Photo: Vicki Bodine

Island color was custom. Countertops are Princess White Quartzite. Light fixtures over island are from Rejuvenation (exact type has been discontinued) Photos by Holly Lepere

1st Place, National Design Award Winning Kitchen. Remodeling in Warwick, NY. From a dark, un-inspiring kitchen (see before photos), to a bright, white, custom kitchen. Dark wood floors, white carrera marble counters, solid wood island-table and much more. Photos - Ken Lauben

Interior design: SLC Interiors Photographer: Shelly Harrison

Denash photography, Designed by Jenny Rausch, C.K.D This project will be featured in Better Homes and Gardens Special interest publication Beautiful Kitchens in spring 2012. It is the cover of the magazine.

10' ceilings and 2-story windows surrounding this space (not in view) bring plenty of natural light into this casual and contemporary cook's kitchen. Other views of this kitchen and the adjacent Great Room are also available on houzz. Builder: Robert Egge Construction (Woodinville, WA). Cabinets: Jesse Bay Cabinets (Port Angeles, WA) Design: Studio 212 Interiors

The nearly 10’ island is an ideal place for food prep, a quick bite, buffet set-up, or sharing a glass of wine with friends. 2.5” thick marble countertop on the island gives substance and a professional feel.

In our latest Kitchen ‘stories’ series, we share the journey behind the transformation of this Somerset farmhouse. This was a complete renovation project in the true sense of the word, involving both the vision of the owner and one of David Salisbury’s most experienced designers. The period property had an existing kitchen which was simply too small and clearly not suitable for a busy family, with a fondness for entertaining. The masterstroke was the decision to relocate the kitchen to what was the former living room and open up the property with a glazed extension, instantly adding in light-bathed space and creating the all-important connection to the garden. The idea to position the kitchen in a new, purpose-built space provided the opportunity to start with a blank canvas: a kitchen designer’s dream! Planning the new kitchen without the constraints of services, such as existing electrics and plumbing, meant we could set about creating a space that was truly tailored to our client. First of all this meant really understanding the home owner and listening to how this busy family lived their lives at home – very socially was the answer! With a substantial new space to work with, we designed a large island to form the centrepiece of the new kitchen, along with an informal entertaining space with comfy bar stools. Having considered a number of different cooking options, our client chose an Everhot range cooker, having visited our showroom in Chelsea to see the existing display and get a better understanding of their reputation for energy efficiency and contemporary cooking functionality. The soft grey tone of the Everhot (Dove Grey) not only acted as a strong focal point, but a warming source of heat for the family (and dog!) to snuggle around. The striking choice of paint finish, ‘Drammen’ from David Salisbury’s unique palette, accentuates the quality of the joinery and is the perfect pairing with our solid oak carcasses – we could look at this eye-catching combination all day! The mix of busy family and social life meant choice of refrigeration was important to get right. The French door fridge freezer from Fisher & Paykel not only maximised storage, it also included a built-in ice maker, a must-have for hosting informal drinks or a weekend night in. Plenty of flexible space for larder essentials was provided by the bespoke pantry cupboard, situated alongside the fridge, with bottle and spice racks and even a cold shelf in matching quartz. Introducing a bench seat under the window allowed a seamless continuation of the kitchen cabinetry and another great space to bring family and guests together, when cooking and entertaining. Safe to say, it’s now the favourite space for Orla (the family’s dog) to take in the views of the garden! Whilst last, but by no means least, the final feature of the kitchen, was a bespoke media unit with bi-fold doors to conceal the TV, which doubled up as a drinks cabinet with integrated wine cooler. Designed from scratch, the new kitchen for this Somerset farmhouse is a combination of timeless design and modern luxury. Being able to cook for and entertain family and guests, in the same space at the same time, meant the final design was perfectly done!

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Photography: Eric Roth Photo

With Craftsman details throughout the rest of the home, our clients wanted their new kitchen to have transitional elements such as Shaker style doors, a farmhouse sink, warm wood tones, and other timeless features such as a custom hood and natural stone counters. The beautiful Glorious White marble counters have a soft honed finish and the stunning marble backsplash ties everything together to complete the look. The two-toned cabinets pair a rich stained cherry island with soft white perimeter cabinets. Brushed brass accents on the appliances pulls, cabinet hardware, lights and plumbing fixtures add another layer of sophistication. An induction range, dishwasher drawers, undercounter microwave, and four-door smart refrigerator amp up the functionality of this cook’s kitchen.

The kitchen features modern appliances with light wood finishes for a Belgian farmhouse aesthetic. The space is clean, large, and tidy with black fixture elements to add bold design,

A young family moving from NYC tackled a makeover of their young colonial revival home to make it feel more personal. The kitchen area was quite spacious but needed a facelift and a banquette for breakfast. Painted cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Light Pewter is balanced by Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor on the island. Mixed metals on the lighting by Allied Maker, faucets and hardware and custom tile by Pratt and Larson make the space feel organic and personal. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.