Five Striking Kitchens Designed with Durability in Mind

This nook in the kitchen of a Boston brownstone serves as the only dining area in the home, so the table can expand to seat twelve. The wallpaper is from Holly Hunt, and the Kravet chairs are upholstered in Perennials indoor-outdoor fabric.

Awash in neutrals and texture, the kitchen’s cabinetry is stained, wire-brushed oak, the flooring is white oak, and the countertops are brushed Caribbean Island marble.

Modern Romance

When a couple with two young children purchased this late-nineteenth-century Boston brownstone mid-renovation, they chose to retain the original design team, which included architecture firm Embarc and Daher Interior Design. One of the most eye-catching architectural changes can be enjoyed from the kitchen: to make the home feel more open and contemporary, the rear facade is now glass. “The buyers were impressed with the volume of space,” says architect Clayton Daher, who worked on the project while at Embarc and has since joined his mother, Paula, at her interiors firm. “It’s an entertainer’s dream.” Indeed, the clients love to cook and host, so the kitchen is complete with a functional island, a double oven, two refrigerators, and a separate wine fridge. An arched nook with banquette seating serves as the main dining area in the home. “Even though this is an eat-in kitchen, we wanted to elevate the dining area and bring a sense of formality to the space,” says Paula Daher. “The table can be turned and extended to accommodate twelve for a sophisticated dinner party.”

Project Team
Architecture: Embarc
Interior design: Daher Interior Design
Builder: Prominent Builders
Cabinetry: Ray’s Cabinet Shop
Photography: Michael J. Lee

It’s common to have several people in this Berkshires kitchen at once, and a secondary sink provides an opportunity to spread out.

A seating area overlooking the patio contains a pair of chairs upholstered in a fabric from John Rosselli & Associates with a Schumacher trim.

The wet bar adjacent to the kitchen is outfitted with a sink, wine storage, and refrigerator drawers for entertaining. The cabinetry is painted Benjamin Moore Dove Wing and is topped with Campan, a green-and-gold marble.

An S. Harris binding from Fabricut complements a Twigs fabric from John Rosselli & Associates on the window treatment. The floors in the kitchen and wet bar are a mix of walnut and travertine.

Blue Crush

The owners of a Federal-style Berkshires getaway tapped interior designer Phillip Thomas to help bring the 1922 residence—which had undergone some renovations during the 1980s—back to its former glory. And as the couple often hosts their children and grandchildren at their second home, creating inviting spaces for family gatherings was paramount. “This family uses the kitchen as a hangout space, so we opened it up and created better access to the patio beyond,” says Thomas. “The goal was to make it functional and comfortable.” The designer paid great attention to imbuing the kitchen and the adjoining wet bar with an array of interesting surfaces and textures, from the grasscloth wallcoverings to the satin finish on the beadboard ceilings to the high-gloss cabinetry. “The room has low ceilings, so we wanted to focus on how light moves through the space,” explains Thomas. “These finishes have varying sheens that reflect light differently, and it makes the room come to life. Their primary residence is done in shades of cream, and this house had been very safe and traditional prior to the renovation. It was time to shake things up.

Project Team
Architectural and interior design: Phillip Thomas
Builder: Cummings General Contractor
Cabinetry: Vartanian Custom Cabinets
Photography: Genevieve Garruppo
Styling: Robert Rufino

The palette is inspired by the view of the lake and trees beyond. The barstools are from McGee & Co.

Open shelving, also constructed of oak, provides additional storage.

The light fixtures and sink fittings are from deVOL, and the unlacquered brass hardware is from Rejuvenation. “The brass ages really well,” says interior designer Jenny Morrison.

