White SW 7006 - (LRV 86)

A true white with a blue undertone, this is a great pick when pairing with carrera marble or other blue tones. It can be a little harsh on walls if paired with earthier materials and can look like primer!

Lastly, Sherwin Williams Snowbound:

Snowbound is a great off-white that plays well with others. We used Snowbound for our cabinetry in this project:

Why it works:

Sherwin Williams - Snowbound SW 7004 - (LRV - 83)

Snowbound is a great off-white that works well with a white quartz countertop. It is not too creamy or too blue and can work well with both warmer and cooler tones. It’s a fan favorite for cabinetry and millwork.

Have you tried any of these? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re looking for additional help selecting the right paint color, contact us to get a paint consultation scheduled!


Robin Circle Remodel

Whole house remodels are our favorite! Why? Because they are complicated, challenging, messy, but the end result is always so worth it! Our latest remodel is no exception - this is a great Before and After! What makes this one even more special is that it’s located in the neighborhood where I grew up! Talk about full Circle to be able to work on a remodel where I used to play with my dollhouses.

The Before:

This single level home was 2000 SF with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms when our clients purchased it back in 2019. It featured two living rooms, and 4 smaller bedrooms. Our clients wanted to expand the footprint of the home and create a primary bedroom/bathroom on the other side of the house. Finishes were very dated and definitely needed to be re-done!

Here are some photos:






We had some work to do. Together with PACK design, we created an open floor plan, added on to the front of the house to include an additional bathroom, and expanded the primary bedroom/bathroom wing off the left hand side of the house. Robertson Builders came on as our Builder and did a great job of bringing our designs to life.

The challenge with this project was mostly due to permitting delays in the heart of the pandemic. It was definitely frustrating but we finally got our permit and hit the ground running.

Our favorite room to design - the kitchen - was where we really got to work. We wanted to create a functional kitchen but also one that had double the amount of storage that their old one had. Plus, we needed to include a bar that would accommodate a wine column and plenty of glassware.

Here are some of our working drawings:



In addition to the kitchen, we had some work to do on the primary bath. We wanted to create a large shower and a separate room for the toilet.

Here are some snapshots of other parts of the home that we worked on as well:


Stylistically, we wanted to keep the lines super clean, inject some black and bring in the warmth with walnut and wood tones. The kitchen is where we really packed the punch with color. Wait until you see the kitchen backsplash!

Ready for the final reveal?















All of the cabinetry in this home is from our cabinetry lines. Here are some close-ups!






What do you think? Leave us a comment and let us know your favorite part!


Top 6 Backsplash Ideas 2022

Let’s face it - backsplashes are the jewelry to your kitchen or bathroom! They can make or break a design. Is that way they can be hard to nail down?!

Sometimes, we pick out the backsplash first in a kitchen design since it can really set the stage for the rest of the finishes.

There are so many options out there when it comes to backsplashes. Ceramic, mosaic patterns, natural stone, glass, cement...how to choose? It really depends on your overall design aesthetic and concept.

We’re going to break down the different types of backsplash materials and provide some inspiration on how to use them. Then, we’ll give you our Top 5 tips on how to pick the best backsplash!

Glass Mosaic Backsplash:

First on deck is this beautiful glass mosaic backsplash we used for a recent project:

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design / Lisa Maksoudian Photography

It’s from Sonoma Tile Makers - “Vihara” Swish collection. This was actually our second choice option! We had an initial backsplash selected but due to COVID related delays, we had to re-select at the last minute. After scouring our local stores, I found Sonoma Tile Makers. They have so many beautiful glass mosaic options. This particular colorway reminded us of the ocean. Our client is a biologist, so she really wanted something that had colors you could find in nature. When paired with the countertop, Caesarstone’s Clamshell, it really popped! It also tied in really well with the custom paint color of the island.

Another amazing source for glass mosaics is Artistic Tile. We’ve used them a couple of times for past projects.

