Cozy in the Countryside

This small cottage kitchen brings together a simple, light, and airy European feel and creative, thoughtful functionality for a bright, open, and welcoming space.

-  LAURA SHIMKO

Sometimes, less is truly more.

In her 840-square-foot, countryside cottage in Oakdale, California, Rendi Trent found her love of home design as a result of figuring out how to balance style and practicality for her family of six.

“’ Living little’ requires functional design and utilizing every space,” the designer says. “I just started naturally creating spaces and organization for our family as we grew in our modest home, and it developed into an absolute love affair of design.”

Built-in 1954, their country home was in desperate need of updating. Taking on a completely DIY remodel project, Rendi and her husband, along with the help of a cousin, transformed their small kitchen from dark and drab to a bright and welcoming space brimming with simple, European charm.

LABOR OF LOVE

When Rendi and her husband began their kitchen remodel, Rendi had a vision for what she hoped to achieve.

“I wanted it to feel larger than it is, but still cozy and inviting, with lots of natural light, airy and bright,” she says.

To accomplish this goal, they tore the whole kitchen down to the studs and reworked the layout. They removed the dividing wall between the kitchen and living room to allow for a large dining table that doubles as an island.

“We wanted the extra space and sense of connection with the open concept,” Rendi explains.

Ensuring the space was functional is a key part of Rendi’s design.