The One-Month Makeover: Beth Kirby's Star-Is-Born Kitchen - Remodelista
Photography by Beth Kirby. “A cast iron skillet and a camera” is Beth Kirby’s moniker. Vagabonds who go where their work is, the couple rented an Airbnb place nearby, and, in a matter of a month, the total transformation was complete: Beth’s new kitchen is ready for its close-ups. “The kitchen is always the heart of the home, but for Beth it’s the heart of her everything. So we really wanted to hit this one out of the park,” Tara says. “The space needed to have a sense of warmth but also be clean and very usable.” The state-of-the-art range is a Lacanche Sully from France in ivory. Prior to Jersey Ice Cream Co.’s arrival, Beth struck a deal with a relative of a relative: In exchange for removing the existing cabinets and stove, he could keep them, “and so nothing was just tossed,” says Beth. Even the range hood is Venetian plastered. “I don’t think anything other than the custom Venetian-plastered hood Percy made could have done it justice.” Her magnetic knife rack was made from an organ pipe by Peg and Awl of Philadelphia; read about them in our post Frontier-Style Goods for the 21st Century. Utensils are stored in a pitcher and cup by local ceramicist Trish Riley, who shows her work at Sweet Gum Co. Most of the wooden spoons are from Sweet Gum Co., and the cutting boards are by third-generation woodworker Emily of Board & Bread, in Nashville. The hanging wire basket came from a Chattanooga flea market: “I use it to keep fruit for easy snacking.” Percy integrated the big fridge into the whole by building cupboards around it. Finding a faucet proved to be an unexpected challenge. The dappled walls add depth to the light in the room. Nice-looking and easy to stow away: a Foldable Dish Rack from West Elm. Beth’s photographs are often characterized by a moody, other-era look that hints of lurking spirits. Enamelware and Duralex tumblers. The new window’s wooden sill is an ideal perch for a pot of succulents. The small bottles are old inkwells. A vintage brass rack, a gift from Beth’s aunt, serves as a catchall at one end of the island. Another signature Beth Kirby arrangement. Open shelves and a driftwood rack line supply a place for storage and display. Beth got the driftwood at “a ramshackle Chattanooga store called Southeastern Salvage. I also used it for my dining room curtain rods.” The hand-pinched cups and bowls are by Trish Riley. Tara created the wall’s textured pattern by running over the wet plaster with a metal comb. Wood, ceramic, and brass–the tea kettle is a souvenir from a trip to New Orleans. The amber jar is an Apothecary candle by Paddywax, a Tennessee company that Beth says makes earthy, subtle scents that she swears by as pick-me-ups. Stoppered Ceramic Bottles by Vitrified Studio are each stamped with the name of a spice. The gray wall ends in an open pantry. A tall-windowed space off the kitchen is just big enough for Beth’s computer area. To keep up with all of Beth Kirby’s doings, including suppers, workshops, and a forthcoming styling and photography retreat in Venice, go to Local Milk and her just-launched site, Local Milk Retreats. A glimpse of the kitchen as it was.