Greyrock Homes building team and husband-and-wife duo Sandy and Jerry Effren design every home as if they themselves would live there. And in the case of the TOH 2020 Farmhouse, with each decision it became increasingly clear that this would become their forever home.
The vision of this house really began in the heart of it all—the kitchen. “In the open floor plan, the kitchen is central to a 44-by-22-foot great room. So it was important that the spaces had a cohesive feel, but also that they had their own personality,” says Sandy.
To accomplish her vision, Sandy teamed up with a friend, kitchen designer Karen Berkemeyer of Karen Berkemeyer Home. Says Karen, “We were looking for something different: warm and inviting; sort of rustic-meets-industrial, with a fresh, modern feel.”
It sounded like a tall order, but a trip to the Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry showroom brought Sandy’s dream kitchen to life. Here’s a closer look at all the special touches inside.
Shown: Vanguard Plus Euro White Oak Slab Door in Shoreline (perimeter) and Oolong (island) by Wood-Mode
The kitchen vision
From a layout perspective, “the whole design is really about two things: entertaining and family,” says Sandy. The generously sized island is big enough for preparing and serving food, and for having plenty of guests gathered around.
Two-toned textures
The exterior of the barn portion of the house is wire-brushed cedar; for the interior, this European rough-sawn white oak immediately caught Sandy’s eye. “It was the perfect texture, with that same rustic charm.”
Selecting the stain was like choosing the icing on the cake. Says Karen, “We agreed that white was too sterile, a classic wood would be too traditional, and a bold color could wear out its charm.” She selected a soft gray finish called Shoreline for the perimeter cabinets, and paired them with a contrasting island in deep, dark Oolong that plays off the black accents in the room—such as the window trim, range hood, and pendant fixtures—for a sophisticated feel.
Sleek storage
Sandy and Karen marveled at the craftsmanship of the cabinets, and the variety of customizable options. “The inserts that Wood-Mode offers are endless,” says Karen. We love this pull-out drawer, where Sandy stores a variety of items for easy grab-and-go breakfasts at the island.
Organization options
To the left of the cooktop is an integrated spice drawer. Says avid cook Sandy, “It’s just a great feature because while you’re at the stove, all the spices are within easy reach, looking right at you; you don’t have to go digging through to find your seasonings.” To the right, an integrated cutlery drawer keeps sharp knives and accessories neatly organized.
See more convenient storage and organization options, here.
Customized interiors
Design Philosophy: John Troxel, a designer with Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry in Kreamer, Pennsylvania, puts it this way: “Our customers don’t want to create boxes on their walls; they want to create room interiors.” That mindset drives the level of customization seen throughout these kitchen cabinets, where every drawer box and interior finish is tailored to its specific use.
Cabinet drawers can even be customized on the inside; Wood-Mode offers a choice of solid maple, walnut, and cherry dovetail drawer boxes, as well as stainless steel. At left, the perimeter drawers feature maple inserts and a rubberized liner that keeps your dishes from sliding around; at right, the beverage bar’s cabinet drawers feature rich walnut. Karen says, “It’s this attention to detail that creates such distinctive looks in each section of the kitchen, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind design.”
Integrated illumination
This wall of cabinets cleverly houses a hidden fridge on the right and a pantry of pull-out floating shelves on the left, flanking a pass-through to the butler’s pantry beyond.
The shelves are lit from within thanks to Wood-Mode’s complimentary lighting design service featuring state-of-the-art lighting products from Häfele. “Wood-Mode will prepare the cabinets for lighting features and install them at the factory for a no-fuss user experience,” says Karen. These LED lighting strips ensure a clear view of every inch of the deep cabinet interior.
Pro Tip: LED ribbon lighting is an ideal choice for illuminating deep cabinet interiors. As electrician Allen Lyle demonstrated on a This Old House project, LED strips can be cut to any length needed, last for 30,000 hours, and emit no heat — a key advantage when lighting enclosed cabinetry. “No one likes having their cabinets heat up because of the light,” noted host Kevin O’Connor during the installation.
Butler’s pantry and pass-through
In the hardworking butler’s pantry, a pass-through allows for out-of-sight prep and cleanup with easy access to the main kitchen. Integrated LED task lighting is ideal for prep work.
As featured in the 2020 This Old House Farmhouse, this butler’s pantry is equipped with its own sink, dishwasher, full-size refrigerator, garbage disposal, and hot water dispenser—making it a complete food prep, staging, and cleanup zone that helps keep the main kitchen island clean and clutter-free.
An upper row of large, lift-up cabinets is ideal for tucking away specialty serveware and occasional-use tabletop appliances, while lower cabinets discreetly hide trash and recycling bins.
Beverage bar
Conveniently located just steps from the main kitchen and outdoor entertaining areas, the beverage bar is a perfect place to grab a coffee or refresh a cold drink. To create the sleek design, Karen says customization was key. “We didn’t want a tile backsplash. So we asked Wood-Mode if they could make a ‘skin’ of the lighter cabinets to mimic the two-toned look in the kitchen. And sure enough, they did!”
There’s plenty of built-in storage here, too, including two refrigerated drawers below the wine cooler, and pullouts that accommodate serving trays and table linens. Full-extension undermount drawer slides offer a wider interior storage space, with soft-closing action and special stops to prevent the drawers from being pulled out. And customized downlighting creates a soft, sophisticated glow.
Design Insight: Concealing appliances behind fine cabinetry is a hallmark of well-designed beverage bars. As designer Pamela Wehr of Kitchens by Deane notes: “It used to be that there was always some metal trim or hinge that showed. Now you can really accomplish that old-fashioned, no-appliances look.” The farmhouse’s refrigerated drawers and wine cooler, tucked seamlessly behind Wood-Mode’s custom paneling, deliver exactly that polished, appliances-hidden effect.
See more unique specialty cabinets, here.
