You don’t have to have a 100-year-old house to have architectural charm. When Korey Nations, owner of Natco Construction, and his wife, Alli, decided to build new, they sought creative ways to imbue old-house character without sacrificing convenience. “We wanted to incorporate that rustic warmth into our home, ” Alli says. To achieve the look, the Nations worked with designer Katrina Porter and architect John Forney on layout and design. Once the hardworking areas (including a locker wall for their four boys) were in place, Korey and Alli stepped in to choose finishing details such as the interior brick wall, reclaimed white-painted heart pine on the island from Evolutia, and wood floors with a natural patina. “We chose distressed hardwood floors with holes and dark spots, ” Alli says. “Our theory was that if the floors got scratched, they would just blend in even better with the overall rustic look. So far, our notion has held true.”
Efficiency was also paramount. The Nations specified two sets of double trash cans, two dishwashers conveniently located on each side of the farmhouse sink, and easy-to-clean quartz countertops. “We love to host parties. We can hold 15 to 20 people comfortably in our kitchen, ” Alli says. “Before you start on any kitchen design, it’s best to envision yourself in the space and think of your priorities, ” Alli says. For the Nations, that meant a place for family to gather.
Things We Love
1. LAYERS AND PATINA A soft gray hue walls and cabinets. “We chose to replicate the exterior color of our house on our cabinets because it went well with the brick wall, ” says Alli. “With four little boys, we knew we didn’t want an all-white kitchen. Their handprints would destroy it.” The gray colors extend to the reclaimed wood on the custom stove hood and island, as well as the veining in the marble backsplash.
2. HIDING PLACES Korey and Katrina implemented smart designs that put the hardworking details out of sight so the focus could stay on the pretty. All of the HVAC vents are hidden in the toe kicks in the kitchen cabinets. A locker wall, just inside the garage door, serves as a catchall for backpacks, jackets, and shoes. (Notice the ventilated shoe drawers).
3. SINK WITH A VIEW The arched casement window opens with a turn of the handle. “We also added French doors to the end of the room near the table and a small deck directly off the side, ” says Alli. “These two features allow you to open up the inside of the kitchen to the natural beauty of the outdoors. We wanted to enjoy the outdoor setting while being in our kitchen. I love washing dishes while the sunlight pours in and listening to the birds sing early in the morning.”
4. DETAILS The brick wall with herringbone detail and chalkboard is a happy focus in the Nations’ kitchen. “We routinely use it to write ‘Happy Birthday’ or ‘Welcome Guests’ to add a personal touch and family life to the room, ” says Alli. Glass upper cabinets and crystal hardware brings a lighter feature to the room to counterbalance the heavier finishes.
Resources
Builder: Korey Nations / NATCO Construction, LLC • 205.965.9678 natcollc.com Designer: Katrina Porter katrinaporterdesigns.com Architect: John Forney • 205.585.7586 jfapl.com Custom cabinets: Joey Keely / Recreated Cabinets • 205.275.6898 3806 recreatedcabinets.com Hardware: Emtek • faucet: ROHL rohlhome.com Appliances: stove: Verona • veronaappliances.com refrigerator and microwave: Viking Range • vikingrange.com dishwashers: Bosch • bosch-home.com Countertops: Silestone Lagoon / Cutstone Company • 205.624.3538 cutstoneco.com Barstools: Stock & Trade • 205.783.1350 stockandtrade.com Tile/backsplash: marble herringbone Lowe’s lowes.com Lighting: Pottery Barn • potterybarn.com Hardwood floors: white oak/red oak mix River Bottom Pine • 205.261.8030 riverbottompine.com Paint: walls, ceiling, trim: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray cabinets: Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray benjaminmoore.com
Photography by Jean Allsopp
