Project Spotlight: Two Cooks, One Kitchen
The idea of renovating came about when the original homeowners of this Howell home noticed repairs and replacements were needed on their worn kitchen cabinets and several malfunctioning appliances. After evaluating their needs, they decided it was best to give the kitchen a complete overhaul after fourteen years in their newly built home. They met with a kitchen designer and cabinet maker with whom they’d discuss their vision and had renderings drawn up. “We realized we not only needed to repair cabinets and replace our refrigerator and dishwasher, but the layout wasn’t really working for us either. My husband and I both love to cook and when we would do so, we’d be tripping over each other because nothing was in the right spot,” says the homeowner. They began with the layout and then chose a color for the cabinetry—clean white. This neutral tone was what they had in the previous kitchen and the homeowners again wanted something that was not only timeless, but could also easily be changed to any color, should they want to modify or even sell to new homeowners down the road.
Working off of the white cabinets and sticking with a clean white look, the owners chose honed white marble countertops with veiny gray details. “Originally, I didn’t want marble because I didn’t want to worry about scratching, discoloration and stains,” she states. “I knew I wanted something neutral, clean and bright and loved the white and gray marbleized look. Every sample that stood out to me, however, would end up being marble! And for all the reasons I just said to myself, ‘OK! If it starts to etch, that’s what marble is! it’s going to take on its own look, evolve and become its own unique piece with character.’”
For the center island, the homeowners wanted something different and chose a dark slate granite countertop to add a bit of contrast against the white cabinetry.
With the cabinets and countertops chosen, the couple’s contractor, Merrick Construction, recommended NEMO Tile + Stone Red Bank for flooring and backsplash tile. They met with NEMO Tile Red Bank’s Interior/Showroom Designer Denise Sciametta, who “nailed everything,” with her design eye.
“For the floor, we knew we wanted a large format porcelain for durability in a shade that was not too dark and not too light, and a look that was not too polished nor too casual,” says the homeowner. They chose NEMO’s Glacier 12x24 porcelain floor tile in Anthracite which perfectly complements the dark island countertop. The floors are finished off with a (dark) matching grout allowing for not only a cohesive look, but also low maintenance in a high traffic area. The floors continue into the adjacent space which double as the Laundry and Mud Room.
Being a big fan of subway tile, the couple didn’t hesitate when choosing NEMO’s popular 3x12 Cape Cod Ceramic Wall Tile in Eastham Gloss. The Cape Cod Series draws inspiration from classic handmade ceramic subway tile, an irregular edge and a natural undulated surface to convey a true artisan feel in a clean way. The soft water color glaze perfectly complements the fresh look of this kitchen. Bringing together the white and charcoal color palette, the homeowners added a mosaic accent to the backsplash over the range with NEMO’s Nambrone Mattone Mosaic, picking up on a little bit of every color throughout the space.
The open-concept kitchen is finished off with a beautiful tufted banquette created by Merrick’s own carpenter and a custom walnut pedestal table designed by Wood Countertops New Jersey. The project was completed in March of 2018 and the homeowners are looking forward to making many more memories while cooking together with their family.
NEMO Materials Used
- 12x24 Glacier Porcelain Tile in Anthracite (Floor)
- 3x12 Cape Cod Ceramic Wall Tile in Eastham Gloss (Backsplash)
- Nambrone Mattone Mosaic (Backsplash Mosaic)
- Cabinet Designer – Spyglass Designs
- Contractor – Merrick Construction (Design and Carpentry)
- Custom Walnut Table – Wood Countertops New Jersey
Comments