Casey Keasler is the founder of Casework, a Portland-based interior design studio. Known for her calm, comforting, and airy style, Casey always brings special touches inspired by her clients’ taste and aspirations to her residential and commercial projects. Her latest project, a complete kitchen renovation, is full of noteworthy details. Then again, it is the home of a very special client: her mother, Mary Keasler, an award-winning textile artist. The loft already had many of the things Mary was looking for in a home, but it lacked a comfortable kitchen, one where she could cook and eventually welcome company. Casey set out to transform the space into everything her mother wanted—and needed in a kitchen.
Mary purchased her loft in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2014, with the hopes of embracing a more urban lifestyle with closer access to markets and local restaurants. The loft features 14-foot ceilings, exposed brick, original maple floors, and plenty of natural light. However, its industrial-style kitchen lacked warmth and coziness. Mary, who has plenty of renovation experience of her own, having renovated six kitchens and five homes over the course of 40 years, sought Casey’s help.
Full circle: Casey Keasler was first inspired to become a designer as a child, as she grew up watching her mother's successful career in textile design and interior renovations.
“When she mentioned being ready to remodel her own kitchen, I was excited and honored, for the first time we were working as designer and client. As a child, I would tag along to design showrooms and site visits and I believe it’s where my love for interiors and transformation began,” recalls Casey.
With plenty of vintage from her mother's collection to display, Casey worked to create a space that combined classic character with a modern feel.
Collaborating closely over Zoom in the early days of the pandemic, Casey started the project by working through the vision and measurements. Knowing her mother was a lover of antiques, she wanted to move in the opposite direction of industrial and infuse the space with lightness and charm.
With time, the kitchen evolved into having a more traditional farmhouse look and feel with creamy white cabinetry, white walls, and beautiful brass details. In the center of the space, a 12-foot kitchen island, features a pair of our Eastmoreland Pendants adding a classic vintage look. To bring guests together and make sure everyone has a seat, Casey added several of our solid walnut Shaw Counter Stools.
Solid walnut stools balance the brass fixtures, grounding the space by blending with the existing wood flooring.
Every kitchen needs multiple layers of light and Casey didn’t stop with the kitchen pendants. Our Imbrie Articulating Sconces spotlight an elegant display of Mary’s antique dishes, vessels, and decor perched atop a custom shelf complete with our Arched Shelf Brackets.
Casey brought a light and airy feel to the kitchen by matching opal glass shades on both her Imbrie Sconces and Eastmoreland Pendants—diffusing the lighting to emit a warm glow across the countertops and kitchen island.
Adding a gleaming touch across the whole space, they went with cabinet hardware from our Vernon and Mission Hardware Collections. Two of our bestselling collections, each comes with drawer pulls available in multiple sizes, along with knobs and appliance pulls.
Solid brass details tie the space together—our Aged Brass finish pairs across Casey's hardware and lighting selections to create a cohesive look.
If you’re embarking on your own kitchen renovation, our Design Crew is always here to help. Experts on the details of all of our products, they’re able to provide free help with measurements for lighting, give advice on selecting finishes, and answer all your upholstery questions. Get started on your next project today—simply book a free appointment: virtual, in-home, and in-store options available.