When homeowners Russell and Sarah Bennett inherited a 19th-century farmhouse in the rolling hills of North Georgia, they turned to their friend, designer and Country Design 100 honoree Monica Stewart of The Misfit House to reimagine the space with a blend of airy and grounded elements to better reflect their style and life. Below, Monica shares the nine steps she took to totally transform the nearly 200-year-old kitchen.
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An Expanded Footprint
Atop Russell and Sarah’s wish list: doubling the kitchen’s footprint while maintaining the character of a been-there-forever farmhouse kitchen, courtesy of features both old (an original wood-planked ceiling) and new (reclaimed pine wood flooring).
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Touches of Texture
To bring ample interest to the mostly neutral space, Monica added a plaster vent hood, a shimmery ceramic tile backsplash crowned with the same blue-toned quartzite as the countertops, and pretty floral wallpaper.
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Furniture-Style Island
Painted a soft gray-blue and topped with honed marble, the paneled island is the kitchen’s centerpiece, but it’s the practical yet pretty brass kickplate that steals the show. Clean-lined ladder-back stools softened with pretty floral cushions tuck in neatly on both sides of the island’s middle leg, a unique feature Monica added to enhance its furniture-like look.
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Varied Lighting
As the owner of a lighting business, Monica knows a few things about choosing light fixtures. In this kitchen, semi-flush mount ceiling lights provide a historic-looking alternative to recessed cans, and a series of pendants and sconces add pretty and hardworking task lighting.
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Dramatic Drapery
The custom west-facing push-out casement windows—perfect for catching sunsets—mimic the home’s original 12-pane windows and enhance the kitchen’s historic charm. A simple café curtain would not do, so Monica commissioned custom curtains (fabricated from “Matteo” by Rose Tarlow)to add a layer of softness to the kitchen. A bumped-out French return rod ensures the view is never blocked.
Pine Cabinetry
Classic English dressers inspired the look and finish of the kitchen’s white pine cabinetry, which also hides an appliance garage, pantry, and paneled refrigerator. “They [the homeowners] constantly have fresh vegetables from the farm, so good refrigeration was key,” says Monica. A custom mix of stain colors, along with a whitewash that highlights the delicate wood grain, gives the built-ins their antique look.
Art Gallery Shelving
Sarah is an avid collector of pottery—most of which was crafted by local artist Maria Dondero—and antiques, so providing a display space for her favorites was important. “I wanted her to have the opportunity to see all of her special, sentimental things every day,” says Monica of the glass-fronted cabinets above the pantry and the sets of deep open shelving in each corner.
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Brass Accents
Made of unlacquered brass that will patina over time, the cabinet hardware, the curvy bridge faucet, and the pot filler—all set against new materials—reinforce a sense of age.
Dining Meets Mudroom
Everything in a farmhouse needs to be hardworking, and that holds true for this dining room, which doubles as a makeshift mudroom. Monica commissioned the custom cupboard to look like a china cabinet, but inside you’ll find backpacks, school supplies, and overflow sports gear. The pedestal dining table is antique—a find Monica scored at Scott Antiques Market, Georgia’s biggest monthly antiques show.
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Love the Look of This Kitchen? Shop It Here!
Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
