Virtual Renovation: A Small French Country Kitchen

When I'm not searching the internet for articles, photos, ideas and inspiration about interior design, I like to check the local online real estate ads. I'm looking to see what homes in my area are selling for or interior photos of homes that I've been by, but have never seen inside. My soft spot is for diamonds in the rough, which I could imagine renovating to my heart's content with little worry about the budget, plaster dust or hidden problems with the electrical system. I'd take a home that many have passed by and transform it into a gem. However, I've already renovated my home (except the kitchen!) and although eight years have passed, I'm not in a hurry to do another.

While surfing the net one day, I found a small apartment for sale in Boston and thought it would be fun to do a virtual makeover of its tiny kitchen to turn it into a pied-a-terre. The photo seemed to call to me for some help (and the pink tiles were doing all the talking). By the way, my guess is that any realtor showing this apartment would acknowledge that the kitchen could use an update and this post is certainly not meant to criticize the current owner (whomever that may be!). This is just my idea for what I'd do with this space if I were to buy the property. With that said, my idea was to add a little French country influence to this kitchen.

This 19th century painted pine sideboard was my starting point. After tearing out everything and installing new walls, floors, etc. I'd put the sideboard in the small alcove on the right for extra storage.

I'd install wood flooring similar to these antique floor boards. The texture of this wood may be too rustic for the space, but the warm color is perfect.

For a some cushioning underfoot and to protect the floor, I'd use this small indoor-outdoor khaki and white diamond patterned rug in front of the sink.

Next would come these white cabinets, possibly with extra tall upper cabinets for more storage. As for appliances, I don't care for those huge, expensive stainless steel refrigerators that have become status symbols these days. Therefore, the dishwasher and refrigerator doors would be paneled in the same material as the cabinets. I do like stainless steel stoves so would choose a small scale version or just a basic white stove. Antiqued brass pulls would be installed on the cabinets. The color of the metal is similar to the hardware on the sideboard. The counter tops would be Lagos Azul limestone to pick up the blue-gray paint of the buffet. I'd leave the back splash untiled and paint the walls C2 Paint's Milk Moustache, a soft white. If tile were necessary, I'd probably use the ubiquitous white subway tiles. This Perrin & Rowe faucet would be paired with a stainless steel sink. I'd add myrtle topiary either on the buffet or counter to add some greenery. For an overhead light, I'd choose this simple antique black lantern. Task lighting would be installed beneath the upper cabinets. Lastly, I'd hang these Claude Lorrain landscape prints over the buffet or along the back splash. So, here are all the elements assembled together again. Now that I've gone through this process, I realize that this look would suit my own home and larger kitchen very well! It's interesting how that happened. Anyway, this was a fun project and I hope to do more virtual renovations in the future. Pine Sideboard: 1stdibs.com - Cabinets and hardware: Plain & Fancy Cabinets - Floor: Chateau Domingue - Rug: Dash & Albert - Counter top: Louis Mian Stone - Lantern: 1stdibs.com - Art: Art.com.