One of my favorite applications of this tile is when we used it for this kitchen remodel:

Design by Honeycomb Home Design / Emily Elise Photography

The overall theme of this project was a slight nod to the Art Deco Era. We wanted a backsplash that was going to add some drama to the space, but nothing too over the top.

After deciding that we wanted to do white perimeter cabinetry and an island with a pop of color, we found this Artistic Tile. It is a glass mosaic with a bit of brass detailing in it. It is sooooo beautiful in person too!

You’ll notice the hefty price tag on this one at $95 per square foot. So, we decided to do a feature wall of this tile instead of doing the entire backsplash. This is a great thing to remember when you’re trying to reduce costs. Sometimes we will mix in a less expensive tile as the “field tile” and then a more expensive backsplash behind the cooktop or range as an accent.

If you look closely, you can see that we actually recessed this accent tile 2” so the edges died nicely into the wall instead of having to frame it out with a trim piece. Instead of adding a field backsplash, we opted for a tilt up of the countertop material. This gave the kitchen a very clean and seamless look.

Another one of my favorite glass mosaics is also by Artistic Tile called the Estrella series.

We used it for this Primary bath remodel. Unfortunately, they don’t make this particular colorway anymore, but they do still have 5 color options available. What we loved about this tile is that it looks like a wallpaper! But when you get very close, you can see how beautifully intricate this pattern is. The colorway worked perfectly with the warm walnut tones of the cabinetry and really added a bold statement. Because we opted to do side splashes on this vanity, we decided to carry the tilt up backsplash all the way across and then start the mosaic on top of it. (note - this vanity is 60” with two sinks, so it is best to do side splashes in this instance since you may get water on the return walls).

Honeycomb Home Design - Marcel Alain Photography

Next, let’s take a look at natural stone mosaic backsplash:

These are often a fan favorite. The most common natural stone mosaics that we use are often marble.

This particular backsplash is a mixture of mother-of-pearl and marble. I couldn’t find the link to this exact backsplash (it might have been discontinued) but I did find one very similar here.

We wanted a BOLD statement in this kitchen so we opted to take this graphic pattern throughout the entire backsplash. Because we kept everything else pretty neutral, the backsplash has the space to really shine.

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design - Photography by Emily Elise Photography

This next marble mosaic backsplash is one of my favorites.

It’s from Soho Studio and is filled with different pieces of marble.

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design / Lisa Maksoudian Photography

You can see here we decided to use the accent only above the cooktop. We did this for two reasons: cost and also to make the pattern really stand out. This mosaic is over $130/SF so it can get pretty pricey fast. But also, when paired with a subtle field tile (like this one - one of our FAVS!), the pattern actually has a chance to stand out.

Another fun option is ceramic tile.

Patterned ceramic tiles are having a moment, that is for sure! Like this graphic black and white pattern in this farmhouse kitchen. While we can’t locate the exact backsplash anymore (darn COVID-19), we found this one that is really fun!

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design / Lisa Maksoudian Photography

Ceramic tile comes in many styles and shapes. We used a beautiful crackled ceramic tile from MSI in this kitchen we designed.

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design / Lisa Maksoudian Photography

Here, we opted to go all out and use the same backsplash throughout the kitchen. The arabesque pattern and the soft grey coloring were a perfect mixture for this classic kitchen design.

Recycled Material Backsplash

One of our favorite vendors is Fireclay Tile. They not only have beautiful tiles and patterns, they create these tiles from post consumer recycled glass and porcelain and pre-consumer recycled granite dust.

We used this color for our Shell Beach remodel and loved how it pulled the entire look together for this coastal home.

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design / Pack Design / Lisa Maksoudian Photography

Hand Painted Terracotta:

For those spanish inspired interiors, this hand painted terracotta tile is a must have! We loved using Tabarka for our Santa Ysabel project. Tabarka has some amazing products and they are all truly hand made. We paired this backsplash with a beautiful honed Perla Venata Quartzite. Finding the right paint color was tricky, but Pewter Tankard by Sherwin Williams was the winner! We added a glaze to it for the perfect compliment to the backsplash and countertops.

