With a touch of whimsy

Take one tiny, traditional farmhouse, add a little punch and stir well. The result? A whimsical kitchen that doesn't take itself too seriously

A view of some kitchen appliances from Miele. cabinetry, door, home, interior design, room, gray — A view of some kitchen appliances from Miele.

A view of some kitchen appliances from Miele. cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, room, orange

A view of some kitchen appliances from Miele. cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, property, real estate, room, orange

A view of some kitchen appliances from Miele. cabinetry, countertop, home, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, window, gray

Bright red moldings and a laminated grass flooring strip do not automatically evoke your typical American farmhouse. But, at 800sq ft, this remodeled house was never going to be that typical.

Designer James Butler says when the owners first saw the property, they fell in love with the size of the land, rather than the existing house.

"At 1.2 acres, the land was a real find, being a close commute to the city," Butler says. "The house, however, was less so. To make it habitable, the entire interior was gutted and rebuilt but we had to work within the existing parameters."

To enlarge the small kitchen, Butler took space from a former bathroom. He also removed the existing ceilings and installed new sloping ceilings that follow the roof lines.

The re-design is in keeping with the owners' desire for a house that would fit in with the rural environment.

"We wanted to convey that country feeling, but provide something slick and modern at the same time a farmhouse on steroids is probably the best description of the final outcome," says Butler.

The bold use of color is a stand-out feature of the kitchen. Along with pale yellow walls and cabinets, and country green mosaics, there are bright red moldings and window frames.

"Red is universal everything works with it," says Butler. "Because the owners work in a gray, corporate world all day, they really wanted something bright to come home to."

A small divided-lite window is not only framed in red and yellow it also framed by the green mosaic tiles that line the walls. Elsewhere, a narrow, floor-to-ceiling red cabinet provides wine storage, and a laminated strip of flooring provides an inlaid image of grass. It was a fun way to bring the outdoors in, says Butler.