Pink Kitchen Packs a Punch
Venetian plaster, bold pendants and geometric tile add style and character to this chic Boston kitchen
When a fashionable couple recently moved from Manhattan into a newly built condo in Boston, they reached out to designer Dane Austin to help them create a home with a personality to match their own. The home’s pink kitchen is a perfect example of how a talented designer can use paint and accessories to take a space from standard to sublime.
Wanting to draw the pink from the walls to the center of the kitchen, Austin had decorative painter Pauline Curtiss cover the island base in a custom pink Venetian plaster. “Venetian plaster is a pretty durable material, so it will hold up better to scuffs from knees and feet,” the designer says.
The modern counter stools are covered in a durable indoor-outdoor material that’s easy to clean and will hold up well to stains.
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The modern counter stools are covered in a durable indoor-outdoor material that’s easy to clean and will hold up well to stains.
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Previously, Austin says, the kitchen was outfitted with three frosted glass pendant lights above the island that blended harmlessly into the room. “We wanted pendant lights that had their own distinct character,” he says. The pair he selected feature a solid mint green shade at the bottom and a cherry red metal cage on top.
The tribal rug runner adds more color and helps to soften the space. “It’s alway nice to have something soft underfoot while working in the kitchen,” Austin says.
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The tribal rug runner adds more color and helps to soften the space. “It’s alway nice to have something soft underfoot while working in the kitchen,” Austin says.
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The kitchen features cerused white oak cabinets, white quartz countertops and a backsplash covered in a geometric marble design. Austin accessorized the existing floating shelves above the sink with a mix of plants, herbs, glasses and bowls. “The plants and herbs add a natural touch,” he says.
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Browse counter stools
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple who recently moved from Manhattan
Location: Boston
Size: About 300 square feet (28 square meters)
Designer: Dane Austin Interior Design
All of the kitchens in this condominium complex are essentially identical, so if the homeowners wanted to make theirs stand out they had two choices: They could rip out all of the new cabinets, countertops and tile and start over, or they could infuse the space with color and accessories to make it their own. They chose the latter route and selected the ideal designer for the job. “I love working with color,” Austin says. “It brings so much life and personality to a space.”
Austin started off the kitchen design by spreading out a fan deck of paint colors on the island and having the homeowners select their favorites. “They were drawn to gray and pink,” he says. “I told them if they want to be safe, they should go with gray, but if they want to be unique and interesting, go with the pink.” The homeowners went with “unique and interesting,” and Benjamin Moore’s Paisley Pink now covers the kitchen walls.