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design / Emily Elise Photography

Full height countertops:

Lastly, let’s talk about the full height countertop option as a backsplash. We opted for a full height backsplash in this beautiful kitchen because the clients really fell in love with this material and this particular cut of the granite has a special surprise (Can you see it!?)

Designed by Honeycomb Home Design / Pack Design / Lisa Maksoudian Photography

Did you see the dove shape in the backsplash?!

This goes to show you that sometimes less is MORE! There is a lot going on in this kitchen and the backsplash just helps bring a little bit of drama without overtaking the entire look.

Hopefully that gave you a little inspiration behind different backsplash options!

Here are our Top 5 Tips when shopping for backsplashes:

  1. When in doubt, go timeless: You want to make sure your backsplash doesn't feel out of place with the rest of the kitchen. (i.e. You wouldn’t want to put an arabesque pattern in a Mid Century Modern style kitchen)
  2. Remember the layers of your kitchen: countertops, cabinetry, flooring. You want to make sure your backsplash compliments all of those elements nicely.
  3. Focus in: Doing an accent over the range with a mosaic tile is a great way to add pizazz. You can save cost by doing a less expensive field tile and leave the big budget for the mosaic accent.
  4. Pattern Play: Have fun with patterns! Even if you select a simple subway tile, you can lay it many different ways - herringbone, ⅓ offset, straight stack etc. The more complex the pattern, you’ll pay a little more for labor, but if you pick an inexpensive tile, it might be a wash.
  5. Don’t overthink it! If you’re not in LOVE with it, leave it. You’ll be looking at this backsplash everyday, all day, so make sure it is the ONE.

 


Top Nursery Must-Haves

Designing our nursery and actually using it for our two boys has been so much fun! I have listed my top picks that you should include in your nursery, along with the cutest decorative pieces!

Lisa Maksoudian Photography

In case you missed it, we revealed our full nursery design in this blog post. Check it out before you read on!

I had a blast designing the nursery and transforming a simple room into a little escape for our little boys (and also for me!)

Now that we’ve had plenty of time in this room, I can share with you some of my must-haves for these first few weeks!

Babyletto Toco Swivel Glider in Performance Cream

Lisa Maksoudian Photography

This glider is soooo comfortable and I have slept in it a few nights! We actually have the power recliner version and I would highly recommend it. The fabric is also super easy to clean, perfect for the late night milk spills! Or Mom’s chocolate snacking…

Prince Lionheart Wipes Warmer

One thing Pierre does not love is a diaper change! He does a *cute* scream when we do the 2 AM diaper changes...BUT I will tell you that the warmer wipes definitely have helped. It may seem a little over the top, but has been well worth the money so far. And our ears are thanking us too :)

Ubbi Diaper Pail

The diaper pail is a MUST have and finding a good one that helps hide odors is key. We love the modern look of the Ubbi diaper pail!

Happiest Baby Sleepea Sack Swaddle Wrap - Blue with Stars

One thing I learned right at the hospital was the power of swaddling! I know some babies do not like it but Pierre seems to love it. We tried several different swaddles and really liked the ones from Happiest Baby. They keep them nice and snug and the easy zipper action makes those late night changes easier!

4Moms Mamaroo

This one is a little bit of a splurge, but has so many cool features! You can switch from 5 different motions (kangaroo, car ride, swing etc.) and then also change the speed. I’ll put Pierre in this after a morning feeding when he is wide awake! He seems to really like the motions and and he’s slightly vertical. (You will need an infant insert that does not come with this unit though.)

Marpac Rohm Portable Sound Machine

This little gem has been well worth the $30! We actually brought it with us to the hospital and used it on the second night there. It charges with a USB cable and is easy to take with us in the car seat on the move! I also have it handy when I take Pierre on our stroller walks. Well worth it!

