Every time we move to another home with an opportunity to redo a kitchen, I find myself mostly wrestling over the same design question.
How and where could I add character into it?
(*By the way, I have the comments turned on for this post if you want to chat!*)
The first piece I committed to for this kitchen was my faucet! I chose the Rohl Perrin + Rowe Ionian Tap with Rinse in polished nickel. It’s a beauty!
This faucet on Amazon is the same brand, finish and style of faucet I have, but I bought mine through deVOL Kitchens. It appears to be a special deVOL edition and the price I paid was far less than the version on Amazon. This style was also less than many others from the same brand elsewhere and I loved the design.
I put in a Rohl Perrin + Rowe nickel faucet in my English Tudor as well in as in a remodeled bathroom in the English cottage we lived in before that. It’s been years since we lived in those homes but I still remember how much I loved the quality and finish of the faucets.
By the way, for transparency sake, nothing in my kitchen is sponsored in any way at this time! I would never partner with a brand I wouldn’t choose for my home, but even when a project like this one is not a part of any partnership and there are no obligations, I still try to share details of our design decisions as I know they can be helpful to readers, particularly if you’re planning a remodel.
Due to the layout and arrangement of our space, the sink will be in the center of the kitchen which makes the faucet visible to other rooms. I decided to use that as an opportunity to make it extra pretty to look at. The faucet would be a style setter regardless of what I chose because of its visibility, so it was important to make it “the right style” for our home.
This is a kitchen we intend to keep and live in for many years, so it also made sense to choose a classic finish and a quality faucet I know I will love for a long time. There are many lovely faucets available these days at all price points. While faucets can certainly be expensive, there are style options available these days to fit many budgets.
In our previous house we had this brass faucet that was in the $200 range at the time, I was thrilled to find one I liked at that price. I’ll do another post sometime sharing more of our past faucets.
People have strong opinions about faucet style and handle design, but it’s really a personal decision. I wanted a faucet design that had a vintage flair and my husband always insists on a sprayer (even though honestly I wanted to veto that this time because he hasn’t yet learned to use one in a way so the water sprays only IN the sink). :)
The design and handles have a classic vintage feel, I love the simple charming statement it makes. Nickel is a warm metal, in person you can definitely tell the difference between it and chrome. Polished nickel is a classic finish, so it has stood the test of time.
Brass is classic, too. It is a finish that has also been “on trend” for awhile. But just because it has been on trend, or when it is no longer considered a trend, that doesn’t mean a classic finish is ever “out.” Don’t believe the click bait trend posts. If you choose classic finishes or materials appropriate for your style and home, they will remain classic.
Even though I do love brass and will for sure have it in our home, I just didn’t feel like I was drawn to brass faucets. Mixing metal finishes is one way to keep a space feeling timeless, so brass will be introduced to the design in other ways. I also just prefer a collected feel in design rather than having everything match.
The tale of my new range (and her name!)
Speaking of mixing metals in our kitchen, this brings me to my new range! She’s a real beauty, too! She was delivered months ago and is patiently awaiting her special place in the new kitchen. If you’d like to read the details on how I came to this decision and why, I’ll share them below along with her name!
The range I chose is the Ilve Nostalgie 30 inch duel fuel range in Blue Gray. (This one, but in 30 inch). I ordered mine directly from an appliance store that had the color and size I wanted in stock. With supply chain issues, I didn’t want to take any chances on delays or cancellations.
I wrestled with this particular decision for an entire year. This range was one I loved from the beginning, but there were many other options I considered, too. Due to its unique color, finish and style, it would definitely be a “style setter.” I wanted to make sure it was the style I could live with for a long time and that I would be able to let design choices be in the supporting role or be a complement to it.
After researching every option in every single brand, as well as weighing every price range, feature, style, review, and every option for finish or color, I concluded there were many “good” choices out there and many that would have worked for us. There are glowing and terrible reviews of every appliance, and there are people who love them and people who don’t. Usually the people who had a bad experience or don’t love something are the loudest online, so you have to keep that in mind when you are researching, too.
We can drive ourselves crazy trying to make the best decisions! Understandably, it is overwhelming. It’s good to remember that there are MANY ways to design a beautiful kitchen, and so many choices that would be just as lovely in different ways.
At some point you just have to make a decision so you can move forward. I decided that for our particular kitchen, and the other classic elements I wanted in it, this pretty range was a simple way to add personality.
Since we live on an island, I felt like this range gives a subtle quiet nod to the coastal vibe of where we live. The brass makes me think of what you might find in an old ship and the color reminds me of the sea. It will feel special in our kitchen, and compared to many gorgeous ranges out there, the price was far more in line what we had budgeted. Certainly it is not cheap, but also not $18,000. :).
This range makes me think of an old vintage piece I would fall in love with on an adventure and decide to bring home with me. The fact that it is made in Venice, Italy made me love it for even more personal reasons. One of my most memorable trips years ago was when my sister and parents and I went to Venice. It feels like it could have be shipped home from Venice to be a part of our new kitchen on this island. Yes, I realize I tend to romanticize everything, but I love the story it tells my heart.
