The family room built-in and fireplace needed to complement, but also feel distinctive from, the kitchen. We warmed up the fireplace with shiplap and the wood floating mantel ties in with the wood island color.

This home started out as everything you could expect from a standard builder house - brown wood cabinets, dark and dreary granite and an island that had a bar top that effectively cut off the kitchen. Worse, there was hardly any usable counter space.


The moment we started the design, I knew I was going to splurge on lighting. This space deserved swoon-worthy light fixtures. Now, the lights in both the coffee bar and over the island are the statement crown jewels.

Our goal was to make this kitchen pop while honoring the client's vision: a timeless, elegant, rich feeling.


The countertops are a creamy quartz with just a little movement throughout - and lots of depth. I didn't want big veins running through the surfaces that would distract from the clean lines.

Expanding the space became key. Taking the cabinets to the ceiling instantly made the kitchen feel larger and grander - like a true custom kitchen should look and feel! And by moving appliances, we made the space more functional, too.


We made the kitchen feel more expansive by adding open shelving around the hood. Here's a trick of the trade: Remove some closed upper cabinetry in a kitchen to help a petite space appear larger.

This family has three young children - so our work in the living space was always cognizant of how they use their rooms. Adding in a big, cozy sofa that can be used for family movie nights or entertaining was a must.


The homeowners have three young children, so it was imperative that we create a space for an epic gallery wall. We used all the same light-wood frames and added family photos that are from the same photoshoot for a consistent, clean look.

So was finding the perfect paint. "Foggy Day" by Dunn Edwards is the most perfect neutral-yet-warm paint color! It picks up on the beige colors as well as the grey colors throughout.

Rebecca Rollins-Garcia is principal designer for Rebecca Rollins Interiors. 367-4394