After living in a series of old houses, this Sewickley couple was ready for a refresh and a “simple, pared down design.” It was perfect timing. Their youngest child had left for college and just as they were exploring one-level living, a small ranch-style house nearby went up for sale. Initially, they planned to renovate the single-floor space. But, in order to create the open floor plan they desired, architect Mike Linder determined a new build would be necessary. The owners called on Dion McMullen of Londonbury Homes to build the house and Betsy Wentz of Betsy Wentz Interior Design to bring it to life. “I am very much into minimalism, but needed help making the house look like a home,” says the client.
A new build is essentially a blank slate, so together, they began gathering inspiration, including the client’s love of the beach and the color blue. “Betsy helped me keep a fresh, more modern design without looking too coastal,” she says.
Minimalism with a Twist
The client was also set on all-white countertops, cabinets, and tile. Initially, “I was concerned about how to get a little color and some warmth into the space,” says Wentz. However, “You can do an all-white kitchen and have it be really interesting—you just have to mix up size, texture, color, scale.”
Wentz’s checklist was satisfied in many forms. The island’s base a light blue—Sleepy Hollow by Sherwin Williams—and serves as the room’s anchor. The sink is located in the center of that island, facing outward to the place where family and friends gather. “It’s where you spend the most time in the kitchen,” says Wentz, so positioning the sink centrally is “the number one most functional thing to do.”
Slightly oversized swivel stools surround the island and add an element of scale and “presence to help carry the space.” Their white vinyl upholstery is kid and food-friendly. To ground the area, Wentz installed two custom-colored Urban Electric light fixtures. “They really dressed it up and made it special,” she asaid.
Vibrant rugs bedeck the stained, solid wood plank floor, which runs throughout the entirety of the first floor. It was a beautiful and functional choice—the dark shade helps hide brown pet hair.
Finding Liveliness in White Walls
The stainless-steel stove and hood, ovens, refrigerators, and dishwasher are from Don’s Appliances. “I had every intention of buying a certain brand. But after testing the different models chose something very different,” says the client. “I loved the hands-on, no pressure approach” of Don’s Robinson Experience Center location.
Plenty of natural light and high ceilings bring a spacious feel to the kitchen. The cabinets, painted with White Dove by Benjamin Moore, extend to the ceiling to create a fluid look and are finished with exaggerated crown molding for scale.
Although the designer pushed for an iridescent blue tile on the backsplash, the client was set on white. “So, we had to find a way to give her white with a twist,” says Wentz. The end result is an oversized, subtly textured white subway tile, which lends visual interest to the neutral palette. Instead, that ethereal blue tile borders the nearby fireplace.
A Light, Bright Fresh Feel in the Home
While the kitchen is the heart of this home, design work actually began in the family room. After selecting a “really gorgeous, really soft, medium-bright floral drapery” for the space, ideas for the kitchen and dining room began to flow. “[The drapery] encompassed everything the client wanted the house to feel like—light, bright, fresh,” says Wentz. Not just that. “The family room really afforded me the opportunity to infuse these colors and patterns into the space, which I think made the client more willing to take risks in the kitchen,” she says.
Blue tones abound throughout the home from the custom paint color detailing the island’s light fixtures, to the dining room’s unique chandelier, an old piece lacquered to match. The blue-striped wallpaper in the mudroom offers an element of delight and depth with each walk past the doorway. “It’s just enough to give it a little something,” says Wentz.
On the opposite end of the kitchen, a coffee bar rounds out the floor plan and provides additional serving space for setting out breakfast foods or drinks when entertaining.
“This house has that really great combination of minimalist and transitional. I think those things can definitely live in the same place,” says Wentz.
Story by Nicole Barley
Styling by Keith Recker
Design by Betsy Wentz
Appliances sourced by Don’s Appliances
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.