Once this lovely range arrived, she needed a name, so I put up a poll in my Instagram stories awhile back to get some ideas. We all agreed the name needs to be special! There were so many wonderful and appropriate suggestions, but one stood out to me. Beatrix.
As in Beatrix Potter, the author and illustrator of Peter Rabbit and other children’s books. I love that Beatrix Potter delighted in the detail and humor of animals and the natural world, as do I. :) Kindred spirits. Beatrix means “she who brings happiness; blessed, voyager and traveller.”
She is all of those things.
I’d say having Beatrix here was meant to be.
Shall we call her Bee for short?
These two pieces are going to be great additions to the character of our new kitchen. I will share more of the character setting pieces soon–we just looked at kitchen countertops and have slabs on hold! So excited! Subscribe to my emails here to stay in the loop.
If you missed my last post sharing the kitchen floor plan and elevations, click here!
Love the name Bee as well as your faucet choice.
Thank you Wendy!
Fun reading this post about your thoughtful choices. And I love Bee too!! This kitchen is gonna be so beautiful.
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoy reading about the thought process, too!
That range! Wow, she’s a beautiful find. Can’t wait to see Bee in your new kitchen!
Thank you, I think she’ll be the queen of the kitchen!
The Queen Bea!
Ahhh, that is ADORABLE!! Love it!
We named our home WiFi network Beatrice, for many of the same reasons, so I love your choice! Beautiful faucet and stove choices.
Love it, we must be kindreds! Thank you, I’m excited to bring them into our home.
Love reading your blog! I don’t do Instagram. Love love your new faucets & your beautiful Bee! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
Hi Tami! Soo kind of you, I appreciate that so much!!
I LOVE your choices! I’m in the beginning stages of renovating my kitchen, so this is very helpful! Thank you!
I’m so glad this is helpful, remodeling such a big undertaking, isn’t it?
We retired and downsized to a cottage style home two years ago. When we remodeled our kitchen we also chose an Ilve dual fuel range and I’m here to tell you it was the absolute BEST decision. It’s beautiful and cooks like a dream. :) You will love it.
Hello
I’m considering an ILVE range as well but after reading the reviews on their service should there be a problem with them, I’m a little gun shy. Melissa can you tell me where you will go if you have problems with Bee? Susan can you tell me your experience with getting the range calibrated and any service issues? Thanks- this post is very informative Melissa. Thank you.
Hi Sue! People go to online forums to complain about problems, which can make it feel skewed negative. There will be a learning curve so that is something to keep in mind as well.
As an extra safeguard we bought through an appliance company with a five year extended warranty. I’ll go through them to find service or contact Ilve if needed. Also local appliance repair folks for high end brands should be able to service.
I’ve noticed that Hallman, the US brand / the same range, has been very responsive to customers and seems to have a great warranty offer. Going that route may ease your mind!
I will share if I have any issues, but I’m hoping for the best!
I’m so glad to hear you love it, I can’t wait to have it in my kitchen! Thank you!
Bee is my nickname, so of course I’m sold! Beautiful range and faucet!
Both of these pieces look so charming! I love following along and appreciate you sharing.
I’m also looking at a stove of a similar design, but matte black and brass. My two issues why I haven’t pulled the trigger yet are: 1-matching appliances… the fridge issue… are you doing a panel fridge so it matches your cupboards and blends in with cabinets and so stove is the star? I personally didn’t like the ‘matching’ fridge that matched the stove :-\ and my 2 issue is kind of petty, the stove oven isn’t self cleaning, and as I’m in my 50s and NOT getting any younger ;-) I really don’t relish the idea of going back to scrubbing an oven. Did your previous oven have a self cleaner and how are you planning on dealing with the no self-cleaner part of the new oven?
Yes we have a counter depth fridge that is panel ready! It will match the rest of the cabinets, the stove gets to be the star! I decided to go that route especially since our fridge will technically be in the “dining room” … I just didn’t want it to stand out nor clash with the color on the oven.
I learned something about self-cleaning ovens a few years ago that made me decide I didn’t want to use my last one that had self-cleaning option….it seems they can damage the oven! I agree they are so nice to have though, I too dislike cleaning ovens. What we’re going to do with our new one is just keep it wiped out so it isn’t building up, I think the build up is when it’s the worst.
Lol, shouldn’t her name be the Italian version of Beatrix. Beatrice, Italian pronunciation: beh – ah-tree-cheh! I love Ilve stoves, they are solid and gorgeous. Love the new kitchen choices😁
Ha well probably —-but she’s named after Beatrix Potter so we’re going with that! Thank you 🥰
What will be the first meal you and Bea make? She is such a beauty!
Thank you, Londen! That’s such a fun question! I need to start planning! Although after months cooking in a bathroom I think just about anything coming out of an oven will taste so good 😂.
That’s our sweet youngest granddaughter’s name! 💗