The project

A kitchen built around dark stone and wood

This Westlake kitchen pairs deep brown cabinetry with a full-height dark stone backsplash and matching stone counters. A custom wood hood anchors the cooking wall, and light under the upper cabinets brings out the veining in the stone.

Project overview

A dark, textured kitchen in Westlake

ATX Renovations remodeled this kitchen in Westlake, in the Austin area. The finished room is built on contrast: dark-stained cabinetry, a dark stone backsplash with pale veining, and warm light that shows the grain and texture of both.

Our founder, Gazi Kose, is personally involved in every ATX project. In a kitchen with this many dark surfaces, finish selections and lighting decide how the room feels, so those choices get careful attention before anything is ordered.

Scope of work

What the finished kitchen includes

These are the elements visible in the completed kitchen.

Cabinetry and millwork

Dark-stained shaker-style cabinets run along the cooking wall and the sink wall, with crown molding on the tall uppers and small recessed pulls that keep the door fronts clean.

Stone counters and backsplash

Dark veined stone covers the counters and rises as a full-height backsplash behind the cooktop, so the range wall reads as one continuous surface.

Custom range hood

A tapered wood hood in the same dark finish as the cabinets sits over the cooktop, with a stainless liner and built-in lights.

Wall ovens and appliances

Stainless double wall ovens are stacked in a tall cabinet, and a stainless refrigerator and dishwasher sit near the sink.

Pull-out storage

Base cabinets open to roll-out shelves with wood interiors for pots and pans, which keeps heavy cookware at drawer height.

Layered lighting

Light under the upper cabinets washes the stone, and recessed ceiling lights cover the rest of the room.

Materials and design details

The finishes in this Westlake kitchen

The cabinets carry a dark brown stain that lets the wood grain show through, with simple five-piece door fronts and small metal pulls set flush into the doors and drawers. The effect is quiet rather than decorative, which suits the strength of the stone.

The stone is a dark gray with pale, branching veins and a slightly textured surface. It is used for both the counters and the backsplash, and a wooden bowl and a few pieces of fruit are enough to bring color to it. Medium-brown hardwood floors keep the room warm underfoot.

At the sink, a dark undermount basin and a stainless arched faucet sit under a window with white shutters. The white trim around the window is the one bright note on an otherwise dark wall.

Planning a dark kitchen

Dark finishes need good light

Dark cabinets and stone can look different in morning daylight and in the evening, so material selections are reviewed with you and documented before ordering. Under-cabinet light, recessed fixtures and a lit hood are what keep a dark kitchen comfortable to cook in.

If you are weighing a similar palette for your own home, a free consultation is a good place to talk through stone, stain and lighting together.

Related services