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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 31, 2019
LYNDA REEVES EXPLORES A RECIPE THAT MIXES IT UP.
Kitchen design has a way of bringing out strong opinions in many of us. Everyone has their view on exactly what they don’t like, plus a list of things they’re considering but wonder about. The investment is always big and the results permanent, so deciding what materials to use is especially critical in a kitchen renovation. Inevitably, the kitchens I gravitate to are handsome, with some classic detailing, heavy polished hardware, some feature appliances like a great range, a mix of painted and natural wood cabinets and always counters and backsplashes of natural stone — soapstone, granite, slate or marble — plus oiled or varnished woods. For the longest time, I’ve only ever considered real marble with a honed or half-honed finish for my own kitchen designs. Believing that imperfections and the inevitable scratches and stains would only enhance the patina of honed marble counters, I wouldn’t even consider a man-made alternative. But then, I also thought that jeans had to be 100 per cent cotton denim with no synthetic mix, and only pure linen pants would do, no matter how much better a little bit of Lycra could make them fit. I’ve totally changed my tune, just in time to avoid a dinosaur designation, because not seeing the huge advantages of today’s alternative materials would be crazy. Engineered stone is any man-made materialthat mimics stone. Itincludes brand names such as Caesarstone and Silestone, both manufactured from quartz and resin. The advantage to these surfaces is that they aren’t porous so they don’t absorb liquid, they don’t stain and rarely scratch, and they come in a huge number of great finishes with a wide range of textures and colours, including subtle shades from nature. You can create a larger surface with no seams than you can using natural stone. Even the biggest real marble slabs won’t cover a whole kitchen without multiple seams. The granddaddy of all composite solid surfaces is Corian, DuPont’s brand name for its groundbreaking material that debuted in 1971, which is now offered in more than 100 colours and can be installed to look virtually seamless.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 30, 2019
A relaxed approach to contemporary coastal style brings a sense of ease to this Palm Beach estate.
Cocktail dresses and formally arranged table settings are one way to throw a party, but sometimes entertaining is about inviting your guests to kick their feet up on the ottoman, throwing open the French doors to welcome in the breeze, and sharing wine and conversation while you chop vegetables at the kitchen island.That laidback—yet still elegant—approach to entertaining is exactly what interior designer Jennifer Knowles envisioned when she outfitted the interiors of this waterfront Florida home built by Malasky Homes. “Palm Beach has very classic leanings, and the people here love to entertain,” Knowles says. “We wanted to be in keeping with that classic approach while bridging the gap between casual and formal.” The inviting atmosphere begins at the front entrance, where guests are greeted by a “welcoming arms” staircase, a hallmark of the Bermudan architectural style that defines the home’s exterior. Inside, lengthy rooms, such as the 32-foot-long formal living room, are divided into intimate groupings to facilitate conversation. Generous windows, French doors, and balconies offer remarkable views of the Intracoastal Waterway on three sides and welcome the Florida sunshine into every room. “The entire house truly is awash in light,” Knowles says. “It doesn’t matter what time of day you’re there.” Rich millwork details and intricate ceiling treatments draw the eye upward to visually expand relatively low ceilings, a height requirement set by Palm Beach’s architectural review board. In fact, the first-floor ceilings top off at just a little under 10 feet, but exquisite millwork—such as the Art Deco-inspired pattern on the living room ceiling—stretches the visual height of rooms. Though the details are elaborate, Knowles achieved a crisp, clean look by painting each ceiling white. Walnut herringbone floors and tailored furnishings reinforce the home’s classic sensibility, while dashes of modern flair, supplied by abstract art and polished-nickel accents, prevent the home from feeling too traditional. “Mixing contemporary touches with classic lines keeps it fresh and timeless,” Knowles says. The result is a home that effortlessly toggles between black-tie events and impromptu gatherings with friends. “You’re sitting on the sofa looking out to the pool, then beyond to the water and the beautiful boats,” Knowles says. “You put your feet up on the upholstered ottoman and you just don’t want to leave.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 30, 2019
A relaxed approach to contemporary coastal style brings a sense of ease to this Palm Beach estate.
