Deep Blue Kitchen Larchmont ManorTransitional Kitchen, New York
A hip young family moving from Boston tackled an enormous makeover of an antique colonial revival home in downtown Larchmont. The kitchen area was quite spacious but benefitted from a small bump out for a banquette and additional windows. Navy blue island and tall cabinetry matched to Benjamin Moore’s Van Deusen blue is balanced by crisp white (Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace) cabinetry on the perimeter. The mid-century inspired suspended fireplace adds warmth and style to the kitchen. A tile covered range hood blends the ventilation into the walls. Brushed brass hardware by Lewis Dolan in a contemporary T-bar shape offer clean lines in a warm metallic tone.
White Marble countertops on the perimeter are balanced by white quartz composite on the island. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Countertops by Rye Marble. Refrigerator--Subzero; Range—Viking French door oven--Viking. Dacor Wine Station. Dishwashers—Bosch. Ventilation—Best. Hardware—Lewis Dolan. Lighting—Rejuvenation. Sink--Franke. Stools—Soho Concept. Photography Adam Kane Macchia.
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What Will It Cost?Interior designers have various fee structures. They might charge an hourly rate ($125 to $150 is common, but fees can range from $50 to $500). Or they could go with a flat fee of anywhere from a few thousand dollars to six figures. Some designers also take an approach called cost-plus, adding a markup on materials and furnishings they buy at a discount and keeping that as part of their fee. A few charge a percentage of the total project budget. They also may combine fee structures on a single project, for instance, charging a flat fee for some work and an hourly rate for a different type of work. All these details should be made clear in your contract.You might also be asked to pay a retainer before work begins. This retainer, which might be nonrefundable, could be applied to your total costs on the last invoice, or it could be used to purchase items such as furniture and accessories. Check with your designer (and review your contract) to be sure you understand how your retainer will be used. Finally, if you’re on a tight budget, don’t assume that hiring a designer is beyond reach. Many will be happy to arrange a few hours of consulting or will help you find furnishings and decorative accents for an hourly rate or a set fee. Where to Find an Interior DesignerYou can find designers in your area and beyond in the directory of interior designers on Houzz, where you can also view their portfolios and save their photos into your own ideabooks. When you spot a room you love when browsing Houzz photos and articles, take note of the designer’s name. (You’ll see a link to professionals’ profiles in the upper-right corner of their photos.) Friends with fabulous houses are another likely source. You can also visit show houses and home tours to see which spaces strike your fancy.
3 Things to Know When Adding On1. Adding on may (or may not) be the right choice for your space and your budget. “Anytime you modify the size of the home, you should anticipate notably higher costs,” Thornton says. So take a step back and really consider whether adding on is right for you. If you’re not sure, meet with your designer, architect or builder to go over options that don’t involve an addition.2. Be ready for schedule snafus. Foundation issues, permit delays, out-of-stock products, squabbles with neighbors — there are all sorts of unforeseen issues that can crop up at any stage of the process, even more so with an addition than with an interior-only remodel. And unless the work is happening in a home you haven’t moved into yet, be prepared with a plan for how you will handle living without your kitchen for an extended period of time.3. It’s better to get it right the first time. Any home addition is a major investment of money and time, so it’s worth ensuring that you’re getting exactly what you want the first time around. Redoing faulty work will only cost more in the long run. “We get calls all the time from people who hired another professional and are getting subpar service and the client wants us to step in and fix it,” Thornton says. “No different than you would want to hire a great doctor or great lawyer or smart accountant, you should hire the best interior designer you can afford for your project because they know what they’re doing.”Find designers, architects and contractors in your area
Focal-point shelving. This kitchen features a variation on the end-of-island storage idea, with built-in shelves on either side of the tall chairs. Because this kitchen opens to a seating area, the shelves and the items displayed on them — here, pottery and a cake stand — offer a place for the eyes to rest rather than just the chair backs. Island and wall cabinetry: color-matched to Van Deusen Blue HC-156, Benjamin Moore; perimeter cabinetry: color-matched to Chantilly Lace OC-65, Benjamin Moore; island countertop: white quartz; pendants: RejuvenationHow to Make the Most of Your Kitchen’s Back Side
On your cabinets: This regal hue can be used for that featured kitchen island. Or, try painting just your lower cabinets deep teal with the upper cabinets painted a pale neutral like white. It will create a rich contrast.Try it with: Deep teal works best with pale finishes — think white, ivory and light gray. For hardware and fixtures, almost any shade of metal will shine nicely against this fabulous greenish blue. Cabinet and island paint: Van Deusen Blue HC-156, Benjamin Moore
Lastly, white and blue is a classic nautical combination, so while off-white would also work, a pure white counter looks beautiful paired with blue-painted cabinetry. Despite both being chilly colors, the two together feel welcoming and always stylish.7 Sophisticated Blues for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Style SelectionI knew I wanted to pair the quartz countertop with white subway tile backsplash. Compare samples: I had a sample of subway tiles from our local building materials store and held them up to quartz samples to find the right pairing. Some quartz countertops have more flecks of gray or marbling. Other quartz countertops are more engineered, so they have a more controlled, consistent finish. The latter finish matched the minimal, modern farmhouse style I wanted to achieve with the white subway tiles.Try different light: When picking a countertop material, have all your countertop samples in hand and look at them against your cabinets and backsplash in all lights. For example, morning sun casts a very different light than your ceiling lights in the evening. This is why it’s important to not just pick your color at the paint store, under their fluorescent lights. Check them in morning, afternoon and evening lights. Pro tip: You need to love the material in every kind of light. If you don’t, keep looking.
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Kimberly Charles
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