When a St. Louis couple approached interior designer Julie Baur about working with them to renovate their kitchen and living room, Baur didn’t hesitate. The project would involve a reinterpretation of the existing floor plan, walls that had to be moved, and large appliances relocated to create better flow between the two rooms and the home’s outdoor living area.
All renovations are tricky, says the designer, but this one was especially so, given the awkward existing layout and a wall beam that had to remain in place. “The house was a blank canvas,” she says. “There were no specific architectural details to lead us in a particular direction.”
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Challenge accepted.
Recently, Baur had been finding inspiration in traditional English kitchens and the homeowners liked the concept for their home. To assist with space planning, Baur called on “cabinet magician” Rebekah Moore Murphy, co-owner of the design firm Murphy & Moore Design. “I really worked on studying the owners’ aesthetic—a simple English look characterized by clean and minimal design, with fewer wall cabinets,” explains Murphy.
Soon, the team was diving enthusiastically into the project. They converted a rarely used sitting room into a breakfast nook, adding plenty of seating and a marble-topped buffet with built-in lower cabinets painted Greek Villa from Sherwin-Williams. To make the space even more functional and aesthetically pleasing, Baur raised the window above the buffet and moved the island—originally a peninsula attached to a wall—from one end of the room to the center of the kitchen, opening up the space for ease of movement.
The kitchen cabinets are painted Hamilton Blue by Sherwin-Williams. “‘You can show me other swatches, but I’m sure I’ll still choose blue,’” Baur recalls the homeowners saying. With brass hardware and marble surfaces, the overall look imparts an aura of elegance. A new walk-in pantry facilitates organization and masks that awkward beam, now incorporated into the design and disappearing next to the pantry. Wallpaper from Quadrille covers the pantry’s interior walls, a nod to the classic, understated luxury of old English kitchens.
While many of the room’s elements are special, the new skirted island is its centerpiece. With post-style legs, ornate hardware, and walnut construction, it could double as an antique dresser. “I encouraged the homeowners to go with wood because I’m big on contrast,” says Baur.
An English-style kitchen wouldn’t look right without family heirlooms, and this space comes to life with a selection of antiques, including intricate mirrored sconces dripping with crystals and an oil painting atop a marble shelf near the stove.
The space may appear as if it were plucked long ago from the English countryside, but don’t be fooled. Baur made it a point to bring in plenty of modern conveniences. See the coffee bar, appliance garage, and Sub-Zero refrigerator—all tucked away behind those luminous, blue-painted cabinets.
A Particularly Fitting Choice
Julie Baur partnered with Stone Fabricators to source the marble for the kitchen, choosing a honed-finished stone to imbue easy elegance. The fact that marble is commonly used in English kitchens, the project’s inspiration, made it a particularly fitting choice. Still, it can come with some drawbacks. According to Baur, it may not be the right stone for everyone because, as it ages, it will show stains and etchings. “There are Carrera marble kitchens all over Europe,” says Baur. “But if you’re not OK with its aging and wear, then opt for quartzite. It will always look perfect.”
