Stained Gray Shaker Kitchen with a Charcoal Island
High ceilings are a gift in a kitchen, but only if you actually use them. In this home, we took the cabinets as high as they could go and turned a tall, open room into a kitchen with storage to spare.
Cabinets that go all the way up
The perimeter cabinets are a gray stained shaker, and unlike a painted finish, you can still see the wood grain coming through. That gives the color some depth and keeps it from feeling flat. We stacked a second row of cabinets on top of the uppers, and on a few of them we used frosted glass doors to break things up and add a little interest near the ceiling. Champagne bronze hardware ties everything together.
On the right side of the kitchen, we built a full wall of tall cabinetry around the wall oven and microwave combo, with pantry storage next to it and a refrigerator enclosure that makes the fridge look like part of the design.
The island
The island is a deep charcoal stain, a few shades darker than the rest of the kitchen, so it stands out as its own piece. It’s long enough for four stools on one side, and the working side hides a dishwasher and a beverage fridge, so drinks are always within reach without anyone walking into the cooking zone. A workstation sink with a gold faucet sits in the middle, and the whole thing is topped with white quartz that has a soft, subtle vein.
Clean lines everywhere
We ran the same white quartz up the wall as a full backsplash behind the induction cooktop and along the counters. With the stainless chimney hood above, the cooking wall feels sleek and simple. And hanging over the island, a sculptural LED chandelier adds a fun, modern twist to an otherwise classic shaker kitchen.
The result
A kitchen that uses every inch of its height, mixes two wood tones in a way that feels intentional, and still looks clean and open.
If you have high ceilings and want to make the most of them, stop by our Tallahassee showroom. We’ll show you how stacked cabinets and the right finishes can completely change the way your kitchen feels.