Cocktail dresses and formally arranged table settings are one way to throw a party, but sometimes entertaining is about inviting your guests to kick their feet up on the ottoman, throwing open the French doors to welcome in the breeze, and sharing wine and conversation while you chop vegetables at the kitchen island.That laidback—yet still elegant—approach to entertaining is exactly what interior designer Jennifer Knowles envisioned when she outfitted the interiors of this waterfront Florida home built by Malasky Homes. “Palm Beach has very classic leanings, and the people here love to entertain,” Knowles says. “We wanted to be in keeping with that classic approach while bridging the gap between casual and formal.” The inviting atmosphere begins at the front entrance, where guests are greeted by a “welcoming arms” staircase, a hallmark of the Bermudan architectural style that defines the home’s exterior. Inside, lengthy rooms, such as the 32-foot-long formal living room, are divided into intimate groupings to facilitate conversation. Generous windows, French doors, and balconies offer remarkable views of the Intracoastal Waterway on three sides and welcome the Florida sunshine into every room. “The entire house truly is awash in light,” Knowles says. “It doesn’t matter what time of day you’re there.” Rich millwork details and intricate ceiling treatments draw the eye upward to visually expand relatively low ceilings, a height requirement set by Palm Beach’s architectural review board. In fact, the first-floor ceilings top off at just a little under 10 feet, but exquisite millwork—such as the Art Deco-inspired pattern on the living room ceiling—stretches the visual height of rooms. Though the details are elaborate, Knowles achieved a crisp, clean look by painting each ceiling white. Walnut herringbone floors and tailored furnishings reinforce the home’s classic sensibility, while dashes of modern flair, supplied by abstract art and polished-nickel accents, prevent the home from feeling too traditional. “Mixing contemporary touches with classic lines keeps it fresh and timeless,” Knowles says. The result is a home that effortlessly toggles between black-tie events and impromptu gatherings with friends. “You’re sitting on the sofa looking out to the pool, then beyond to the water and the beautiful boats,” Knowles says. “You put your feet up on the upholstered ottoman and you just don’t want to leave.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 29, 2019
A thoughtful renovation finds the sweet spot between architectural heritage and modern-day convenience.
Ben and Jenna Sietsema’s newly purchased 1921 Dutch Colonial had a lot going for it— especially if you didn’t venture inside. Located on a channel between two lakes and backing up to 12 acres of wooded park, the house with its barnlike gambrel roof and flared eaves turned heads in an East Grand Rapids, Michigan, neighborhood of traditionalstyle homes. “The lines of the home were just terrific, so the goal was to keep the exterior as close to the original as possible while updating the interiors,” says interior designer Jean Stoffer, who teamed with architect Jeff Visser on the project.The directives: Play up the farmhouse feel in a light-filled, modern way and connect the interiors with their nature-rich surrounds. New shutters, copper gutters, asphalt shingles, and a front porch honor the architecture’s roots, while a fresh coat of black paint on the rebuilt sunroom and window muntins provides a subtle modern twist. Determined to minimize additions, Visser bumped out the garage to add a large mudroom, then reconfigured space (including a large 1990s addition) to improve flow. Updating the back exterior with three sets of French doors, a screen porch, and an outdoor kitchen achieved the couple’s desire to better engage the house with the land. Inside, Stoffer balanced requests for welcoming, kid-friendly spaces with Jenna’s modern preferences and Ben’s rustic bent. Reclaimed beams kick-started the design, bringing a warmth that made Ben and Jenna feel at home. Engineered European white-oak floors, worryfree quartz countertops, and fingerprint-disguising navy kitchen cabinetry bolster a stylish yet carefree mood. Throughout the home, design dances between classic and modern. Inset flat-panel kitchen cabinetry, wall moldings, and a limestone fireplace keep one foot in the past; a stunning waterfall countertop, a mix of dazzling light fixtures, and a palette of charcoals, blues, and greens move to a more contemporary beat. “What we really enjoy about the house is that it’s sophisticated in some ways, yet at the end of the day it is warm and practical—not pretentious,” Ben says.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 28, 2019
Designer Brian Gluckstein outdoes himself with a must-see showhome that holdsthe promise of life well lived.