Happiest Baby - Snoo

The SNOO has made our lives so much easier! It is an investment for sure, but it has worked well for both of our babies.

Momcozy Baby Carrier

Babywearing is such a great way to stay close to your little one and get things done around the house! I loved babywearing especially in those early months. This one is super easy to use and comfortable too!

Needing some inspiration for the cutest baby decor? Look no further! I have rounded up my favorite pieces that will suit any nursery design.

Babyletto Spruce Tree Bookcase

This is the cutest bookshelf, perfect for any space in the nursery or playroom!

Viviane Outdoor Rug

By using an outdoor rug, you’ll set yourself up for success with an easy to clean and durable rug, ready for all the playtime messes! This one is such a beautiful, soft pattern.

Rattan Flush Mount Light

This is the perfect neutral light fixture with just the right amount of texture! When the light is on, the shadows created are so soft and beautiful!

Diaper Caddy Storage

Having what you need at an arm’s reach is key in your nursery. These caddies are so cute and functional! I love being able to see what is in each of them so that re-stocking is quick and easy.

Round Mirror

A simple round mirror is never a bad idea in any space. A small, thin, brass frame makes this mirror an easy no-brainer.

Bunny Plush Rocker

Every nursery needs a plush rocker! This one can also be personalized, making it a great gift for a loved one!


Baby Lovato Nursery

How I transformed a “builder-basic” room into our baby’s nursery:

This past year has been an exciting whirlwind of events… starting with becoming pregnant with our first child!

It’s been an incredible experience so far and I am extremely excited to bring our little guy into the world.

I had really never designed a nursery before but knew I wanted a space that was going to be relaxing and calming, since it was going to be my second home pretty soon!

Here’s the Before:

I pretty much had a blank shell to work with. The room is fairly small, 11’x11’, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t pack a punch with the design!

When thinking about a “theme” for the room, I didn’t want to do anything that I would get tired of easily, because (believe it or not) designing my own home has always been a challenge… I love too many different things!!! I also wanted it to be gender neutral in case we ever wanted to have another child (but let’s be real - I will probably want to remodel it before then LOL!)

What really set off the total vibe was my love affair with this particular wall mural from Rebel Walls:

I just loved the pattern and all of the colors. I looked around a bit more but kept coming back to this pattern.

Soooo…. The creative juices began to flow!

With the wall mural as the main focal point, I wanted to add some drama to the room without taking away from it… so, I paid attention to the “5th wall” AKA the ceiling and wanted to panel it!

This step was a messy one, but so worth it. We first had to sand all of the walls and the ceiling since the mural required a smooth wall and so did the paneling. You wouldn’t want to see any of that yucky orange peel drywall texture peeking through. Then, we got the paneling on the ceiling. Already feeling a lot better in there!

But I wanted to level it up. So, we painted the ceiling Sherwin Williams - Roycroft Bottle Green. It is one my favorite greens! Such a beautiful, deep and rich color.

The room is starting to transform...

Next comes the wall mural and the transformation truly begins:

I know what you’re wondering… OK what about the furniture?!? Here’s our selections!

I did some research on nursery furniture and found a great vendor, DucDuc out of NYC. I not only loved the aesthetic of their products, I also loved that they used 100% baltic birch, TSCA Title VI compliant wood, made in the USA, water based finishes and non toxic glue. Plus, it was SUPER easy to assemble. The crib and the changing table are from them.

The other item that was super important to me was the glider! I wanted one that had a power recliner as well. I found the Babyletto Kiwi Glider and was hooked! It is super comfortable and I love the power recline feature.

