REFRESH

“Worldly Gray” by SherwinWilliams

BEFORE & AFTER Off the Market

A Searcy couple’s love for their home is rekindled after a kitchen renovation

WRITER TIFFANY ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHER RETT PEEK STYLIST STEPHANIE MAXWELL NEWTON

“Pure White” by SherwinWilliams

Harsh angles were streamlined and space was gained from the pantry and breakfast nook to allow for the addition of an island.

BEFORE

W

hen Christie and Ashley Brooks put their Searcy home on the market a few years ago, they kept hearing one comment from potential buyers: The kitchen was too isolated. “It was small and cut off from the rest of the house, plus it had an odd cabinetry layout,” designer Amy Williams says. The Brookses contacted Amy with the goal of remodeling the kitchen so future owners could envision their own family in the home.

Amy went to work, achieving a more functional kitchen by taking down a wall between the cooking space and living room, eliminating a series of incongruent arches, and combining the existing breakfast nook with the kitchen to maximize space. Walls also came down on the opposite side of the kitchen where an underused bedroom was divvied up between a new working pantry and the existing laundry room and garage entrance—all an added bonus that came from the renovation.

As for aesthetics, the couple opted for selections that would be comfortable and more transitional, keeping in line with the rest of the home. “They were coming from early 2000s paint colors and styles and wanted this to have a contemporary industrial slant,” Amy says, pointing to bronze finishes and exposed-bulb fixtures. Features such as an antique door that leads to the new pantry and a smattering of glass-front cabinetry were selected to add character and personalization. “They really called me in to get the kitchen to a place where they could sell the house, but now it works perfectly for them,” Amy says of the end result.

BEFORE

“They don’t ever plan to sell now; they are as happy as they can be.”

—Amy Williams, designer

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1

ON THE SURFACE Taj Mahal quartzite, which features variations of brown veining, was the jumping off point for a number of design decisions. Amy proposed a leathered finish, which has less of a shine along with a soft feel.

2

OPEN INTERPRETATION Amy notes the pendants over the island have a mixed metal finish that “fit the industrial vibe” while also directing light out into the room.

3

SHINE DOWN Along an exterior wall, an industrial sconce illuminates the artisan-style backsplash and the sink underneath it while adhering to the overall aesthetic.

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TRENDING TRADITIONAL A custom stain on the island complements the tongueand-groove treatment on the ceiling as well the wood flooring. Champagne brass hardware contrasts with the brown-gray color.

Design Resources CONTRACTOR Tim House, The House’s Construction Company INTERIOR DESIGN Amy Williams, Amy Williams Design APPLIANCES Metro Appliances & More CABINETRY Weathers Cabinetry COUNTERTOPS Linco Countertops FIXTURES Triton Stone Group FLOORING White River Flooring FURNITURE (BARSTOOLS) HOWSE HARDWARE, LIGHTING, AND TILE (BACKSPLASH) Amy Williams Design MILLWORK Adam Poe Construction PAINT SherwinWilliams PAINTING Pierce Painting PAINTING (DECORATIVE) Jen Chism