Text by Elizabeth Czapski
When Brooke and Robby Cannon moved from Kentucky to Birmingham, Alabama, with their two young boys, they left behind a home they’d built themselves and loved everything about, resulting in big shoes to fill as they searched for a new one. They discovered a charming abode in the Mountain Brook area, and while it had great bones, the ambience wasn’t quite right for their family—specifically in the kitchen, which is the true heart of the home for the Cannons.
“We loved the cabinets and layout of the kitchen when we originally moved in; however, the stain, stone, and backsplash were all too dark to feel like our home,” Brooke recalls. “We wanted to bring more light into our kitchen, so I pieced it together over the past few years with small changes and colors our family loves. [I have] a love of incorporating patterns, colors, and textures that bring joy into our home.”
To accomplish this, they began by replacing the countertops with a honed Montclair Danby marble they had used in their previous home, along with the backsplash, which they tiled in white Satori Venatino marble. “But it still felt too dark, which led us to painting the cabinets the perfect neutral light blue—Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray,” Brooke says.
Brooke enhanced the sky-blue cabinetry with organic textile patterns, floral artwork, woven and bamboo detailing, and fresh flowers and plants that bring the outdoors in, especially with the addition of a sunroom-like lounge area that shares a light-filled space with the dining nook. “We wanted a bright and happy kitchen since we spend so much time in this room,” she says. “Our family loves the outdoors, so I naturally gravitate toward botanical colors—blues for our love of water, greens for our love of grass, and yellows for our love of sunshine.”
Schumacher’s Citrus Garden print helped Brooke pull this palette together as she incorporated the fabric on the Roman shade above the sink, as well as on the chair cushion and love seat accent pillows in the lounge area.
Throughout the multiuse space, a mix of classic inclusions like the subway tile backsplash and marble surfaces, a traditional dining area with a passed-down wooden table and cane-back vintage chairs, and chinoiserie accents scattered about are balanced by contemporary elements such as acrylic barstools and au courant wares on display.
While functional features like an oversize appliance garage keep the overall look clean and clutter-free, open shelving offers accessibility and the opportunity to showcase collections and meaningful accessories. “We love cookbooks and have always had bookshelves built into our kitchen,” Brooke says. “The layout of the open shelves worked perfectly for our collection of cookbooks, but they have also been helpful with keeping plates and cereal bowls at easy reach. It’s also fun to change up the look of the shelves with new bowls or seasonal fixtures.”
With its lively spirit and personalized touches, this kitchen update proved to be just what the Cannons needed as they put down new roots. “Moving can be difficult, and making a home inviting and comforting can ease the challenges that come with the transition of a new town, new work, new school, and new community,” Brooke says. “Something as simple as a fabric and specific colors can really set your mood for the day ahead.”
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