Here are links to all of the products listed in the moodboards:

Glider: https://babyletto.com/products/kiwi-electronic-recliner-and-swivel-glider-in-eco-performance-fabric-with-usb-port-water-repellent-stain-resistant

Crib: https://bit.ly/3msP9kf

Changing Table: https://bit.ly/2W4OU3T

Ceiling Flush mount: https://bit.ly/3sroYLE

Window Coverings: https://bit.ly/3xWMe5m

Quilt: https://bit.ly/3ge9m9q

Shelves: https://bit.ly/3D0Ekvx

Prints: https://bit.ly/37VeHOc

End Table: https://bit.ly/3jcLo0g

Table Lamp: https://bit.ly/3z87OVM

And of course, we had to do a rendering to show the final concept as well!!

Are you ready to see the full reveal?


Sandydale Remodel: Before and After!

Kitchen and living room remodels really are the best! When you’re able to re-design the most important space of your home, you’re able to truly transform the way that you live in your space.

Enter the Sandydale remodel. I started working with these sweet clients back in early 2019. They were working with a small living room and a small family room divided by a super small kitchen. They love to cook and being a family of four, this kitchen was much too small for them as is.

We knew we had to do something pretty drastic to expand their kitchen and give them not only more room, but more functionality for their space.

Check out the Before Photos:

You can see that the living room had an old wood burning fireplace and a funky half wall that divided the entryway from the rest of the room.

The kitchen was an awkward U-shape in the middle of the room, and then the family room had only one access outside and was one of the largest rooms in the house. It was actually an add-on from the previous owners and had some weird beams that hung down from the ceiling that made it LOOK like an add-on. It used to be part of a patio space.

The last image shows the guest bath! Can you say time for an upgrade?!?

Here’s the As-Built Floorplan:

Here’s where we got creative. We wanted to move the kitchen out of the middle of these two rooms. Our thought was to move the kitchen towards the front of the house, where the fireplace is currently. The clients were open to moving the fireplace sooo…

Here is our Proposed Plan:

You can see how we shifted the kitchen towards the front of the house, added a walk-in pantry and then created a large living room with a wood burning fireplace. This floorplan allowed the clients to have a much better flow and use of the space. Plus, they gained storage space, a full pantry, and a more functional gathering space to hang out and watch TV. It was also important to have two access points outside in the living room, so we placed the sliders opposite each other.

We also designed a fireplace surround that offered storage as well as a proper surround for their wood burning fireplace and a TV!

Our Rendering:

We also carved out little spaces for additional storage, like a command center where the kids can do their homework and an entry cabinet to provide storage for coats, backpacks, and shoes.

Ready to see the AFTER???

Can you tell where the old fireplace used to be??

We also did some pretty cool custom stuff in this kitchen with Honeycomb Cabinetry, like this Kitchen-Aid lift cabinet!

And for the bathroom!

To see the full reveal, check out our Portfolio page (link Sandydale Remodel to this page)

What do you think about the Sandydale Remodel? Send us a note!

To

 


Kings Way Remodel

Are you ready for a FUN “Before and After”???

This home is located in Morro Bay, CA and overlooks the beautiful bay and our Morro Rock. Our sweet clients had purchased this home back in 2019 because they saw the potential this home had… BUT it needed A LOT of work!

Here are some Before photos…

What do you think?? Lots of pink! In fact, when we removed the flooring, there was “Grandma’s Pink Castle” scrawled on the subfloor! There also apparently was pink carpet throughout the house, but the previous sellers had replaced those before selling to our clients.

OK, now our part. The clients brought us in before they had a Builder, and wanted to get a game plan together. They lived in Southern California and were relying on Honeycomb Home Design to pull together a team of professionals to bring their project to life.

We got to work on the layout. We really wanted to open up the kitchen since it was pretty closed off to the adjacent spaces. We really wanted to remove the whole wall where the fridge was located… But we met with our Structural Engineer and discovered that there is a structural post in that wall that is actually helping hold up the second story. Yikes!

Soooo… we got creative and came up with a bookshelf that was open to both sides. This way we were still able to open up the kitchen and not lose any structural integrity.