Like the glamorous lead in a classic Hollywood film,this year’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Home Lottery Showhome makes an alluring firstimpression: it greets you in a dramatic fashion and dazzles you with gorgeous looks, butis careful notto give away too much,too fast. From the extratall foyer justinside the front door, a tiger-print rug worthy of Lana Turner can be glimpsed in the home office across the hallway. “It’s similar to a carpet I had in my New York City apartment years ago,” says designer Brian Gluckstein. The scene beckons visitors forward untilthe 6,700-square-foot home’s elegant main floor is revealed through a procession of grey-trimmed archways. “The house is quite open, but I didn’t want you to see everything as soon as you walk in,” says Brian. In design, as in the movies, a little mystery goes a long way. Set on a corner lotin a leafy neighbourhood of south Oakville, Ont.,the five-bedroom,two-storey house is loosely inspired by French Normandy style. In less than eight months, Brian expertly tempered the interior’s open layout by creating defined living spaces with purpose. He pulled in some walls (to create a centre courtyard) and pushed out others (the great room is generously sized and self-contained), varied ceiling heights and balanced bright, lofty spaces with cosy, moodier rooms. Nearly every surface received its own treatment, from washable murals in the kitchen to a grey wall covering on the dining room ceiling to graphic floor tiles in the foyer. Grey-washed white oak floors with a scraped finish quietly tie together the showstopping elements.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 28, 2019
Designer Brian Gluckstein outdoes himself with a must-see showhome that holdsthe promise of life well lived.
Like the glamorous lead in a classic Hollywood film,this year’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Home Lottery Showhome makes an alluring firstimpression: it greets you in a dramatic fashion and dazzles you with gorgeous looks, butis careful notto give away too much,too fast. From the extratall foyer justinside the front door, a tiger-print rug worthy of Lana Turner can be glimpsed in the home office across the hallway. “It’s similar to a carpet I had in my New York City apartment years ago,” says designer Brian Gluckstein. The scene beckons visitors forward untilthe 6,700-square-foot home’s elegant main floor is revealed through a procession of grey-trimmed archways. “The house is quite open, but I didn’t want you to see everything as soon as you walk in,” says Brian. In design, as in the movies, a little mystery goes a long way. Set on a corner lotin a leafy neighbourhood of south Oakville, Ont.,the five-bedroom,two-storey house is loosely inspired by French Normandy style. In less than eight months, Brian expertly tempered the interior’s open layout by creating defined living spaces with purpose. He pulled in some walls (to create a centre courtyard) and pushed out others (the great room is generously sized and self-contained), varied ceiling heights and balanced bright, lofty spaces with cosy, moodier rooms. Nearly every surface received its own treatment, from washable murals in the kitchen to a grey wall covering on the dining room ceiling to graphic floor tiles in the foyer. Grey-washed white oak floors with a scraped finish quietly tie together the showstopping elements.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 26, 2019
A large single-storey extension and some careful replanning has unlocked the potential of Lizzy and Ricky Stringer’s terrace.
Like many London buyers, Lizzy and Ricky Stringer could only step up the property ladder by taking on a project. Having already moved the bathroom upstairs and created a bigger kitchen in their previous home, they were keen to renovate again on a larger scale when a Victorian villa came up for sale in Dulwich. ‘I looked past the dated decor and noticed the high ceilings, generous room sizes and beautiful wide staircase,’ says Lizzy. ‘I knew we could strip everything back and start again.’ As they wanted to get the work done straight away, the plans were drawn up during the buying process. ‘We submitted them the day after we exchanged contracts,’ says Lizzy, ‘and the builders started upstairs while we waited for planning permission.’ Luckily, the couple were able to rent a friend’s flat nearby for four months, visiting the site three times a week. Work started in summer 2018, with damaged picture and dado rails replaced and reclaimed fireplaces sourced for the bedrooms, while new wood-effect sash windows replicated the originals. ‘Unfortunately, the only thing that is original is the brown stone fire surround in the snug,’ says Lizzy. The rear section of the house has been remodelled by knocking together the kitchen and dining room, demolishing the lean-to and extending into the side return and rear garden to create a 30ft kitchen-diner with a new utility room and downstairs cloakroom. In the master bedroom, the original floorboards were restored and a reclaimed fireplace was installed, along with panelling and bespoke alcove wardrobes. ‘We tried to bring it back to the period,’ says Lizzy. ‘Our builder did a great job with the panelling, which he recreated from Pinterest pictures I showed him.’ Reconfiguring the layout of the bathroom, which had a shower over the bath, proved challenging. ‘We spent a long time in there with the builder and a tape measure but couldn’t work out how to fit in a walk-in shower and a freestanding bath,’ says Lizzy. ‘In the end, we had to move the door.’ When it came to the decor, Lizzy describes her style as classic London chic. ‘I love places like Soho Home, so have bought pieces from its collection, such as its Burleigh pottery,’ she says. ‘The neutral tones at Daylesford’s cottages and spa retreat have also given me ideas for the soft greys and whites in the sitting room. However, I think you can go a bit more dramatic in smaller spaces like I’ve done with the bathroom.’ Although the project was completed on time, there were several issues that pushed the couple over their budget. ‘We had to replace all the rotten joists and flooring in the hallway and sitting room, and it cost extra to reroute the pipework to a new manhole cover in the garden,’ explains Lizzy. ‘We also invested in a new front door as the stained glass fell out of the flimsy original one, and we spent a bit more than initially planned on the kitchen and on good-quality windows.’ Despite the overspend, the couple are pleased with their finished home. ‘I love how quiet and private it is at the back of the house, and the new space is great for New Year’s Eve parties and summer barbecues,’ says Lizzy. ‘We’re lucky enough to have parking, which is unusual for London, so it’s ideal for commuting. The area is lovely with lots going on, so we don’t see ourselves moving anytime soon.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 25, 2019
Sam and Guy Dawson have lived a back and forth life together for the past 14 years. Guy’s work as a non-executive director means being based in London, and Sam had ties to Hove where she lived with her children, Holly and Charlie, now 22 and 20. When the couple bought this Victorian London townhouse four years ago, a Bob Dylan print in an art gallery sparked Sam’s decorating ideas. ‘I instantly loved its blend of dusky pinks, deep purples and blues – and these colours became the inspiration for our whole house,’ she says. ‘I’m amused that the print is called Train Tracks, as it aptly portrays my life travelling to and from London to see Guy.’ For a couple of years, the artwork sat in Sam’s Hove home while she and Guy renovated the London property. Although the house had been extended, it was narrow and they wanted to maximise the space. The lower ground floor was a main focus, with no flow between the kitchen, dining room and family room. Sam got in touch with Woodmans Construction, who had worked on the couple’s previous house projects. ‘The team have always been faultless so there was no doubt we’d use them,’ says Sam. The owner suggested contacting Granit Architecture for expert space-planning, and they advised knocking through walls and rotating the staircase to enlarge the kitchen. ‘It was a fantastic solution,’ says Sam. ‘Now we walk down into the family room and see straight into the garden, with a glass balustrade making the space feel open.’ Granit’s architects and interiors team also advised on the configuration and design of the kitchen, a bespoke build by River Woodwork, and enlarged the master en suite with joinery custom designed and built to fit the space. When it came to planning the decoration, Sam and Guy called on Ingrid Parnis of Equilibrio Interiors, a designer they knew from holidays in Portugal. ‘I’ve always been drawn to colour and patterned fabrics, but with so much choice, I’ve played it safe,’ says Sam. ‘I’d seen Ingrid’s approach in friends’ holiday houses and love the way she uses bright tones to bring a space to life – it makes rooms feel fresh and light.’ Straight away, Sam showed the Bob Dylan print to Ingrid, who suggested a selection of contemporary print upholstery fabrics drawing on the purples and pinks in the picture. ‘One of Ingrid’s choices was the same fabric I had used for curtains before, but in a different colourway,’ explains Sam. ‘I was delighted as it was clear that Ingrid was exactly on my wavelength.’ Design talks continued as the house was stripped back, and a friend suggested Sam contact Farrow & Ball colour consultant Joa Studholme to help choose paintshades. ‘Joa has a brilliant eye for the nuance of colours,’ says Sam. ‘She looked at each room, the light and the fabrics and then put together a colour specification for the whole house.’ When Sam and Guy moved back into their home 18 months later, all the work was complete. ‘Ingrid has a fantastic team who do everything, even hanging the curtains – it’s all very seamless,’ says Sam. ‘The colours and furniture make this house feel so much more contemporary and more “like me” than any other place I’ve lived in,’ she adds. ‘Downstairs seems significantly bigger – some of our friends think we extended – but we’re simply using every inch of space we already had.
