Not every renovation sees a dumbwaiter used as a spice cabinet – or a fireplace as a nook for a range cooker – but then, not every home is a castle.
In an early 20th century structure, such as the castle owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines, getting inventive is part of the fun. And while all rooms in their home are as gorgeous as you might expect – it is the kitchen and dining room that pushed the designer to experiment creatively.
'Welcome to the castle’s kitchen and dining spaces – what we’d consider to be some of the dreamiest rooms of the entire home,' Joanna says in her blog. We're inclined to agree. The rooms (seen below) are as beautiful as they are practical – filled with surprising quirks that inspire us all to play with awkward spaces and vintage furniture in our own homes.
'To make the home more functional, we converted the original breakfast nook into the main kitchen (which was originally located in the basement). This forced us to get creative with our choices – like turning the dumbwaiter into a spice rack and the fireplace into a nook for a new range,' Joanna says.
The Fixer Upper star adds that she 'can’t get enough of that original wooden hutch', seen on the fourth photo in the image carousel.
The castle is unlike most homes, but the main purpose of its kitchen remains the same: above all, it needs to be functional. To maximize its practicality and improve the kitchen storage, Joanna installed custom cabinetry and, as mentioned, converted the original dumbwaiter into a spice cabinet – using all available space to store groceries efficiently.
She painted the cabinets in Castle Cream Interior Paint in Eggshell Finish – an off-white kitchen hue that will age as gracefully as the castle.
Alongside the updated cabinetry, Chip and Joanna added marble kitchen countertops and repurposed an antique table to function as the kitchen island. They also uplifted the existing fireplace – raising the mantel to 'create a nook for the range' before installing new tile.
This invites us all to decorate with antiques in daring new ways – because who says a century-old table can't become the centerpiece of your kitchen?
Want more of Joanna's style?
We're already inclined to repaint our cabinetry and scout out some new antiques; however, the easiest way to replicate Joanna's style is to invest in pieces from her brand, Magnolia. We've found three products to instantly elevate your kitchen – the way the designer intended (and they're on sale right now).
With its delicate, almost-vintage-style coloring, this cake stand will make an enduring statement on any countertop. Artist Shaina Page handpainted the pattern that was printed onto the ornament, and we just love the intricate result.
From the kitchen island to the dining room table, this serving bowl will impress anywhere. We love that each design is slightly unique, meaning you're investing in a one-of-a-kind piece that is versatile enough to hold all foods and look good in all spaces.
We admit this storage box isn't only for the kitchen or dining room, but that's what makes us love it even more. It's a great storage option for bread, as the lid doubles up as a breadboard. So, you can store and prepare starters, snacks, and sandwiches without worrying about damaging your countertops. It has to be said, Joanna has thought of everything.
From the beginning, Joanna said the home was 'made for hosting,' but we'd say it's much more than that. It's made to inspire us all to get creative and overcome challenges from our surroundings to create a home that feels like a castle to us all.
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