Susie Brockman and her husband Ian Calder love DIY projects, so when they found a home in North Chesterfield with an original 1949 kitchen, they knew they wanted to get started right away.
The couple share a vintage aesthetic and love of unique pieces. Calder has a background in graphic design and Brockman is a student of feng shui. Their home is just 1,300 square feet, so maximizing the space for their growing family was important.
“We wanted to bring beauty into the space while still maintaining flow and practicality in a busy kitchen with two young children,” Brockman says.
First, they contacted their friend Pete Geier of Richmond design-and-construction studio PeterWerks. To save costs, Geier used plywood for the cabinets, shelves, banquette and island. A clear varnish protected the wood and made it shiny and easy to wipe clean. “We really love the natural look of the wood, and Pete did a beautiful job of shaping the pattern,” Brockman says.
Calder did the electrical work, rewired the gas for the stove, and installed the cork flooring himself, and on Black Friday the couple picked up some great deals on Smeg appliances, giving the kitchen a cool, retro feel.
The countertops and shelves are decorated with carefully selected items, like pine cones from Big Sur, dried flowers from Virginia, and a handmade cutting board purchased at a California farmers' market. On the top shelf perches Brockman, a playful wooden cat found in a thrift store 10 years ago who has accompanied the family through several moves.
Over the years, the couple has collected mugs and glassware from local potters. “Not being tied down to a matching set gives us the fun opportunity to buy practical, yet beautiful pieces of art,” Brockman says.
In the dining nook, custom pea-green cushions from Unsprung Upholstery soften the space with a vintage feel. Taking advantage of the island's extra storage, Brockman has combined new Container Store baskets with antique and thrift-store finds to cleverly hide her daughters' crayons, sewing supplies, and the laptop she uses to run her natural foods business, La Lyra.
Brockman says you don't need a million dollars to have a beautiful home, “if you get creative and use items you already have to create a space that works for you.”