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 22, 2019
S am and Guy Dawson have lived a back and forth life together for the past 14 years. Guy’s work as a non-executive director means being based in London, and Sam had ties to Hove where she lived with her children, Holly and Charlie, now 22 and 20. When the couple bought this Victorian London townhouse four years ago, a Bob Dylan print in an art gallery sparked Sam’s decorating ideas. ‘I instantly loved its blend of dusky pinks, deep purples and blues – and these colours became the inspiration for our whole house,’ she says. ‘I’m amused that the print is called Train Tracks, as it aptly portrays my life travelling to and from London to see Guy.’ For a couple of years, the artwork sat in Sam’s Hove home while she and Guy renovated the London property. Although the house had been extended, it was narrow and they wanted to maximise the space. The lower ground floor was a main focus, with no flow between the kitchen, dining room and family room. Sam got in touch with Woodmans Construction, who had worked on the couple’s previous house projects. ‘The team have always been faultless so there was no doubt we’d use them,’ says Sam. The owner suggested contacting Granit Architecture for expert space-planning, and they advised knocking through walls and rotating the staircase to enlarge the kitchen. ‘It was a fantastic solution,’ says Sam. ‘Now we walk down into the family room and see straight into the garden, with a glass balustrade making the space feel open.’ Granit’s architects and interiors team also advised on the configuration and
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 21, 2019
Practicality was paramount for Charlotte and Leigh Bowen, but they still managed to combine clean looks with good design
After buying an unremarkable seaside Sixties bungalow on the West Sussex coast that was in need of serious TLC, Charlotte and Leigh Bowen were confident they could turn it into a coastal home packed with style. ‘We wanted a home here as it’s a special place to us,’ says Charlotte, a design consultant who works with husband Leigh, an eco architect, at their practice, 50 Degrees North. The couple may have had a head start in terms of design skills, but they still needed to do plenty of research, and find the right team to create a home for themselves and their children, Phoebe,15, Nesta,12, and Felix,10. ‘We didn’t have a fortune to spend doing it up, but we wanted to do it properly so we didn’t rush anything.’ After buying the property in November 2015, knowing they were going to extend into the roof space to provide two extra bedrooms as well as two more bathrooms, they went through a year of planning and building before moving in almost three years ago. Throughout the house every little detail has been carefully thought out. ‘The eco credentials of a property are very important to us, and we’ve clad the exterior in Siberian larch, which will weather well, and the roof and windows are zinc,’ explains Charlotte. ‘We’ve totally insulated the house, plus put down underfloor heating everywhere so it’s as energy efficient as possible.’ Uncomplicated design is at the core of the couple’s plans.Where possible, they have gone for ultra-simple surfaces. ‘We wanted wooden floors everywhere and
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FOLLOW A PATH UP FROM THE OCEAN
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
Across a sandy beach and rocky lava fields, and you’ll reach it: a vacation home tucked into the coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, where stark simplicity provides a respite from the area’s prevailing tropical colors. “When we took on the project,the clients told us right away thatthey’re minimalists at heart,” says San Francisco– based designerCatherine Kwong. “That’s an easy thing to do in a big city loft, but we had to figure out, how did that translate to a house that’s open to the elements? And how do we make it a kind of place where people wantto unwind?” Kwong and her team worked with the home’s architect, Shay Zak of Zak Architecture, to lay an ideal foundation, using hard-wearing, weather-friendly materials like Alaskan yellow cedar and basalt (a.k.a. lava stone) to create a clean-lined structure where the indoors and outdoors—temperatures hover in the balmy mid-80s yearround—flowed easily into one another. For Kwong, the challenge was to bring in furnishings and decor that would make it feel relaxed, not austere.
Her answer: layer, layer, layer. “It’s a neutral color palette,” she says, referring to everything from the textiles (a mix of grays and ivories) to the artwork (all black and white, and all behind UV-filtering glass), “but it incorporates different types of media. The materials and fabrics all have a tactile hand, which makes it seem cozier.” Even the white paint that was used on all of the interior walls was chosen with warmth in mind. “The lighting on the Big Island is really bright, so we didn’t want a pure white,” Kwong explains. “We spent months testing out colors and ended up with Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee—actually a super-popular color that has a little softness to it.” And while the idea of white anything in a beach house occupied by two adults with two little kids might cause hesitation, Kwong assures that the pieces she chose—from the beige hemp rugs to indoor-outdoor canvas cushions on the dining chairs—are totally family-friendly. “We made sure to balance the client’s minimalist aesthetic with how a beach house is actually used,” says Kwong. “It’s not a place where people are worried about tracking in sand!”
