When I recently discovered Mary Ann Pickett’s lovely blog Classic Casual Home, I was smitten with the newly remodeled kitchen in her Southern California beach house. When I asked if I could share it with you, she not only said yes–she wrote the post for me! And since it’s Spring Break and I’m spending lots of time with my kids this week, I appreciate her help. Take it away, Mary Ann! 
As I have enjoyed Julia’s entertaining blog for quite some time, this is an honor. Above is an “after” photo. We raised the ceiling, removed one window where the stove is, and replaced a peninsula with a large island. Below is a before photo:
This is the little sitting area in the kitchen right after we bought the house:
And here it is now. It’s a nice place to keep the cook company!
This is a “before” photo facing the other direction:
We removed the left door to make room for the refrigerator and a corner walk-in pantry:
Inside the pantry we have all of our small appliances plugged in so that we can use them in here and not take up valuable counter space:
This is during construction. You can see how we have to “deal” with the low pitch of the roof:
We put in French doors to the patio. Next to the baker’s rack is a load bearing wall which left an unused space to the right of it. We made this area into a “beverage center” by adding a small sink, instant hot filtered tap, wine refrigerator and a great little Nespresso cappuccino maker.
This is my favorite part of the kitchen:
Thanks, Julia, for letting me give you a tour of our new kitchen! -Mary Ann, Classic Casual Home.
Thank you, Mary Ann, for showing us around! It’s beautiful, and I love all the thoughtful details you put into it. Be sure to check out her blog Classic Casual Home for more!
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I love the kitchen. However, I wouldn’t like having to go into a closet area to use my small appliances. I can’t imagine standing in there and making toast for the whole family.
I totally agree. I like being able to pull my small appliances out on the counter when I need to use them. It makes them easier to use.
Actually, we use the small appliances MORE often like the Cuisinart and Kitchenaid mixer since we don’t have to haul them out…and they are on an easy to clean marble counter in the close by, convenient pantry. And no counter clutter
Mary Ann
Mary Ann, we just moved our blender and toaster into our pantry as well during our kitchen remodel and I love it! I think it depends on the size of your pantry. Ours is large and I can keep everything plugged in and sitting on a sturdy shelf on my bakers rack in there, and now I don’t worry about toast crumbs all over my counter, which makes me very happy! The kids go right in the pantry grab bread or pop tarts, toast and walk out! works great for them and me.
Heather
Ohhhhhh…this is just gorgeous!! What a great transformation!
gorgeous AND stunning! unreal reno.
I love Mary Ann’s kitchen! I actually design kitchens, and I think keeping the appliances plugged in in the pantry is brilliant! Mary Ann has lovely taste, and did a beautiful job of space planning the remodel. This is one my favorite kitchens.
~Amanda
Thank you, Julia. We are enjoying the kitchen and my husband is a big cook (hard to compete). I wanted to mention that we used gauged slate on the floor that is also used on the patio to expand the space (we live on a little island in Newport Beach).
What a gorgeous remodel! Mary Ann did a great job designing the whole kitchen.
Who wouldn’t love an espresso corner – and a walk-in pantry too! This is a lovely, usable kitchen.
Simply beautiful!
Thanks, Mary Ann! Your new kitchen is gorgeous. And I am going to check out your blog right now
Mary Ann! You know your kitchen is my favorite! And always will be! I think its brilliant to not have to haul all the appliances out.Every day I clean the kitchen I always grumble a little about putting away those small appliances. Question…where did you find those fab chairs!
Oh. WOW! That kitchen is to die for! It’s stunning!
Mary Ann
Congratulations for the great job. I’m an interior designer student and your kitchen is awesome! I have a question for you. I recently learned that people preffer stainless steel sinks because they don’t get stains like the one that you have now. What is your experience with the new sink? I personately don’t like stainless still sinks and I love the charm of the white porcelain, but the new informations got me worried. Thank you!
Renato
Hi Renato: We have both in our house. I was considering an apron front stainless steel sink for a more modern touch in the kitchen but then I heard belt buckles often scratch them. Go for a lower gauge. The lower numbers mean thicker SS and the less likely it is to dent or make noise. We are also happy with our Shaws Original Fireclay Kitchen Sink…we cook a LOT and it is cleaning up beautifully. Go with the look you like best. Hope this helps.
.
Ah! This is the kind of post I enjoy most! For me, what makes this redo work most is the high contrast — white-white walls and ceiling vs. dark lighting, baker’s rack, floor. The ceiling is fantastic. The Shaker-inspired cabinets are the best. And my husband would definitely approve of getting appliances off the counters. Do what works for you! Well done, Mary Ann.
Swoon! Wow! Just lovely. The before wasn’t *that* bad (at least compared to a lot of befores) but the after shows how much amazing potential that kitchen had. I love it and I’m off to follow her blog now.
STUNNING!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this kitchen!! What type of counters are those? They look like a honed marble but definitely lighter than my carrara countertops. And shhh … now I’m thinking I should have gone with honed rather than with the shine. Oh well. LOVE the small appliances in the pantry, the ceiling, the chandelier … everything!!
Hi Chrissy, Thanks so much. The counters are honed Carrara marble. I bet your polished marble is beautiful. I love both.
I like it, but want more color. I don’t like too much white.
Very nice!
Gorgeous kitchen, I’m a sucker for a white kitchen with white marble counters. Love it. I like the small appliance idea-it makes the kitchen all the more inviting when it looks clean! ..but I like the idea of her husband wanting a viking stove to cook on much better! That has to be the best accessory in a kitchen-a man cooking while you have a glass of wine!