Natural Instincts

A challenging waterfront site inWindham, Maine, required some careful planning to create a lower-level kitchen that feels open, airy, and welcoming. Behind the newly built family summer camp on Sebago Lake is the husband-and-wife team of builder Josh Morrison and interior designer Jenny Morrison, who worked with Delano Architecture to overcome the site conditions, which included a steep slope and ledge. “Initially, the plan didn’t allow for any windows because this room is ten feet underground on the uphill side of the house,” explains Josh Morrison. “However, once we stood in the space during construction, Jenny made it clear that more natural light was needed.” The last-minute addition of a window changes the entire feel of the space, which features a soothing mix of white-oak details, green cabinetry, and reflective tile. “The palette is inspired by the view of the trees and the lake,” says Jenny Morrison. “This retreat is meant to house a lot of people, so function, performance, and comfort are key.”

Project Team
Architecture: Delano Architecture
Interior design: Morrison Design House
Builder: R.P. Morrison Builders
Cabinetry: Morrison Design House and Rondeau Woodworks
Photography: Jeff Roberts

White- and smoked-oak cabinetry paired with a Calacatta Bettogli honed marble backsplash and countertops—the eleven-foot island features a single, two-inch-thick slab—give this kitchen a timeless appeal.

A custom metal hood from Raw Urth Designs vents the Wolf cooktop.

A pair of dishwashers are located near the sink for easy party cleanup.

Smoked-oak cabinetry, metal-mesh cabinet doors, and an antiqued-mirror backsplash comprise the wet bar.

A table, chairs, and lighting all from Palecek complete the breakfast area.

Classic Appeal
When it came time to update the kitchen in their Shingle-style house in Hingham, Massachusetts, the clients called on interior designer Jayme
Kennerknecht to help transform what was a traditional, all-white kitchen into something more appropriate for their young family. The result is a timeless kitchen and breakfast area featuring a mix of marble and both oak and white cabinetry. “This is the family’s forever home, so rather than leaning into a bold color, we chose a classic, neutral design that they will hopefully love for a long time,” says Kennerknecht. “This is a large space, so we created interest with details including ceiling paneling, coffers, and a robust eleven-foot-long island.” The same materials palette is carried into the adjoining breakfast area, which also contains a wet bar for entertaining. “There had been a blank wall there, but we wanted to give them more storage while creating another destination,” continues Kennerknecht. “The space called for something that wasn’t a redundant function of the kitchen. The entire space feels elevated, modern, and timeless.”

Project Team
Architecture: Silipo Architecture & Design
Interior design: Kennerknecht Design Group
Builder: Masse Builders
Cabinetry: Kramer’s Custom Kitchens and Woodworking
Photography: Greg Premru

To keep the kitchen modern but inviting, designer Nicole Hirsch had the cabinets treated with a whitewash stain. The countertops are quartz, and the barstools are from GUBI.

Unused wall space by the ovens allowed for a decorative moment featuring custom black metal shelving.

A Hudson Valley Lighting fixture illuminates the breakfast area with its custom banquette upholstered in navy leather from Osborne & Little and a chair from Burke Decor.

Carefully Considered
For a young family’s newly constructed residence in Needham, Massachusetts, interior designer Nicole Hirsch worked with ART Architects to build out a contemporary yet warm kitchen and breakfast area. “This is a modern and airy home with large black-steel windows, and we chose to use those windows as inspiration for the entire kitchen,” says Hirsch. “There’s a black-and-white palette throughout the house, but we didn’t want a typical stark-white kitchen. Instead of painted cabinets we used a whitewash stain that allows the grain of the wood to show through.” In the breakfast area, Hirsch designed a custom Lucite-and-wood table with kid-friendly rounded corners that’s paired with a leather banquette. “We chose a navy leather to infuse a bit of color into the space, while the wood adds warmth,” says Hirsch. “And we didn’t want a heavy table base blocking the banquette, hence the Lucite. It’s a comfortable, functional space.”

Project Team
Architecture: ART Architects
Interior design: Nicole Hirsch Interiors
Builder: Hawthorn Builders
Cabinetry: Tavares Carpenting
Photography: Sarah Winchester
Styling: Sean William Donovan