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by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
AT FIRST, THEY ignored it. “When I bought the house, it was sort of just there,” says textile designer John Robshaw of the old barn a former owner had attached to the side of his 1840s farmhouse in Sharon, Connecticut. “I was using it as a print studio.” He and his wife, Rachel, finished a gut renovation of the main house before realizing their mistake. “I had guests coming over, and I didn’t have a bathroom downstairs— which my mother kept complaining about,” Robshaw recalls. So, with the help of architect Colby Wong and decorator Sara Bengur, Robshaw set about transforming the single-floor barn into what he describes as a “library, loungey, everything living space.” After wiring for electricity and heat, it was filled with pieces from his showrooms (like a pair of bookcases inspired by an Istanbul mosque) and extensive travels (he goes to India at least twice a year), and, of course, plenty of one-of-a-kind textiles. “It’s always fun looking through my warehouse’s excess fabrics—dye lots might be off or we made too much—and seeing what works,” Robshaw says. The added sleeper sofa, powder room, and outdoor shower made it visitor-ready: “My parents can get to this easier than the main house’s upstairs bathrooms—plus, everyone needs an outdoor shower in the country!”
Powder Room Robshaw used his own Diba Sapphire wallpaper in the petite space, along with a custom chik blind backed in a printed fabric
Extra Seating Benches by Robshaw offer hidden storage—and are choice sleeping spots for visiting nieces and nephews.
Entryway In the hallway that connects the barn with the main house, Robshaw placed a Syrian inlaid chair atop Tuareg rugs. He collects Indian ancestor paintings, like the one that hangs here.
Outdoor Shower Because there wasn’t enough room to fit a full bathroom, Robshaw installed a showerhead in a private area outside.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
This airy New York kitchen was born out of the backyard—and acts like a playground. By Hadley Keller
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT– turned-designer Sarah Robertson always approaches her projects with a can-do mindset. Take this 1910 Queen Anne home in New York’s Westchester County. Originally, it held a dark and cramped kitchen. The backyard, on the other hand, was totally dreamy. So the owners reached out to Robertson, whose firm, Studio Dearborn, has specialized in kitchens for more than a decade. Working with Stoll & Stoll Architects, she moved the kitchen to the back of the house, where it looks out onto the greenery. To make the room feel expansive, they bumped up the roofline to create a wood-paneled tray ceiling and added eight windows. Robertson assigned storage to lower cabinets, drawers, and one wall. “We wanted that open connection to the backyard,” she explains, “and I like to maximize storage.” Here, everything has its place, alltucked within the cabinetsRobertson designed with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, the undercabinetry painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray. “It’s a historic house, so this color felt more right than white,” says the designer, who opted for modern hardware by Foundryman and DLV Design for “a cleaner, transitional vibe.” With a view this nice, why ever go outside?
Countertop Storage “We wanted to make it feel cohesive,” Robertson says of the full wall of cabinetry. Pull-down panels—complete with brass hardware by Foundryman—hide small appliances.
Built-In Pantry Snacks take up lots of space, so Robertson devised a pantry with tray shelves (which pull out so items in the far back are easily accessible) to stash all manner of dry goods.
Custom Drawers Robertson designs all her cabinets with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, an Amish company in Ohio. This pull-out caddy for cooking utensils is conveniently situated beside the range.
Hidden Brilliance Rather than taking up another drawer, a drying rack and cutting board are stashed between lower cabinets—they slide out easily thanks to sturdy leather pulls.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
This airy New York kitchen was born out of the backyard—and acts like a playground. By Hadley Keller
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT– turned-designer Sarah Robertson always approaches her projects with a can-do mindset. Take this 1910 Queen Anne home in New York’s Westchester County. Originally, it held a dark and cramped kitchen. The backyard, on the other hand, was totally dreamy. So the owners reached out to Robertson, whose firm, Studio Dearborn, has specialized in kitchens for more than a decade. Working with Stoll & Stoll Architects, she moved the kitchen to the back of the house, where it looks out onto the greenery. To make the room feel expansive, they bumped up the roofline to create a wood-paneled tray ceiling and added eight windows. Robertson assigned storage to lower cabinets, drawers, and one wall. “We wanted that open connection to the backyard,” she explains, “and I like to maximize storage.” Here, everything has its place, alltucked within the cabinetsRobertson designed with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, the undercabinetry painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray. “It’s a historic house, so this color felt more right than white,” says the designer, who opted for modern hardware by Foundryman and DLV Design for “a cleaner, transitional vibe.” With a view this nice, why ever go outside?
Countertop Storage “We wanted to make it feel cohesive,” Robertson says of the full wall of cabinetry. Pull-down panels—complete with brass hardware by Foundryman—hide small appliances.
