Beth Kirby's Kitchen Renovation by Jersey Ice Cream Co.
(Photo by L&E Photography)
Because of its instantaneous nature, it’s very rare that the world of social media leaves you hanging in suspense for too long. Beth Kirby, who I follow religiously on just about every platform there is, is managing to do it though. Months ago she mentioned on Snapchat that she would be collaborating once again with Jersey Ice Cream Co. to complete the rest of her home’s renovation. About a year and a half ago, Beth revealed that she had worked with them on the remodel of her kitchen. Together they turned it into not only a comfortable and practical workspace, but essentially a ready-made set for Beth’s stunning photography. And if the kitchen’s anything to go by, the rest of this house’s makeover will be worth the wait.
White Calacatta Velluto marble countertops are not for Type A’s, warns Beth. “With marble, you have to know what you’re in for… You have to decide that you want the story of your cooking etched in your counter.”
A true Renaissance woman, Beth works as a photographer, stylist, writer, recipe developer, teacher and blogger, specialising in food and travel. Her blog Local Milk and its accompanying social media platforms (see Pinterest and Instagram) is the stuff of dreams. Moody, well-travelled yet distinctively Southern, dreams. It was through her gloriously curated Pinterest boards that Tara and Percy of Jersey Ice Cream Co. gained an understanding of Beth’s unique style and vision. The self-proclaimed “homeless home-designers” travel the country, moving to wherever their work takes them. After a month in Beth’s house in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this is what they came up with.
Marble makes a great work surface for baking because it keeps pastry at its required cool temperature- the key to successful pies. If a full marble kitchen is out of the budget, try using a single slab like Beth used on her island.
Reclaimed timber shelving and vintage door knobs give life to what could very easily have just been a run-of-the-mill fitted kitchen.
The French copper and brass tap was an eBay find.
The ivory Lacanche Sully range is “basically a child to me”, Beth declared. (I can see why. *swoon*) “I don’t think anything other than the custom Venetian-plastered hood Percy made could have done it justice.”
It would seem everything in this room has a story. Even the magnetic knife rack was made out of an old organ pipe.
(Photo by L&E Photography)
To copy Beth’s collection of canning jars, you can find Kilner jars inexpensively in most homeware and hardware shops. If you really want to mix up different shapes and sizes, a great tip is to look out for food packaged in reusable containers. Fallon and Byrne and TK Maxx are great spots to find foreign jams, spices and sauces that come quaintly packed in ceramic pots and Weck jars.
Both beautiful and practical; a branch of driftwood acts as a utensil rail for Beth’s most-used tools.
I recently picked up one of these Paddywax candles in Moss Cottage, but you can also find them in Folkster. Once the candle burns out, the gorgeous amber apothecary-style jars can be reused to store any small odds and ends you have lying around.
The thatched plaster’s texture on the dark grey wall was created by running over the wet plaster with a metal comb.
And where did Percy pick up these nifty plastering skills? Oh, just when he worked as construction crew for the famously spectacular Anthropologie stores. You guys, this is like being one of the elves who works in the North Pole.
Percy made the desk out of reclaimed barn wood (oh, how Tennessee!) to fit two existing green drawers.
(Photo by Good Morning Journal)
You think overhead shots of teacups just happen without needing to stand on the countertop?! Nope. Being Insta-perfect takes work.
(All photos by Beth Kirby unless otherwise stated.)
