Hardiplank Shiplap Kitchen
Greetings! After revealing my galley kitchen, I received many questions about specific design choices. I’m thrilled by the positive response and glad you liked the result. I’ll share a full before-and-after and a kitchen design post later, but for now I’ll address several details readers have asked about, starting with the wall and ceiling treatment people often call “shiplap.”
We didn’t begin with the intention of creating a shiplap kitchen. At first we considered tile for the walls and examined countless samples — white, colored, patterned, and various shapes. While many options were beautiful, none felt right for this small space. I wanted the kitchen to feel cozy, with layered texture from a few well-chosen materials rather than many competing surfaces.
Because the kitchen is small, I wanted to maximize impact using just a few elements. Introducing more than two hard surfaces (for example, tile walls and floors plus quartz countertops) would have made the room feel cold and visually busy. Too many contrasting patterns and colors would overwhelm the space and limit styling options.
Hardiplank Shiplap Kitchen Walls
After deciding on tile for the floor and quartz for the countertops, we avoided adding tile to the walls. Instead I wanted warmer materials — painted planks, brass fixtures, wood accents and rugs — to add texture and warmth without introducing too many competing patterns. Neutral finishes offered the flexibility to change the room’s look seasonally while keeping a calm backdrop.
With several doors and windows left open, I wanted a wall treatment that tied the different elements together and added texture without taking up visual space. Because actual wall area was limited, the material needed to make a meaningful but restrained impact.
In the end we chose planked walls often referred to as “shiplap.” Mine aren’t true shiplap profiles, but the horizontal planks serve the same purpose: they visually join openings and lead the eye around the room. The continuous horizontal lines create a cohesive backdrop and add subtle interest without competing with other surfaces.
The painted planks harmonize the room and provide the textured backdrop I wanted.
Common questions include: what material did we use for the planks, and how do they hold up behind the sink and stove? We used smooth Hardiplank (Hardieplank) siding installed horizontally. The contractor nailed the smooth planks close together. We ordered smooth planks from a lumber yard — they were free of logos or visible markings. If you order similar materials, confirm with your supplier or contractor that you’re getting smooth, unbranded boards.
The walls beneath are not perfectly straight — typical for an older house — but the installers worked with the imperfections, which add charm. Raw plank edges were covered with trim or sealed with caulk, and the boards were sprayed with Benjamin Moore Advance in the color Simply White.
Hardieplank is cement fiberboard, so it’s water- and fire-resistant and as durable as tile for practical uses behind a sink and stove. It wipes clean easily and retains the warm, painted-wood appearance I wanted without extra maintenance. Because this material performed well around the sink and stove, we didn’t have to alter those layouts.
To keep the overall design simple, classic, and understated, we also paneled the ceiling in tongue-and-groove cedar with a v-groove profile. Unlike the smooth wall planks, the cedar ceiling shows natural knots and variation, which adds character without overwhelming the space.
We painted both the walls and the ceiling the same Benjamin Moore Simply White — a warm white — so the planks blend across surfaces without distracting color changes. The consistent color unifies the room, wraps the space visually, and even gives the impression of greater height. The clean white backdrop feels calming and helps the small kitchen seem larger, while allowing seasonal styling to take center stage.
So, that’s the story of our planked walls and ceiling!
Find the full galley kitchen reveal post and the kitchen source list on the original site.
Other related posts about the kitchen include details on the Dutch doors, design tips from the remodel, appliance selection, and mixing hardware finishes. These posts offer further insight into decisions and sources used throughout the project.