Every time we move to a new home with the chance to redo a kitchen, I wrestle with the same design question.
How and where can I add character?
(*I have comments enabled on this post if you want to chat!*)
The first item I committed to for this kitchen was the faucet. I chose the Rohl Perrin & Rowe Ionian Tap with Rinse in polished nickel. It’s beautiful and sets the tone.
This faucet on Amazon is the same brand, finish and style I have, though I purchased mine through deVOL Kitchens. It seems to be a special deVOL edition and I paid less than the Amazon listing. The design felt right for the house and the price was reasonable compared with other offerings from the same brand.
I’ve used a Rohl Perrin & Rowe nickel faucet in past homes — an English Tudor and a remodeled bathroom in an English cottage — and I still remember how much I appreciated the finish and quality.
For transparency, nothing in my kitchen is sponsored at this time. I wouldn’t partner with a brand I wouldn’t choose for my home, but even when a project isn’t sponsored, I share design decisions because they can be helpful if you’re planning a remodel.
Because our sink sits in the center of the kitchen and is visible from other rooms, I used the faucet as an opportunity to add something pretty and characterful. With that visibility, the faucet becomes a style setter, so it was important to select a finish and shape that fit our home.
This is a kitchen we plan to keep for many years, so choosing a classic finish and a well-made faucet made sense. Many lovely faucets exist today across a wide range of prices; you can find stylish options to suit different budgets.
In our previous house we had a brass faucet in the $200 range that I loved. I’ll share more about past faucets in another post.
People have strong opinions about faucet style and handles, but it’s a personal choice. I wanted a faucet with a vintage feel. My husband insisted on a sprayer — even though he hasn’t quite learned to keep the spray inside the sink yet.
The design and handles offer a classic vintage look that feels charming and understated. Nickel reads warm compared with chrome, and polished nickel is a timeless finish that endures. Brass is classic too and has been popular for a while; classic finishes seldom go truly out of style. If you choose materials that suit your home, they’ll remain appropriate beyond any passing trend.
Although I love brass and will include it elsewhere in our home, I wasn’t drawn to brass for this faucet. Mixing metals helps rooms feel collected and layered rather than overly matchy.
The tale of my new range (and her name!)
Alongside mixing metals, I chose a new range that will contribute personality to the kitchen. She’s a beauty and has been waiting patiently for her spot. Below I share how I decided and the name I gave her.
The range I selected is the Ilve Nostalgie 30-inch dual fuel in Blue Gray. I ordered directly from an appliance store that had the color and size in stock because I didn’t want supply delays to stall the project.
I debated this choice for a year. The range stood out because of its unique color and finish, so I wanted to be certain I could live with it long-term and build the rest of the kitchen around it. After researching brands, price ranges, features, finishes, reviews and colors, I realized there were many good options. Reviews can vary widely, and negative voices are often the loudest online, so it’s helpful to balance what you read.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to make the perfect choice. Remember there are many ways to create a beautiful kitchen. At some point you have to decide and move forward. For this kitchen and the classic elements I planned, this Ilve range felt like a simple way to add personality.
Living on an island influenced my choice — the range offers a subtle nod to the coastal setting. The brass evokes ship-like hardware and the blue-gray finish recalls the sea. It feels special, and its price aligned with our budget; it isn’t cheap, but it’s far from astronomical.
The range feels like a vintage treasure I might bring home after falling in love with it on an adventure. Knowing it’s made in Venice, Italy made it even more appealing to me. I have a fond memory of visiting Venice with my sister and parents, so the range feels like a small personal connection — a bit romantic, but that’s part of the appeal.
Once the range arrived it needed a name, so I ran a poll in my Instagram stories. Many lovely suggestions came in, and one stood out: Beatrix.
Beatrix — as in Beatrix Potter, the writer and illustrator who delighted in the details of animals and the natural world. I adore that sensibility. The name Beatrix means “she who brings happiness; blessed, voyager and traveller.”
She embodies those qualities, so Beatrix felt right. Maybe we’ll call her Bee for short.
These two pieces — the polished nickel faucet and the blue-gray Ilve range — will bring lasting character to our new kitchen. I’ll share more of the character-setting elements soon. We just selected kitchen countertops and have slabs on hold. So excited! Subscribe to my emails to stay in the loop.
If you missed my last post sharing the kitchen floor plan and elevations, check it out on the blog.