Explore the project that inspired us so much: Designing a Grand Farmhouse Kitchen with Modern Influences.
If there’s anything this year has taught us, it’s that home should feel like a sanctuary no matter how much time you spend in it. Being cooped us has allowed us to tap into our cozy side, and a warm and inviting kitchen where you and your loved ones can enjoy a homecooked meal is just the remedy for the lack of socialization.
Kitchen and Bath Business (a.k.a., KBB) is a leading publisher of home-design content, focusing on the kitchen and bath. With a finger on the pulse of trending practices, designs, and technology, KBB has been able to establish itself as a reputable resource for over 100,000 subscribers, including designers, custom builders, and renovation experts.
In this how-to blog, we join the list of subscribers by breaking down the style components and kitchen appliances used to achieve the look in their project spotlight: Designing a Grand Farmhouse Kitchen with Modern Influences.
Upon first impression, this kitchen design doesn’t scream traditional farmhouse style, aside from Shaker-style cabinetry, a sliding farm-style door, and exposed ceiling beams. In fact, there are a lot of transitional accents: sled-base counter chairs; contemporary backsplash tiles; stainless-steel appliances. There’s even a clever bar and entertainment center that make a cozy home for an under-the-counter beverage center and a Sonos speaker system setup.
But altogether, this kitchen space has definite farmhouse character that’s inviting and charming. Designer Ashlee Richardson credits the intimacy of the space to a strategic “mushroom shade” that highlights the space’s openness, while picking up on the subtle undertones from natural wood flooring and ceiling beams.
Richardson creates kitchen harmony by breaking up cooking zones between a combination wall oven and a pro-style range. Separating the two doesn’t just enhance kitchen traffic and workflow—it also prevents the space from becoming heavy-handed on stainless-steel. That is, by filling the blank space of the kitchen next to the sliding door, the design is more cohesive, functional, and isn’t too obvious.
Notice how, even with abundant space, this kitchen design avoids over-cluttering? That’s all thanks to Richardson’s countertop surfaces strategically planned solely for food prep and gathering. Note how the KitchenAid KOCE500ESS oven-micro combo Richardson uses in this renovation moves the microwave off the counter and pairs it with a wall oven for a natural workflow that also optimizes countertop space.
KitchenAid 30” Stainless Steel Electric Oven/Microwave Combo Built In
This space-saving wall oven comes with these winning features:
- Microwave oven:
- 1.4 cu. ft. microwave capacity
- 900-watt microwave power
- 1,200-watt convection baking
- Crispwave™ microwave technology with the capability to toast, grill, or fry
- Lower oven:
- 5.0 cu. ft oven capacity
- Even-Heat™ True Convection with a unique bow-tie design that provides even and consistent heat output
- EasyConvect™ Conversion System for easy and confident convection cooking
- A SatinGlide™ extension rack that makes maneuvering hot and heavy dishes safe and easy
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Shop All KitchenAid Combination Wall Ovens
As mentioned in our range hood shopping guide, the amount of ventilation your kitchen requires depends on overall kitchen space and the range type you use. This kitchen’s space is no problem for the Viking 48” Professional Series Chimney Hood that makes quick work of airborne odors, smoke, and grease while doubling as a focal point to balance a large sliding door opposite to it.
Viking 48” Professional Series Chimney Hood
This over-the-range hood goes beyond being just a looker:
- Heat sensors with respond to high heat levels, automatically increasing when necessary
- Heat lamps keep food warm and ready to serve
- Retractable backlit LED lights control lighting and fan speed and disappear when not in use
- A stainless-steel filter easily removes for quick cleaning
- Commercial-grade baffles provide restaurant-style ventilation
It’s also a suitable match to the gastronomical wonder that is the Dacor 48-inch professional range. Without a doubt, this pro-style range is all about business, with two ovens (making four altogether in this kitchen), and six brass gas burners with high-output performance.
Dacor® Contemporary 48" Stainless Steel Dual-Fuel Pro Range
But this beast also has its beauty. All-glass oven doors are perfect for peeking at your latest masterpieces in the making, while the sleek, tiltable control panel display feels like a modern Swiss watch. Finished in gorgeous stainless steel, this professional range also adds another layer of luxurious luster to accentuate the undertones of stainless-steel running throughout the kitchen.
Rest assured, this professional-quality gas range’s style does not outweigh its substance. Check out these features:
- SimmerSear burners deliver precise control from ultra-low to ultra-high temperatures
- Brass burners capable of 800 BTUs for gentle True Simmer and Melting Feature performance and up to 18K BTUs for blazing wok stir-fries
- Illumina Knobs emit a welcoming, sophisticated glow
- SoftShut™ doors quietly and gently close
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Shop All Dacor Professional Dual-Fuel Ranges
Let’s recap. A stylish, country-style range hood, a vintage-inspired professional range, and a combination wall oven that keeps up with hearty festivities: check, check, and check. That leaves a refrigerator, the heart of any kitchen.
KitchenAid® 29.52 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built In Side By Side Refrigerator
A panel-ready refrigerator that matches the cabinetry might seem like a natural choice (and is certainly still a great option), but at 48 inches, this KitchenAid stainless-steel side-by-side refrigerator provides proper impact to ground the large space. Undeniably the most modern kitchen appliance of the design, this high-end refrigerator keeps the farmhouse kitchen design from feeling antiquated and predictable.
This high-end refrigerator is also fresh on the inside, with features like:
- The sensor-controlled ExtendFresh™ Plus Temperature Management System that maximizes food freshness
- Produce preserver technology that absorbs ethylene, a gas that causes fruits and vegetables to ripen
- LED interior lighting that never needs to be replaced
- SatinGlide® Crispers that open smoothly
- 29.52 cu. ft. capacity
Shop All KitchenAid Built-In Refrigerators
Shop All 48-inch KitchenAid Built-In Refrigerators
Notice something missing? Take a look at our dishwasher buying guide to learn how different dishwasher styles—like a drawer dishwasher—could add a perfect final touch in this modern farmhouse kitchen!
If a kitchen is where unforgettable moments are made, then why not begin with memorable kitchen appliances? This farmhouse kitchen design full of modern touches from designer Ashlee Richardson expertly showcases the joy of cooking and dining in a kitchen space that surrounds you with traditional charm and modern inspiration. So, are you feeling inspired? Then, shop all the brands at your local Grand Appliance in-store in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana or online today!