We feature the stunning kitchen in the home of Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE, wife Mary Reames Rinehart and their family of five. It was designed by ONYX + ALABASTER in Franklin, Tennessee. While it doesn’t have high ceilings or a large footprint, O+A made intentional design selections that brought the light and texture in to create a space where people want to gather.
“This is not one of the larger kitchens we’ve designed, but it’s one of the most stylish,” says Tanya Hembree, founder and principal designer at ONYX + ALABASTER. “Bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to kitchens.” We didn’t pop the roof; but rather embraced the bones of the space and maximized what was already there,” says Hembree.
With larger windows, particularly the one over the sink, natural light floods the space and carries into the adjoining rooms, making it feel more expansive and layered than its actual footprint.
Rather than adding upper cabinetry, which can visually lower ceilings, O+A opted for layered painted brick veneer and custom floating shelves along the range wall. This approach keeps the kitchen visually open, echoes brick details found throughout the home, and reinforces a sense of flow and calm, while the open shelving maintains a balanced, welcoming feel.
A stunning waterfall soapstone island anchors the kitchen, supporting conversation and connection in the midst of the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. Comfortable leather seating softens the stone, signaling that this is a place to linger, not just pass through.
At ONYX + ALABASTER, spaces are designed not around square footage, but around connection, hospitality, and the people who gather there. ONYX + ALABASTER is located inside a restored 1890s building on the square in downtown Franklin. They are a full-service interior design studio, a thoughtfully curated home market, and a designer coffee lounge — three distinct experiences woven together by a single vision: to help people live beautifully.
