Kitchen of the Week: Timeless Blend of Old and New
A designer reworks the layout in a modest-size kitchen to include an island, an eat-in area and pantry cabinets
These Boston-area parents of two young children wanted a kitchen that would respect the architecture of their 1930s Colonial Revival home and express their personal style. However, it was more pressing challenges that made them decide to take the space down to the studs. “The awkward layout was the biggest issue, and lack of storage was second,” their interior designer, Shannon Tate, says. “We also wanted to beautify it while making it reflective of the architecture of their home.” The result is an inviting balance of traditional and modern styles with family-friendly functionality.
In the modest-size kitchen, providing plenty of storage was paramount. The existing kitchen didn’t have dedicated pantry space. Tate chose the finishes for the new mudroom, seen here at the back of the photo, and added large pantry cabinets next to it. The white cabinets in the foreground are at the end of the kitchen opposite the dining room entrance.
This photo also shows the flooring, a custom-made ceramic tile from Arto in a slate color. The texture and color lean traditional while the square and rectangular shapes nod to modern style.
This photo also shows the flooring, a custom-made ceramic tile from Arto in a slate color. The texture and color lean traditional while the square and rectangular shapes nod to modern style.
Here’s a look at how the pantry cabinets fit in with the rest of the kitchen. Using a light color helps them blend in with the wall and reflects natural light. This gives an airier feel to the room.
The rest of the cabinetry has a two-tone scheme. Tate describes the color of the lower cabinets as “a pewter-y green.” The upper cabinets are white. “I wanted to do something darker on the lower cabinets because the floor is dark. But I didn’t want it to feel too heavy in here,” she says. “The upper cabinets make the room feel more uplifted and light. I really like the balance.”
The rest of the cabinetry has a two-tone scheme. Tate describes the color of the lower cabinets as “a pewter-y green.” The upper cabinets are white. “I wanted to do something darker on the lower cabinets because the floor is dark. But I didn’t want it to feel too heavy in here,” she says. “The upper cabinets make the room feel more uplifted and light. I really like the balance.”
The range wall takes center stage in the kitchen. “I always like to create a beautiful focal point in a kitchen,” Tate says. “My clients loved this European-style vintage-looking range from Ilve.” She moved windows to create the best spot for the range in the center of the wall and then designed a custom wood vent hood. The hood and the brass rail add warmth to the room.
The countertops and backsplash are real marble. Tate talked with her clients about the maintenance needs of marble, which is more susceptible to stains and chips than other surfaces. “They were on board with the imperfections,” the designer says. They agreed that you really can’t match the look and feel of natural marble. They also chose unlacquered brass that will patina over time for the faucet and hardware. “They appreciate living finishes,” Tate says.
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The countertops and backsplash are real marble. Tate talked with her clients about the maintenance needs of marble, which is more susceptible to stains and chips than other surfaces. “They were on board with the imperfections,” the designer says. They agreed that you really can’t match the look and feel of natural marble. They also chose unlacquered brass that will patina over time for the faucet and hardware. “They appreciate living finishes,” Tate says.
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Moving the dining room door made room to add cabinets on the wall to the left. These hold small appliances like the coffee maker, toaster and microwave. “This kitchen is not huge, so keeping countertops uncluttered by tucking those things away was a game changer,” Tate says. Glass cabinet doors above them add to the light and uplifted feel.
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“Before, the kitchen did not have a very good work triangle and there wasn’t much countertop space around the range,” Tate says. She played around with different layouts to get the right fit for ample storage and an island.
The new island contains the sink, the dishwasher and additional storage. It’s a good spot to set down grocery bags when unloading them into the fridge and to lay out ingredients and prep when cooking.
The lights over the island are handmade and have ceramic shades. “I chose small pendants because they are not overwhelming and because they let the range wall have its moment,” Tate says. “Because they are handmade, they have some soul to them.”
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The new island contains the sink, the dishwasher and additional storage. It’s a good spot to set down grocery bags when unloading them into the fridge and to lay out ingredients and prep when cooking.