We also wanted to open up the staircase to bring in more natural light and make that stairway not feel so “cave-like”.

The Primary bath also needed some work too - but for the most part, we kept the layout and made some tweaks to make the room feel larger.

Once the layouts were approved, we got to work on our selections. Our clients really wanted a classic, transitional home with some delicate touches. We decided to do a beautiful wainscot paneling throughout the home that carried the theme from the fireplace and the stairway.

Once the finishes were approved, we got to work with our Contractors, Robertson Builders. They brought their A-Team and really created our client’s vision! We ordered materials, signed off on cabinetry drawings and got started on the construction process.

With the project ending at the beginning of COVID, we did have some challenges with product delays as well as project delays. We all worked together to complete the project just in time for our clients to move from Southern California to Morro Bay and hunker down for quarantine.

We are super pleased with the end result and are even more excited for our clients. They really enjoyed the entire process and we are so grateful to have worked with them.

Take a peek at the final result! (P.S. this home features Honeycomb Cabinetry!)

Let us know what you think!

 


Templeton Hills Kitchen Remodel

Who loves a good Before and After?! Everyone does!

We started working with these clients last Fall to design a much more functional kitchen for them. It started with wanting to update their existing kitchen and just replacing cabinetry, countertops, etc.

But….

If there’s a way to improve a kitchen, you better believe we’re going to tell you about it! Our design team specializes in Kitchen and Bath design, so you could say we are a little “passionate” about exploring options!

Sometimes, it’s easy to replace what you have but when you are spending a good chunk of change on a project like a kitchen remodel, it is worth it to consider all options first.

So, here is where we started with Option 1 (which we opted out of for reasons I’ll explain below)

The existing floor plan had some issues that we wanted to iron out. First of all, our clients were not using the space next to the kitchen as their dining room (shown otherwise on these real estate pics).

They were using this space as an awkward dining nook and then had another space in the living room for their actual dining room table.

It felt like a waste of valuable space!

Existing Floor Plan:

So, we worked up our plan options to include that awkward nook space as part of the kitchen. Why not, right?!

Option 1:

This plan includes lots of movement! As you can see, we moved the range to the other side of the kitchen and eliminated a window. This plan has some pros and cons:

Pros:

  • Larger kitchen
  • Walk in pantry
  • Lots of countertop prep space
  • Lots of storage

Cons:

  • Loss of light by removing the nook window
  • Closes off access to the family room
  • Maybe toooo much space
  • Higher construction cost

Option 2 is the plan we went with for lots of reasons! But you’ll see this plan has a lot more pros than cons.

Existing plan:

You’ll see this plan has Pro’s:

  • Expands the kitchen for plenty of countertop and prep space
  • Maintains access to family room
  • Keeps range where it is so no need to move gas
  • Window at nook stays

The only “Con” with this plan is that there is no dedicated pantry, but we designed their cabinets to accommodate their needs with a pantry pull out, spice cabinets, deep drawer storage for pots and pans, and a corner susan for larger storage items.

We specified our cabinetry line for the cabinets in this remodel. We opted for an off-white for the perimeter and a cherry stained cabinet for the island. The countertops were where we had a lot of fun! We chose Bianco Superior quartzite for the island, where we wanted the drama. The perimeter countertops are leathered Black Vermont granite.

Finally, the backsplash was a super fun grey cracked glass lantern that added just the right amount of color and pattern.

Enough talking, here are pictures of the finished product! Let us know what you think!


2021 Kitchen Design

The Post-Pandemic Kitchen: Deconstructing the Kitchen of the future

This year was a doozy, right?! We stayed home, we cooked, we cleaned, we worried, we spent time with family, but most importantly, we learned the importance of a clean and safe home.

Our homes are our havens; they are our safe places from the outside world. However, we bring in outside contaminants into our safe homes all the time; it’s just inevitable!

Oftentimes, the kitchen is the messiest spot in the home because it’s where everyone tends to gather, so we have to work extra hard there to keep it clean!

