“This is a real manifestation of the circumstances of the past two years,” says Amanda Neely as she looks around her kitchen. Neely, who owns CBC Builds with husband Clark, is no stranger to home renovation. But when the diehard midtowner began evaluating her family of five’s school and home life, she knew it was time for a move to south Tulsa. On top of the renovation list for their 6,000-square-foot dream home was the kitchen.
“First and foremost we needed to use what was good in the kitchen — we liked the perimeter cabinets and layout — but input new things that would make it work for us,” Neely says.
Most important to her in the space was the use of her chosen backsplash tile, the appliances, lighting and hardware.
Made by Cle, the handmade terracotta tile is formed in a rustic, Italian fashion. Neely opted to use two tile sizes — 4-by-4 inch and 4-by-8 inch — to provide texture.
GE Cafe appliances in matte white were chosen to contrast the Woodstock cabinetry painted with Farrow and Ball Studio Green (at 50% saturation) and the island built with white oak featuring a wire-brush finish and Minwax Weathered Oak clear coat.
“One of my favorite combinations in anything is the mixture of copper and brass,” Neely says. Emtex hardware in Satin Brass is used throughout the space and complements the copper light fixtures.
By not moving the layout, the renovation only took five months (longer than the typical three-and-a-half month process due to appliance wait time).
“People think that if they don’t like their space, they must rip everything out and start completely over, which can be intimidating,” Neely says. “Often, though, you can look at a space, use what is good and adjust finishes to make it a space you love. If this house has taught me anything, it is that there is real power in a few coats of paint and new light fixtures.”
