The cabinets in this kitchen are painted Sherwin Williams Naval, a warm navy blue. Customers wanted something with warm undertones to play off the walnut wood tones.
Summary: In this urban apartment, the builder Nick Schiffer has found a balance between a modern look and traditional aesthetics. Keeping two walls of cabinets and appliances level and adjusting the paneling for the entire run creates a cohesive space that connects the kitchen. Since the house is a small, open loft, storage is particularly important, and Schiffer lists the various methods he has used to create additional space for everything from books to bottles to pots.
My Companies, NS Builders, along with Amy Lynn Interiors to renovate this one bedroom apartment in the Fort Point District of Boston. The old brick building received a mediocre renovation in the 1990s, and we were hired to brighten it up and reconfigure the entire house, with an emphasis on a complete kitchen remodel.
Customers asked us to find a balance between their different tastes. he likes a modern look while she prefers a traditional aesthetic. They wanted the island to be the center of attention, but had also previously purchased a Fisher & Paykel refrigerator nearly 10 feet tall, which had to be incorporated into the design without drawing the focus. Because of its size, the refrigerator dictated many design decisions. Along with a full-height pantry, it braces space to define the boundaries of the kitchen.
We did a couple of things to read the cabinets as one large unit and make the space feel cohesive – starting with a walnut cabinet for the refrigerator. We built a pantry that was the height of the refrigerator cabinet and aligned the top of the walnut trim over the top cabinets at the same level. This little trim detail – essentially a flat piece of walnut – replaces the trim and ties the two sides of the L-shaped kitchen together.
In order for this to work, while keeping the spacing between the top and bottom cabinets at the standard 18 inches, we had to reduce the height of the top cabinets accordingly. We also made the range hood in line with everything else instead of stretching it all the way to the ceiling. This anchors the composition without visual disturbance and at the same time supports the island as the center. The open shelf provides additional surface space without cramping the sink. It’s not in the center of a window or wall where it could stand out. As with the hood, we didn’t want it to draw the eye’s attention.
From Fine Homebuilding # 295
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