Honeycomb Home Design

I don’t know about you, but a messy, cluttered kitchen is the last place I want to be! Pre-Pandemic, it would have been an excuse to go out to eat.

Messy kitchen = “Where should we eat?”

We all know what happens next..

We all became a mean, cleaning machine in the kitchen. We had no option but to cook at home and truly understand the importance of nourishing yourself within your own four walls!

By doing so, we learned the ways our kitchen helped us in this endeavour and ways it did NOT help us.

For example, our kitchen has quartz countertops (engineered). This is greeeeaaat because it is super easy to clean, no grout joints, and very durable.

BUT we have cabinetry that is super detailed with lots of little grooves and places for things to get stuck in. Not so easy to clean...but looks nice!

Whenever we’re ready to remodel, you know I will be switching out those doors for something smoother and easier to clean.

Honeycomb Home Design

Cleanliness and usability were heavy on my mind when I was asked by Seasonal Living Magazine to participate in the World’s First Ever Luxury Designer Virtual Showhouse!

We were asked to design the Kitchen and the Solarium.

Below are the floorplans we were given:

We were given floor plans, still images of the home we would be designing, and a design brief.

Read our blog post here where we talk about the showhouse in length!

So, our team got together and wanted to really reimagine the way kitchens could be designed in the future.

We started with a collective brainstorm:

  • What is working about kitchen design today?
  • What is not working?
  • How do we help “germ-proof” kitchens?
  • What types of food are people cooking now?
  • How do we incorporate wellness in our kitchen design?
  • What is a solarium and how can this help us?

With that info to mull over, we started our Kitchen Design and layout.

With the amazing world of technology, there is so much we can do remotely, which is what this virtual showhouse is all about!

The kitchen and the solarium featured a beautiful koi pond running through it with an acrylic top. This of course was a huge focal point and we wanted to honor it while still designing a super functional kitchen.

We broke out the kitchen into three different zones: Chef’s wall, hydroponic storage wall, and a gardening island.

Let’s start with the Chef’s Wall:

We had such an amazing sponsor, Signature Kitchen Suite, and their line of appliances truly fit this client and this project, to a tee.

The Chef’s wall is the workhorse of the kitchen. It’s where the action happens.

When laying out the space, we thought this layout would provide enough space for at least 2-3 people cooking in the kitchen at the same time.

We started with Signature Kitchen Suite 48” Pro Range which features a gas cooktop, sous vide bay and induction cooktop... All in one! Talk about a dream appliance!

Here’s a peek at our planning process of the Chef’s wall. We centered the range, and then worked outwards.

We knew we wanted to incorporate Signature Kitchen Suite’s Combi Wall oven because it combines a steam function with the power of a speed oven! Perfect for a busy family.

Then, we added the wine tower to the right, because it would be closer to the dining room and also so beautiful to look at!

Here’s the final product!

Across the Chef’s wall, we have the sous chef island! This is a space where you can prep your food and also features an additional cooking area. We introduced Signature Kitchen Suite’s Induction cooktop, because it is super sleek in design and can be installed FLUSH with your countertop!

COOL right?!

Here’s another shot!

Across from the sous chef island is the prep island and the hydroponic storage wall.

It’s the wall that’s causing people to do a double take!

OK, well what the heck is it??

Let’s back up to the design process.

Remember our brainstorm session? We wanted to reimagine the way people could grow food IN their homes.

Not only that, we wanted it to look beautiful and something you would want to showcase; a focal point.

AND then we also wanted to provide some storage for this kitchen, but again, in a pretty way.

So, we thought: let’s see if a sliding hydroponic wall panel would actually work.

We did a little research on hydroponics (hydroponics: is a type of horticulture and a subset of hydroculture, which is a method of growing plants, usually crops, without soil, by using mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent) and learned that something like this could actually be feasible.

Although we’ve never seen this done before, it doesn’t mean it can’t happen!

