From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Keeping It Green http://keepingitgreenoutdoors.com 2014 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Residential $0-$15,000 Award Level: Honorable Mention Project Description: The objective of this project was to match the surrounding natural woodland setting with the new landscaping and outdoor area. The homeowners enjoy being outside and wanted an extension of their house that they could enjoy with family and friends. After returning from vacations in their cabin, they wanted to re-create the same feeling at their home. To complete their new cabin feel they wanted somewhere to have a camp fire with good company. I wanted to create flow from each area, and maximize space in a very limited area. The overall look of the project needed to blend with the natural environment and appear as though is has been there for years. The clients were very open minded and great to work with through the design process and we were able to achieve everything we needed while working with budgets and preferences. The area was shaded with very poor drainage, which created a unusable space full of mud. The wet area made an already tight area with difficult access more challenging. It was also important to place the fire-pit at a safe distance from the house, and the tree canopy. The area was regarded to allow for better drainage and the downspouts were buried. A decorative river stone was selected to aide with drainage. All plant material needed to be shade tolerant and provide color. As a result, I chose plants with terrific foliage color, and texture; Aucuba, Heuchera, Athyrium and Hosta. The construction materials to build the steps, walls and fire-pit needed to be a stone that would match the existing stone and environment. For this I chose PA flagstone and fieldstone of varying sizes for interest and to create a more natural look. This project is special because of the limited space that needed to have its potential discovered and created. With the strong wooded environment the new outdoor area had to blend into that while working with the house and existing concrete patio. We exceeded our clients expectations by creating a new area that looked like it had been there forever. Plant List: 5 Astilbe chinensis ‘Vision in Pink’ 6 Heuchera x villosa ‘Citronella’ 6 Hosta x ‘Sum and Substance’ 2 Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer 5 Buxus x ‘Green Velvet’ 1 Leucothoe fontsiana ‘Rainbow’ 4 Rhododendron ‘PJM’ 2 Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Aurea Nana’ 1 Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’ 3 Athyrium filix-femina 24 Pachysandra terminalis 16 Torenia fournieri Photo Credit: Keeping It Green

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Add warmth, texture, color and character by creating your own coordinating wall art. Determine your color scheme and find the perfect fabric. For this I used an outdoor waverly fabric. The room has a traditional fireplace with warm tones, but the rest of the home is filled with neutral and cool tones, so I needed to bridge the gap to create a cohesive feeling to the entire home. I couldn't find just the right piece, so I created my own. With only one empty wall in the living/great room I needed the piece the inform the whole room, create a focal point and set the color scheme. After selecting the right fabric, I stretched it like a canvas with a varied pattern to create charm and character and then used reclaimed wood stained with miniwax's 2 fairly new stain colors - wood grey and weathered oak. After cutting out the frame staining and assembling I gave it a quick polyurethane spray. I added some beautiful almost tropical plant accents and decided to go very simple on pillows adding only 2 small botanicals to create a large seating area to create the sense of invitation. Greek key ottomans in emerald green, a patterned linen chair and quatrefoil chair created a consistence color scheme and just enough interest. To finish the look a rustic industrial coffee table and coordinating nesting tables to anchor the room, vintage books, succulents, jute detailed candles, red lanterns, a bicycle trunk for a touch of whimsy and a canvas framed with the same reclaimed wood to tie in the two art pieces. The result is the look I always strive for - the collected home. A touch of traditional, vintage treasures, botanical accents and one of a kind signature pieces. The only category that fits it all is eclectic, but I like to think that eclectic is another way of saying that the room has a designer touch and a sense of having an auteur at work. I welcome your comments. /Abi/ Charles Hoffman: photo credit / Wolverton Homes: Builder / Kerri O'Hara: TreVa Group Real Estate

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Designer Janet Villafane of Villafane Design, LLC of Chester, New Jersey designed and executed this contemporary kitchen with Aston Smith of Bilotta Kitchens of New York. According to Villafane, “from the moment you meet this family you understand their priority in life is family and friends. We were looking for a design that, first and foremost, emphasized the occupants’ request to have a home that was inviting to all that entered. We continued to focus on that request throughout the design phase.” In addition, the design team needed to satisfy the needs of a disabled family member. They wanted him to be able to flow through all areas of the space and feel as if he could comfortably use the open kitchen and family room without any hindrance. The clients were inspired by clean lines and simplicity. When they spoke about their modern Florida home, one could hear and see their enthusiasm and excitement to bring that simplicity into their new home. It became evident early on that their new space should be contemporary but the home’s exterior, as well as the neighboring community, had an old world, traditional charm. The goal was to avoid competing aesthetics while respecting both looks. The resulting interior design incorporated slab doors with both semi-gloss white lacquer and grey stain on horizontal grained oak. The rich dark oak base cabinets perfectly balanced the ceiling beams. The use of a stainless channel system, in place of traditional hardware, and the stainless toe kick completed the design. The Bertazzoni cooktop and wall ovens in stainless steel, Sub-Zero refrigeration paneled in white semi-gloss, and a stainless steel chimney hood enhanced the clean, uninterrupted lines. The island countertop is Thunder White granite in a leathered finish; the perimeter is Super White Quartz; and the nook table is Virginia Mist honed granite. The backsplash is a frosted glass tile. The clients hope for quality, simplicity and functionality were beautifully achieved by the designers. Closed, solid front cabinets provide a “home” for everything in the kitchen. A seating nook with a large screen TV, as well as additional TVs visible throughout the kitchen and family room, satisfied the demand of watching multiple sporting events at one time. To finish it all off decorative lighting was carefully selected to make a “wow” statement. Designer: Janet Villafane of Villafane Design LLC Bilotta Designer: Aston Smith Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

From the outside of this very traditional home in Harrison, New York, you would never expect the contemporary styling and pops of color throughout the interior, including the white feather chandelier and oversized painting of Marilyn Monroe with pink bubblegum, both of which accent the dinner table. When the client first came into meet with Bilotta designer, Danielle Florie, they had an idea of what they wanted, and what they didn’t want. They have modern/transitional taste and wanted both an aesthetically “wow” kitchen that was also very functional. Danielle made it come to life. They had been collecting photos for ten years before they decided to pull the trigger. They opted for Bilotta’s private cabinetry line, the Bilotta Collection, and selected a frameless, stepped door with double tiered wall cabinets, all accented by polished chrome rectangular pulls and square knobs. Instead of a deep corner cabinet they went with thick alumasteel shelves in the corner of the kitchen. At the peninsula they added some “bling” with the polished chrome and glass doors above the appliance garage. Also at the peninsula they decided to face their secondary, “prep” sink out towards the dinner table primarily so the kids could wash their hands before eating. There is also an undercounter beverage center to the right of that sink for easy access to drinks. Instead of going with a smooth painted finish they opted for a hand-brushed finish for a little texture. All appliances are Miele including their brand new 48” duel fuel range, smart enough on its own to tell you how to cook! The backsplash behind the range is the Stone Fox Collection from Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakely Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. It is a custom made tempered glass mosaic. The countertops and rest of the backsplash are White Diamond marble from Rye Marble, and the flooring is a porcelain Tile from Terra Tile. Designer: Danielle Florie. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye