Rustic Hickory, Built for Real Life

The finished kitchen

Set just outside of town, this new home was designed with plenty of privacy and room for the kids and dogs to run. What makes it even more special is how much of the work the homeowners did themselves—including installing the wood floors and cabinetry. And the cabinet installation turned out beautifully.

In the kitchen, we embraced all the natural character of rustic hickory—the knots, grain and color variation are what give this space so much warmth and personality. Black finishes and a simple white backsplash let the wood take center stage.

For contrast, we gave the large island a distressed white finish, turning it into a focal point while breaking up the surrounding wood tones.

One of our favorite details is the pass-through pantry cabinet to the right of the refrigerator. It creates a seamless, custom-built look while hiding a super practical entrance to the pantry.

The finished kitchen feels warm, welcoming and made for real family life—which fits this awesome family and their beautiful new home perfectly.