Here’s a peek at one of our working renderings when developing the concept:

Sustainability within the home is going to be a major topic of 2021, if it isn’t already.

Being able to grow your own food and control where it comes from is such a powerful thing.

We started our gardening kick by watching Ron Finley’s Masterclass on Gardening! It was so empowering to see what he’s been creating for those who don’t have the tools to create their own food. So, we were inspired and started gardening ourselves.

The hydroponic sliding wall is such a fun and exciting concept… we’re excited to see how it develops in real life!

Lastly, we have the gardening island/bench! This island faces the solarium, which is basically a greenhouse! We wanted to make the island very functional with plenty of storage space but also increased the height of the island to 38” H so it was easier to stand at and work for periods of time. It’s a place where you can propagate your herbs, clean herbs, and prep them.

Across from the gardening bench, we have the solarium. Our directive for this space was a modern day “Garden of Eden.” We created designed planters made of Dekton material and space planned the layout. We thought it would be so cool to have pods that could be rotated up and down that would also grow food.

So now you’ve seen our Kitchen and Solarium, but let’s talk specifically about materials.

We wanted to create a space that was easy to clean and beautiful.

So, we started with Cosentino’s Dekton collection.

The Laurent slab was the first thing we selected because it was earthy, yet glamorous.

We chose to not only use this for countertops, but also for slab cabinet surfaces. Their innovation in material created a solid surface slab that is 0.4 CM, so we figured, why not?! This would be the ultimate choice for cabinetry surface because it’s SUPER easy to clean, no lines or grooves (remember earlier when I said that was our pain point??)

Solid surfaces on a cabinetry would eliminate areas for germs and bacteria to gather and something as durable as Dekton, would be an ideal material to use in a Kitchen of the future!

In addition to cabinetry, we used this material throughout our kitchen. It covers the countertops and the cabinetry of the islands along with creating custom planters for the Solarium.

If you are remodeling or building new, Dekton would be such a great material to use. We talk specifically about Dekton in our blog post here.

In addition to Dekton, we used Sherwin Williams paint for our cabinetry. The color we chose was “Black of Night” because it was the perfect compliment to the Dekton.

Sherwin Williams has so many different amazing paint offerings and we specified the Harmony Zero VOC Interior Acrylic Latex paint.

It’s really amazing because it contains antimicrobial agents which inhibit the growth of mold or bacteria on the surface. PERFECT for a post-pandemic Kitchen! Here’s a chart explaining more:

So much eye candy!

In addition to these finishes, we accented everything with little bits of brass.

From Robin Baron’s Linear Cabinetry Hardware to Minka Group’s George Kovacs beautiful Honey drip Pendant, we had a lot of fun adding luxe elements to the space.

Robin Baron Design: Linear

George Kovacs Honey drip pendant

We also accented cabinetry with Fabricut’s vinyl metallic wallcovering for some extra bling. We used this as an inset for the cabinetry panels of the gardening island/bench.

By using these finishes, we were able to create a safer, healthier space that nourishes you from inside out. We also intentionally chose colors that were darker to help “ground” you and calm your senses.

Let us know what you think about our Post-Pandemic Kitchen design!

To tour the entire home free of charge, visit Seasonal Living’s Website here.


Forbes Feature: COVID Inspires Wellness Designed Virtual Showhouse

Well - I can check this off my bucket list!

Being featured in Forbes is such an unimaginable feeling!

Accomplished writer, Jaime Gold, has published an article featuring our participation in the Seasonal Living Virtual Luxury Designer Showhouse and we couldn't be more excited!

To read the entire article, click here.

The article talks about the importance of a home with wellness at the forefront of design.

Jaime Gold is the author of the amazing book, Wellness by Design, so it made perfect sense for her to be the author of this article.

Introducing elements of wellness into our kitchen design was very important to us. We wanted to create a space that was beautiful, functional and safe for you.

Check out the article and let us know what you think!