Rue Magazine: June 2021

A Timeless, Calming Kitchen by Sean Anderson

Written by Rue Daily | Photography by Haris Kenjar | View Article

This Memphis home is located on a historic street, lined with architecturally relevant homes on generous lots. “The neighborhood consists of varying architectural styles but all are rooted in traditional design,” designer Sean Anderson says. His clients, retired empty nesters, split their time between Memphis and South Carolina, and called on Sean to update their traditional kitchen with a revised layout that would allow for a more functional flow. They’d lived in the home for about twenty years, and the space had been updated by previous owners but was more or less a patchwork of additions and repairs. “The home throughout has a lot of rich, ornamental wood details which were found in the kitchen as well, and they wanted a simpler approach in the aesthetic,” he explains. “There weren’t many requests other than to reduce the size of the original island which was oversized for the space and increased efficiency in storage with the addition of dedicated spaces for pots, pans, and small appliance storage.”

Sean had worked with all of the vendors and contractors on this project in the past, and the pre-existing relationships made it a fluid and seamless renovation. Style-wise, he says it was an exercise in color. “I could not be more thrilled with how it turned out. The creamy white balanced with the delicate green in the cabinetry provided a timeless, calming effect on the space. The view from the kitchen window over the expansive rear of the property is beautiful, as the lush landscape blends beautifully with the tones and textures of the room. The tall upper cabinet doors seated directly onto the countertop surface is an installation technique I find to be especially impactful as well.”

Since the homeowners were in South Carolina for the duration of the 9-month renovation, Sean says it was a special moment to be present when they returned home to a brand-new kitchen. “It wasn’t so much what they said; rather, it was their speechlessness that indicated their pleasure in the final product. The job wrapped about a year ago and they still reach out expressing their satisfaction with their new kitchen.”