Tour This Blue Scandi-Style Kitchen That Expertly Blends Old and New

Contemporary cabinets in an on-trend hue contrast with antique elements for a dynamic, ageless space.

When designer and shop owner MK Quinlan set out to redo her family’s kitchen, the trick was blending her love of color and antiques with elements that fit the style of a 1959 midcentury rambler in Birmingham, AL.

Knowing she’d furnish adjacent rooms with antique rugs and so-called brown furniture, she sought a fresh and crisp Scandi-leaning foundation to not make the house too period or old feeling. MK also believes anything built in should support the house’s architecture. “It felt right that everything added in a permanent way would be in sync with its era,” MK says, citing the cabinet style and even the stainless-steel backsplash. “The workaday nature of it is utilitarian; it just makes sense for the house.”

Related: What Is Scandinavian Interior Design? 8 Key Principles to Follow

Slab-front cabinets, stacked appliances, and a table instead of an island are hallmarks of kitchens of this era; more modern is the fresh blue hue (Farrow & Ball Blue Ground), which took two tries to get right. (The first color came off as a powder blue befitting a nursery, and the family walked in and knew right away to scrap it.)

But the hit of color was always a definite: “I wanted the house spirited because that’s how we are as a family,” MK says. The cheerful color is also a great foil to the pecan table, the rug, and the antique rack holding copper pots and baskets for the two preschool kids’ foraged stones and greenery— ingredients for fairy salad and dino soup.

MK Quinlan

There’s a fear out there that without an island, there won’t be enough counter space. But ample counter space is overhyped. You don’t need as much as you think you do.

Most notably, MK chose to forgo an island in exchange for their large kitchen table. “There’s a fear out there that without an island, there won’t be enough counter space,” MK says. “But ample counter space is overhyped. You don’t need as much as you think you do.”

The large pecan table was purchased by MK’s mom at a local estate sale years ago. ”It’s the most-loved piece in the house,” MK says. It’s used for reading, taking a break, doing homework and art projects, and eating, of course. And when friends come over for dinner, they gather at this table—“it feels more ‘us’ than hosting in the dining room,” she says. 

The table's chairs are bentwood dining chairs that were bought without seats then covered with leftover pink fabric from MK’s daughter’s room. MK recommends using what’s on hand, when possible, to save time and money. She also added a layer of vinyl on top: It’s suitable for kitchen spills and easy cleaning.

All the dishes go in deep drawers: It’s easier to lift out a stack of plates than to balance them from a cabinet up high. There's also an appliance garage that holds a stand mixer, blender, coffee bean grinder, and more. It lets you slide out hefty equipment—no bending or lifting.

Separating the oven from the stovetop opens a whole new world, MK says. “[A big statement range] didn’t make sense for this house,” MK says. “We cook every night—family meals—and the five burners and a griddle for weekend pancakes are more than ample.” Drawers directly under the burners house large utensils and pot lids so they’re right where they need to be. 

MK also designed the kitchen with kids' autonomy in mind. MK designated pantry drawers for her kids to use. One is for snacks and one is for art supplies so they can keep making masterpieces to put on display. The kids' snacks are kept low for them to retrieve on their own. As it turns out, the strategy wasn’t foolproof.

Uncommon Kitchens

Find this kitchen, and a collection of other distinct spaces, in Sophie Donelson’s new book, Uncommon Kitchens. Each unique room cooks up inspiration, looking at kitchen design less like a formulaic recipe and more like an opportunity to infuse personality in the heart of the home.

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