Going Green

After moving to Wildwood, a homeowner wanted to add her favorite color into the kitchen. She first tried a simple update by painting the kitchen island green and replacing the lighting fixtures. However, the new paint on the island was chipping and the cabinets had dated Tuscan millwork that the homeowner didn’t like. Her designer, Amy McCoy, owner of McCoy Design Studio, suggested doing a full kitchen remodel.

“The homeowner loves green, so it’s scattered throughout her house. It’s her love language color,” Amy says. “We had to remodel that space so she could get that color she wanted.”

Amy showed the homeowner about 10 different shades of green for the kitchen cabinets, and she chose Billiard Green by Sherwin-Williams. “She knew what she wanted. She was set on it,” Amy says. “I think color is definitely a way to showcase your personality. I love that about it.”

Kitchen and bath designer Chris Paul of Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath designed the kitchen’s cabinetry. “I think people are definitely leaning more toward color,” she says. “Bold color too. They’re not easing into it. They’re going with jewel tones and bolder, brighter colors.”

In addition to adding the favored green, the remodel goals were to eliminate the fussy details, update the space with materials and make it functional for a family with young children.

In the cabinet design, Chris included double trash pull-outs plus dedicated spaces for spices and oils. “We’re making sure that everything opens and closes the way she needs it to, and there’s a place for everything,” Amy says. “It’s more of a usable space for her. It’s important when you’re a busy mom with two kids under two.”

They added polished nickel cabinet pulls in a longer size to balance the traditional styling. They upgraded the range hood, so it functions better when cooking. One of the columns beside the island is structural and couldn’t be removed so the columns were integrated into the island’s design.

The y removed the ceramic tile flooring and replaced it with hardwood to establish a warmer, softer, yet still durable flooring surface.

The backsplash is quar tz. They searched to find a piece that had the right amount of vein because they wanted it to add visual interest without competing with anything else. “I think the whole thing with going with a bold kitchen like this is that all the elements can’t be bold. They all have to be in harmony with one another,” Amy says.

The chairs at the island were sourced from Made Goods. “They’re the right chair for that space. They added a little bit of dimension,” Amy says. Since the family has two small children, having chairs with backs, which also are wipeable, was important. “We’re always making sure we balance the aesthetics with the functionality. I think we achieved that for her. Now, she goes into her kitchen and it makes her so happy. It’s something she’s really proud of.” See stlouishomesmag.com for resources.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS MAY 3, 2023