Built-In Pantry Snacks take up lots of space, so Robertson devised a pantry with tray shelves (which pull out so items in the far back are easily accessible) to stash all manner of dry goods.
Custom Drawers Robertson designs all her cabinets with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, an Amish company in Ohio. This pull-out caddy for cooking utensils is conveniently situated beside the range.
Hidden Brilliance Rather than taking up another drawer, a drying rack and cutting board are stashed between lower cabinets—they slide out easily thanks to sturdy leather pulls.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Oct 19, 2019
This airy New York kitchen was born out of the backyard—and acts like a playground. By Hadley Keller
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT– turned-designer Sarah Robertson always approaches her projects with a can-do mindset. Take this 1910 Queen Anne home in New York’s Westchester County. Originally, it held a dark and cramped kitchen. The backyard, on the other hand, was totally dreamy. So the owners reached out to Robertson, whose firm, Studio Dearborn, has specialized in kitchens for more than a decade. Working with Stoll & Stoll Architects, she moved the kitchen to the back of the house, where it looks out onto the greenery. To make the room feel expansive, they bumped up the roofline to create a wood-paneled tray ceiling and added eight windows. Robertson assigned storage to lower cabinets, drawers, and one wall. “We wanted that open connection to the backyard,” she explains, “and I like to maximize storage.” Here, everything has its place, alltucked within the cabinetsRobertson designed with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, the undercabinetry painted in Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray. “It’s a historic house, so this color felt more right than white,” says the designer, who opted for modern hardware by Foundryman and DLV Design for “a cleaner, transitional vibe.” With a view this nice, why ever go outside?
Countertop Storage “We wanted to make it feel cohesive,” Robertson says of the full wall of cabinetry. Pull-down panels—complete with brass hardware by Foundryman—hide small appliances.
Built-In Pantry Snacks take up lots of space, so Robertson devised a pantry with tray shelves (which pull out so items in the far back are easily accessible) to stash all manner of dry goods.
Custom Drawers Robertson designs all her cabinets with Schrocks of Walnut Creek, an Amish company in Ohio. This pull-out caddy for cooking utensils is conveniently situated beside the range.
Hidden Brilliance Rather than taking up another drawer, a drying rack and cutting board are stashed between lower cabinets—they slide out easily thanks to sturdy leather pulls.
News
by Erdem Gorgun on Aug 07, 2019
EVOLUTION
Though still recognizable initially look, the long-lasting Eames chair is dynamical to suit each home and elegance.
When the house decorator couple initial began planning chairs for bandleader Miller piece of furniture within the late Nineteen Forties, they targeted their styles on comfort, fashion and affordability. However, the married couple’s most famed innovation focused around luxury for then modern homes, resulting in its inevitable placement in museums all over the world. As a piece created when WWII, the Eames chair reflects a time of “waste not, need not” whereas still adding aptitude and elegance to any area.
Charles house decorator and his spouse, Ray, needed to produce a chair that had “the heat, receptive look of a well-used initial baseman’s mitt.
”To win this, the combine used fine animal skin for the seat cushions, support and ottoman. These cushions, rather than being fastened or nailed down, square measure connected to the sinusoidal wood by a zipper that adheres to a stiff plastic backing. The Eames chair has 3 sinusoidal laminate shells that structure the headrest, support and seat base. once production initial began in 1956, a veneer of Brazilian rosewood lined the 5 ironed layers of laminate to administer the chair the air of luxury; currently, thanks to accessibility, the veneer is primarily finished with cherry, walnut or Palisander rosewood.
“This handsome chair is in real time recognizable by anyone with an eye fixed for modern piece of furniture,” says Dana Romeis of chateau style. The house decorator chair has stood the take a look at of time with its unchanged look and most comfort, acting as a centerpiece for homes and offices for the past sixty years. You might even acknowledge the house decorator chair from its unnumberable appearances in movies and tv shows. however recently, the Eames chair has been hunting some changes to form it work a lot of well during a trendy home.
“Historically, its charm is in its classic masculine kind, finishes and feet-up comfort,” Romeis comments. “The recent addition of a pale ash frame with ivory animal skin instead of walnut and black animal skin makes it instantly a lot of female. This softer feel will slide right into a lighter, airy room.” With such a big amount of choices accessible these days, style connoisseurs and relaxation-lovers alike will notice the right Eames chair for his or her house.