Dueling Kitchens: Designer Vs. Contractor

When Matt and Kate from Mint Construction began planning the renovation of this Harrisonburg duplex, they realized very quickly that they had an interesting opportunity for a design competition. The house would have to be gutted completely, and the top and bottom floors were identical. Why not each tackle one kitchen and see who would win in the battle of designer versus contractor?

"It's provided a unique opportunity for us to be able to design two slightly different kitchens based on our own design interests."  Matt wanted to make sure they stayed true to the style of the home, but they had a genuine artistic difference here on what would look the best. "This is the perfect opportunity in these otherwise identical kitchens to test and see which one actually turns out the best."

They chose a simple color scheme of white, black, and gray to match the exterior of the house.  In Matt's kitchen upstairs, he chose gray cabinets to tone down the contrast of the black and white.  He picked white Arabesque tile for the back splash. "If there's one risk for this kitchen is that it might be a little bit bland.  I'll be looking for some way to spice it up with light fixtures or other decorations."

In Kate's kitchen downstairs, she planned black cabinets for the base and white cabinets for the walls.  She selected white subway tile with bold black-and-white accent pieces.  She focused on keeping a retro feel by choosing a light fixture made from antique milk glass.

Matt and Kate are excited to see whether his neutral tones or her more bold styles work better in the space. "When we get to the end, we'll very much want to hear what other people's opinions are of this as well," Matt said.