Before + After – Home & Design Magazine

A French Country look dominated a Bethesda home when it was purchased by owners who fell in love with the house—but definitely leaned toward a more modern sensibility. They hired Arlington Home Interiors for a cosmetic redo that included the Provençal kitchen, which featured cows tripping along the backsplash. “The previous owner had customized everything, so the kitchen was high quality,” recounts principal Suzanne Manlove, who worked within the existing space to transform its look. “Our clients preferred to keep it intact.”

First on the agenda: a thorough paint job. Manlove selected shades of pale gray from Benjamin Moore to cover the peripheral, cherry-hued cabinets and yellow walls. Faux paint company Artifice, Inc., concealed the cows, replicating the existing white-and-taupe ceramic tile.

Trusses accented the vaulted ceiling; Manlove removed their fussy corbels to create a cleaner profile, then painted them black to match the island and cabinets flanking the range. A wall of cabinetry got a new lease on life when its chicken-wire doors were replaced by glass fronts framed in a geometric motif.

Existing countertops of soapstone and marble remain; they feel more modern juxtaposed with a sleek Roman shade, streamlined Emtek hardware and Visual Comfort pendants.

Interior & Kitchen Design: Suzanne Manlove, Arlington Home Interiors, Arlington, Virginia. Contractor: The Ransom Company, Alexandria, Virginia.  Styling: Charlotte Safavi.