Sunny, Bright Kitchen in Santa Clara

The family in this 1961 ranch home wanted a more open kitchen space that flowed into the home’s living spaces, but they also wanted a better transition into the pool and patio area in their backyard. During the design process, the clients and the designer arrived at a theme of the Ultimate Cocktail Bar to unify the design of the bright and sunny room.

Providing convenient access for pool parties, the wet bar next to the back door offers a mini fridge for soft drinks, storage for liquor and glasses, a sink, and an ice machine. The unique droplet-shaped, mosaic, glass tile backsplash really draws the eye and visually unites the wet bar with the rest of the kitchen area. The shades of gray in the backsplash create a neutral color scheme, making it easier to bring other colors into the room. For example, the red marquee letters that spell BAR offer a pop of color.

Light plays a big role in creating the cheerful sensibility in this room. French doors and double windows within the footprint of the kitchen provide natural light. The layered lighting plan includes overhead recessed LED lights, task lights, and decorative lighting. Notice that under cabinet lights are cleverly hidden above the wet bar by a decorative piece of woodwork below the cabinets.

This cheery kitchen adheres to a transitional design style, incorporating both traditional and modern elements. The white shaker style cabinets present clean lines topped by a more decorative crown molding. The sheen of the stainless steel appliances is balanced by the grey wood tones on the floor (which is made of a waterproof material to accommodate swimmers with wet feet). Quartz countertops complete the look—making this room a great staging ground for the perfect pool party!

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