Saw your post on Hooked on Houses. What a beautiful kitchen! Can’t believe this is a beach cottage! Absolutely gorgeous. Great job. Congrats!
Joanne
I adore everything Mary Ann does! Her taste is esquisette . I have been on a virtual trip to Paris with her and her beautiful family to Paris, fat free:)
Julia,
Mary Ann is not only a very, very talented person, but also a wonderful woman. She’s so kind and really nice! I love her blog and I’m always there.
Her kitchen is 10 out 10! Simply amazing. Great taste, as always. After all, don’t expect less from that chic woman!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Stunning! Adore the beverage center. BUT making scrambled eggs and having to run to the pantry for toast wouldn’t work for me.
It is absolutely gorgeous! Great transformation. Is that a Boston Terrier in that one photo? I have four of them, so the behind looks familiar
Thanks so much for sharing your lovely home with us!!
Ruth
Brrr…too stark for me!
Hi Julia! Oh, I love her kitchen – it’s just huge and so elegant! I follow her blog and so enjoy it. I hope you’re having a wonderful time with your family and I want to wish you a very Blessed Easter.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
Absolutely Beautiful! There’s nothing I would change! I think keeping the small appliances in the pantry is a fantastic idea – who wants clutter on their counters?! Especially when the counters are so gorgeous, I wouldn’t want to cover them with appliances I only use for a few minutes/day! I also love the white…so clean & crisp!
Thanks for your contribution, Mary Ann!! You’ve given me some great ideas for my kitchen reno!
Oh, I forgot to ask…is that sage green or grey on the island? It looks great! That’s what I planned to do with my island…pebbled grey/sage green just for a little contrast. And also, love love LOVE the little beverage center!! Knowing that was there would get me out of bed every morning!!!
What a stunning makeover! I’m so envious of the pretty little espresso bar station. How nice to have something like that.
Thanks for sharing her home with us, Julia!
Totally gorgeous! I love her style! The french doors are beautiful, and I’ so jealous of that island! It is on my wish list for our next house
Hello,
It’s just so gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. Love the leather chairs facing the kitchen too!!
Have a nice Spring Break.
Claudia
Gorgeous home! I also love Mary Ann’s blog and style. The before and after shots are great! She did amazing things with the kitchen. A lot of attention to detail.
Hi Julie,
Love everything about Mary Ann’s kitchen! It’s very much my style, but I never tire of looking at what people do with their white kitchens. She did an amazing job and I love what she does with her small appliances. My microwave is in my small pantry, so I have to keep a few out…but can’t stand too many. here is my before and after if you are interested. http://mostlovelythings.blogspot.com/2011/03/kitchen-before-and-after.html.
Annie
All I can think of is WOW!
LOVE it. Especially the beverage center – I dream of having one to keep the suddenly thirsty away from my sink when I’m cooking or washing dishes. If it were *my* place, I’d have a duplicate area with a rice cooker, toaster, bread box and cereal boxes/bowls with a milk and butter fridge underneath! As well as a separate counter for the small appliances, I wouldn’t like to do those things in the pantry either, but that’s why it’s not *my* kitchen – obviously it works for Mary Ann!
My dream home also has the family room where the “sitting area” is…. as long as we’re dreaming.
Awesome job, beautifully detailed. Love the before and after shots: you can really see the difference.
I’ve tinkered with the idea of carving out a panty for the sake of having a place to keep small appliances. It’s great to see that someone else did it successfully. Well done!
I love this kitchen. A beverage center and a walk in pantry! What more does a girl need? Ok, the stove, the farm sink, those 2 fabulous rack….Love it all!
I don’t think it is terribly ” green” to leave your appliances plugged in all the time.
Judy: Good point. You are so right! The appliances are on a power strip that we unplug when not it use.
I love the marble tops, and the wet bar area, but I agree about the appliance closet…how would you do your baking prep work with the food processor or KitchenAid mixer in such a small space with an itty bitty counter???
Mary Ann has one of the most beautiful homes and her kitchen is no exception. I think the idea of having the appliances in the pantry is brilliant. When I re-did my own kitchen, I moved the microwave in the pantry too. Clutter is not my thing either, so for me, it works.
FANTASTIC! What a transformation! Congrats on a beautiful space.
Truly beautiful, well thought out, and looks very livable…the perfect kitchen!! Well done…be very, very proud!
xo J~
What a bright and light cottage — and love those ceilings. A great transformation!
Beautifully done renovation! Classic styling should appeal to most people.Great job designing and looking after all those details. The ceiling adds some texture- nicely balanced design.
What a great kitchen! Thanks for the tour!
Tremendous! I love this and thanks for showing it to us.
Gasp! I love it!!! Every little bit of it! All of that character makes my heart go pittapatta!!
Thanks for sharing!
Kelle
xx
Great vision and use of space, color, and scale Updating a kitchen is always a joy because it’s used a lot by family, friends, and guests. It’s the happy space.
Great post.
Mary Ann Just hit it out of the ball park with her kitchen…I really love it!
She did an amazing job. I love the kitchen. The transformation was unbelievable. I especially love the countertops. Such a nice space!!!
Hi Julia,
I love your kitchen makeovers, in fact I love your whole blog! It’s wonderful what can be done with a little imagination and elbow grease!
Mary
My DREAM kitchen! What are the dimensions of the room?
That definitely looks modern now.
What is the manufacturer of your cabinets? I can’t find a flush-mount like yours anywhere. They’re beautiful. So is your sink!
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