Look Who Can Cook

in the kitchen

not your neighbor’s white kitchen

True, it’s (mostly) white, but this Baton Rouge, LA, space is anything but basic, thanks to a few dramatic details.

marble

One of the biggest expenses was the 2-inch-thick Calacatta marble with dark gray veining. To keep the space from feeling chilly (and to stay within her budget), Ainsley used it only on the counters, behind the range, and for 4 inches of the backsplash.

when Ainsley Grigsby and her husband, Todd, moved their family from Dallas, TX, to a spacious ranch house in Baton Rouge, LA, she immediately felt right at home in their new tree-filled, kid-friendly neighborhood. The one space that wasn’t so welcoming: her kitchen, with its faux-terra-cotta vinyl-tile floors, pea green wallpaper, and Cold War–era appliances. For this mom of three sons, ages 9 to 15, who also proudly holds the title of family chef, that was not going to fly. “I’m always cooking,” Ainsley says. “And they’re always eating.” Although she wanted a white, light-filled room, she didn’t want it to be a carbon copy of what was trending on Pinterest, so she enlisted architect William Sonner and designer Patrick Tandy to help create a functional space with a personal kick. The result is a bright room with plenty of unique touches, including a custom island, thick marble counters, and zingy citrus-hued accents. “I love the orange because it’s vibrant, adventurous, and fun,” Ainsley says. “I like to think I’m all those things, too!”

This Visual Comfort chandelier is 43 inches in diameter, but because of its wire-frame construction, it doesn’t seem overwhelming. It was originally black, but designer Patrick had it painted a poppy shade of orange (Tangerine Melt by Benjamin Moore).

island

One design mandate Ainsley had for the island: She wanted it to include substantial X-shape supports inspired by the work of Suzanne Kasler, one of her favorite designers. Tall cabinets on one side hold small appliances; the other side houses a wine fridge and an ice maker.

barstools

Patrick and Ainsley snuck in more of Ainsley’s favorite color with these orange barstools from CB2. The bentwood seats are easy to clean, and their sloped backs make them comfier.

cabinets

Ainsley used just one paint color (Gentle Cream by Benjamin Moore) for the Shakerstyle cabinets, walls, trim, and ceiling; the adjoining family room is the same warm white, so it all feels like one big space. Rather than add a row of small upper cabinets, she chose open cubbies, which display her collection of white servingware. The satin nickel bar pulls are by Emtek.

floor and rug

After vinyl tiles were removed, Ainsley had oak floors installed and stained antique brown to match the ones throughout the rest of the house. The hand-knotted wool rug is from Rugs USA.