Crafting a Dream Kitchen
Crafting a Dream Kitchen
How designer Renae Keller incorporates high-quality quartz countertops and thoughtful design details to create spaces clients can’t wait to come home to.
Written by: Angela Johnson
Inside a designer-curated kitchen for custom homebuilding or renovation inspiration. Cambria design shown: Ella™
In a home designed for a busy young family, interior designer Renae Keller ensured every element of this kitchen speaks to both practicality and elegance. The result is a space that balances bold design decisions with subtle details, creating an environment where functionality and style superbly coexist.
How designer Renae Keller incorporates high-quality quartz countertops and thoughtful design details to create spaces clients can’t wait to come home to.
Written by: Angela Johnson
Inside a designer-curated kitchen for custom homebuilding or renovation inspiration. Cambria design shown: Ella™
In a home designed for a busy young family, interior designer Renae Keller ensured every element of this kitchen speaks to both practicality and elegance. The result is a space that balances bold design decisions with subtle details, creating an environment where functionality and style superbly coexist.
Benefits of Working with a Pro
Color plays a pivotal role here, particularly in the aforementioned scullery. After testing several shades of blue, the team landed on Sea Mariner from Sherwin Williams—a moody yet approachable blue. Paired with creamy-colored trim and punctuated by satin gold fixtures, the palette strikes a balance between masculine depth and feminine softness. The result is a kitchen that feels cohesive yet layered, a study in nuanced design.
Design decisions like these can be overwhelming for busy homeowners. This is why hiring interior design experts like Keller ensures a smoother process, helping to curate a home that is beautiful, functional, and deeply personal without the stress of trying to manage every detail on your own.
Keller says, “I built a house with my husband six years ago, and I am glad we did, because we lived through it. I had decision fatigue. I had a pit in my stomach over the budget.” She experienced a lot of what she knows her clients might be feeling and she prepares them for the emotional rollercoaster of building or remodeling.
The Design Process
“You start out thinking this is great,” says Keller. “You will have really happy moments, but also some hard decisions to make. Then there will be a quiet time when the decisions are made and you’re sick of dining out. It can even get frustrating if items you decided on are
discontinued or delayed. We once lost a sofa because of a hurricane. The company went bankrupt and that was that. But we try to be good stewards of your time and money—to help you stay the course and see that it’s going to be great.”
Keller’s ability to help clients overcome their design “hangups” is another way she delivers spectacular spaces. For example, she understands someone may have spent hours removing wallpaper when they were in their 20s and their wife was pregnant, and now they have kneejerk reactions to wallpaper. But Keller assures people that when installed properly by a professional, it won’t be stressful, and it will be beautiful.
Benefits of Working with a Pro
Color plays a pivotal role here, particularly in the aforementioned scullery. After testing several shades of blue, the team landed on Sea Mariner from Sherwin Williams—a moody yet approachable blue. Paired with creamy-colored trim and punctuated by satin gold fixtures, the palette strikes a balance between masculine depth and feminine softness. The result is a kitchen that feels cohesive yet layered, a study in nuanced design.
Design decisions like these can be overwhelming for busy homeowners. This is why hiring interior design experts like Keller ensures a smoother process, helping to curate a home that is beautiful, functional, and deeply personal without the stress of trying to manage every detail on your own.
Keller says, “I built a house with my husband six years ago, and I am glad we did, because we lived through it. I had decision fatigue. I had a pit in my stomach over the budget.” She experienced a lot of what she knows her clients might be feeling and she prepares them for the emotional rollercoaster of building or remodeling.
The Design Process
“You start out thinking this is great,” says Keller. “You will have really happy moments, but also some hard decisions to make. Then there will be a quiet time when the decisions are made and you’re sick of dining out. It can even get frustrating if items you decided on are
discontinued or delayed. We once lost a sofa because of a hurricane. The company went bankrupt and that was that. But we try to be good stewards of your time and money—to help you stay the course and see that it’s going to be great.”
Keller’s ability to help clients overcome their design “hangups” is another way she delivers spectacular spaces. For example, she understands someone may have spent hours removing wallpaper when they were in their 20s and their wife was pregnant, and now they have kneejerk reactions to wallpaper. But Keller assures people that when installed properly by a professional, it won’t be stressful, and it will be beautiful.
The Finished Product
Every designer wants their clients to be happy, and that means when they see and use something as integral to their home as their countertops, it’s important to help guide them to a selection they’ll love. “I’ve said how Ella is a great choice,” says Keller, “and it will always be a great choice for me.”
“We actually just did a project for another client with Cambria’s Ironsbridge™. They've been in their home for 18 years and it was just time for a change. We took out the granite, and installed Ironsbridge and she is so happy. The design looks kind of like a glacier moving across the countertop. It looks amazing with the cabinetry. Everything is just so much brighter in there. And the polished finish is easy for her to keep clean when the grandchildren are around.”
Discover More
Get our beautifully curated collection of lifestyle stories, interior design trends, and expert advice sent straight to your home and email inbox with a complimentary subscription to Cambria Style magazine.
Ready to explore Cambria quartz designs in person? Contact a Cambria consultant or use our retail locator to find a professional in your area for project support and planning, material selection, or visualizing what’s possible.
The Finished Product
Every designer wants their clients to be happy, and that means when they see and use something as integral to their home as their countertops, it’s important to help guide them to a selection they’ll love. “I’ve said how Ella is a great choice,” says Keller, “and it will always be a great choice for me.”
“We actually just did a project for another client with Cambria’s Ironsbridge™. They've been in their home for 18 years and it was just time for a change. We took out the granite, and installed Ironsbridge and she is so happy. The design looks kind of like a glacier moving across the countertop. It looks amazing with the cabinetry. Everything is just so much brighter in there. And the polished finish is easy for her to keep clean when the grandchildren are around.”
Discover More
Get our beautifully curated collection of lifestyle stories, interior design trends, and expert advice sent straight to your home and email inbox with a complimentary subscription to Cambria Style magazine.
Ready to explore Cambria quartz designs in person? Contact a Cambria consultant or use our retail locator to find a professional in your area for project support and planning, material selection, or visualizing what’s possible.
