uncommon residential

The design brief for this kitchen included a warm modern design, easy-to-access storage that removed some of the visual mass of upper cabinets, and ample space for meal prep and entertaining. New construction often relies on the perceived safety of white cabinetry, but here the walnut cabinetry with flat panels highlights the warm wood tone and Walnut grain without distraction from ornate cabinetry profiles. The lack of upper cabinets above the sink and range maintain the modern appearance without compromising functional storage which is in easy reach of in organized lower drawers. Upper cabinets have limited functionality, and frequently cause cabinetry bloat. A uniform countertop and backsplash fabricated from Taj Mahal honed quartzite complete the sleek presentation with a durable work surface.

This butler pantry was designed as a multi-functional transitional space between the kitchen and dining room. We specified a full size sink, disposal, second dishwasher, and appliance garage in the original plans. This satisfied our goal of adding an overflow kitchen function for parties and holidays. The tall wine refrigerator serves this purpose as well, especially when we considered the storage capacity of the existing cabinetry. From a design perspective, we selected black oak cabinetry which has the effect of muting the grain profile of the wood while highlighting the texture and dimension of the material. The veining of the crocodile marble creates a high impact in the passage and is treated with Azerocare to guard against staining. Brass hardware and light fixtures provide a eye-catching contrast against the dark tone of the hard surfaces.

The cathedral ceiling and skylights in this main bathroom allowed us to take advantage of the natural light and ceiling volume for a modern look and feel. The freestanding tub is flanked by cerused white oak cabinetry, a detail that follows the bathroom vanity and white oak floors throughout the home. As elsewhere, we applied a minimal color palette to emphasize the clean lines and simple materials for a serene and modern bathroom.