Brooke Dando
Brooke Dando is the Design and Sales Manager of KSI's Macomb Design Center.
Brooke Dando is the Design and Sales Manager of KSI's Macomb Design Center.
Trends in color and style are taking a dramatic turn in 2024 and we are very excited about it! While white and gray spaces are still popular, dark, moody, and warm designs with textures and pops of color are now taking center stage. A recent project I had the pleasure of designing hits a few of those trends – let’s take a look!
Meggan and Bryan came to me with very specific inspiration: above all, they wanted a dark and moody feel for their kitchen remodel. The initial design intent was black cabinets with black backsplash tile and gold hardware. We had recently remodeled our Macomb Design Center, with one of our new displays incorporating this style. Once in our showroom, as soon as they turned the corner of our new display, it was the “Aha!” moment they were looking for! Meggan said…”that’s it, right there!” She loved the cabinetry and handles, and away we went!
We used a modern Slim Shaker door style for this space – Apollo by Medallion Cabinetry in Painted Carriage Black Classic finish. With 3/4" stiles and rails, which is different from a traditional shaker which typically has a 2-1/4" profile. By using oak for the wood species and painting it black, the texture shows through with sophistication – without the big difference in grain you would see in a traditional stained oak or the lack of texture you would have with painted maple. We paired the cabinetry with warm gold hardware and textured black subway tile – Urban Living Jet Black 3x12 Glossy.
With a smaller space, you always want to try and maximize storage and functionality. So we didn’t have a lot of room in this kitchen for upper cabinets, but we did have a lot of opportunity for a lot of countertop space. That being said, I wanted to bring the cabinets down to the counter and create a focal point on the sink wall, which gave us a lot of upper space as well as storage space at the bottom to hide countertop appliances.
We went with a Adura Flex Tile by Mannington, available at Riemer Floors, for the floor because it's softer than tile, which is great for providing more flexibility in an older home. The floor and countertops were selected in a white finish to add a calming and brightening effect to the moody black cabinets. The Snowy River quartz really pops on the black cabinetry! The clients used a beautiful, stained butcher block top on the secondary island to pull warmth back over to that side of the room.
While finding the design inspiration for this project was easy, the client’s budget was challenging. Our design came in a bit higher than what they had originally budgeted for. After taking the opportunity to interview other contractors in an effort to reduce their installation cost, they decided to move forward with KSI and our white-glove remodel experience! The client felt at ease with our design process, backed by the peace of mind that comes with our three-year labor warranty.
Communication is so important through every step of the process. We can nail an amazing design, but without executing the project with good communication, it can fall flat as a customer experience. With constant open communication between the clients, the installer, and me, things went off without a hitch! We kept the clients up-to-date on the work being done every step of the way. This allowed them to feel completely at ease and enjoy the experience as we crafted a beautiful and functional new space for their home. Meggan says it was the best decision she’s ever made!