The lights over the island are handmade and have ceramic shades. “I chose small pendants because they are not overwhelming and because they let the range wall have its moment,” Tate says. “Because they are handmade, they have some soul to them.”
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The existing kitchen didn’t have an eat-in area. “They have a formal dining room, but my clients are not formal people,” Tate says. “It’s nice to have a cozy spot for a family to eat breakfast, have a coffee and play cards.”
Accordingly, she designed a custom banquette. “I’d never done a scalloped edge like this before,” Tate says. “I like to collect images of vintage furniture that I like, and a bench with a scalloped edge along the bottom inspired this idea.” The contractor cut wood circles, then cut them in half and added them along the top of the piece to create the scallop. The wood is maple with a walnut stain.
Tate also designed the table. “At first, the legs came out closer to the edge. But my clients are both tall and have long legs, so I adjusted it to give them enough legroom,” she says. She also gave the table a heavy metal base for stability. The chairs bring a modern element to the mix. The fabric on the banquette cushion is Kingdom by Fayce Textiles. It combines renderings of sparrows, parakeets and kingfishers in a way that creates a contemporary, abstract-looking pattern from afar.
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Accordingly, she designed a custom banquette. “I’d never done a scalloped edge like this before,” Tate says. “I like to collect images of vintage furniture that I like, and a bench with a scalloped edge along the bottom inspired this idea.” The contractor cut wood circles, then cut them in half and added them along the top of the piece to create the scallop. The wood is maple with a walnut stain.
Tate also designed the table. “At first, the legs came out closer to the edge. But my clients are both tall and have long legs, so I adjusted it to give them enough legroom,” she says. She also gave the table a heavy metal base for stability. The chairs bring a modern element to the mix. The fabric on the banquette cushion is Kingdom by Fayce Textiles. It combines renderings of sparrows, parakeets and kingfishers in a way that creates a contemporary, abstract-looking pattern from afar.
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Since we had a peek at the refreshed dining room in the first photo, it’s only fair to share the whole thing. The homeowners had a few pieces they wanted to use in here, including Windsor chairs that were handmade in New England. “These were a really special gift to them from one of their parents,” Tate says. The table is white oak. Along with the brass chandelier, it adds a modern touch.
“The color family in here is the bridge between it and the kitchen,” Tate says. “My clients love playing with patterns and wallpaper.” The trim color in the room plays off the lower cabinets in the kitchen, and the botanical wallpaper by Justina Blakeney plays off the color of the range.
“The color family in here is the bridge between it and the kitchen,” Tate says. “My clients love playing with patterns and wallpaper.” The trim color in the room plays off the lower cabinets in the kitchen, and the botanical wallpaper by Justina Blakeney plays off the color of the range.
Tate also worked in a mirror her clients already had and wanted to use. The sideboard is more modern and brings walnut into the room. The rug is outdoor-rated and is easy to clean with water.
“I love the way the combination of traditional and modern makes people feel,” Tate says. “In this house, it lets you know who my clients are, that they are willing to be playful and that they appreciate design.”
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“I love the way the combination of traditional and modern makes people feel,” Tate says. “In this house, it lets you know who my clients are, that they are willing to be playful and that they appreciate design.”
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Size: 168 square feet (16 square meters)
Designer: Shannon Tate Interiors
Contractor: MP Construction
Tate had worked with the homeowners on a few projects in the past, so she had a great sense of their style. “They really appreciate traditional style and historic architectural details. But they are also young and hip,” she says.
The scope of the project also included a refresh for the dining room and adding on a mudroom.
The dining room entrance is at the back of this photo, where the blue wallpaper is showing. The room’s entrance used to be to the right, but Tate moved it to make the layout work. “My clients really wanted an island,” she says. “Moving the dining room entrance allowed us to add an island and wrap that corner on the right with cabinets.” The island fits into the center of the work triangle without impeding the flow of traffic from room to room.
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