This home in Edina, Minnesota was in the beginning stages of construction when the build company Sustainable9 brought on interior design firm Bria Hammel Interiors to take on the intricacies of the design of the kitchen. The home was a new-build and therefore a blank canvas for the family’s needs. With a teenager active in sports, this couple required a space that was as functional as it was beautiful, not forgetting the importance of it feeling inviting.

“It was important to them that it was a clean, contemporary home that didn’t feel sterile,” said Bria Hammel, CEO and Principal Designer of her namesake firm. “That meant minimal light fixtures, clean architectural details, sleek selections, and warm woods.” The rich espresso stained cabinets, for example, were custom created by Crystal Cabinet Works and serve as an in-between tone for the ceiling and white quartz countertops by Cambria. “We love this countertop. Because of its high contrast and veining, it creates a statement for the island, grounding the heavy detailing on the ceiling,” she explained.

The ceiling is an important feature that Bria and her team creatively came up with. “Because they didn’t want pendants hanging over their island we wanted something to draw your eye up but still a way to disguise the canned lights,” she shared. “It made the kitchen stand out and provided warmth, texture, and a focal point for the space.” Subtler aspects of the kitchen’s design are the Bianco Puro Combed Hexagons for the backsplash in the main area and the Oxford White Ceramic Short Side Bullnose Ceramic Wall Tile for the pantry, both from The Tile Shop. “We took an otherwise simple subway tile and turned it vertically and placed it at on-set to provide some visual interest while still keeping it clean and timeless,” Bria explained.

“The kitchen and the pantry are technically two spaces but we wanted them to function as one,” she said. “We mimicked some of the selections in the kitchen into the pantry, such as the countertops, to make it feel like a continuation of the space.” As for the finishing touches, they sourced a black statement piece of art from Brooke & Lou – an online home decor boutique that the designer also founded and owns – that was both dramatic in size and style. She accessorized the kitchen with natural, organic materials to warm up the space. “The project took ten months to complete from start to finish,” Bria said. “The clients were thrilled with the outcome and were so excited to move in!”