Three Inspiring Kitchen Renovations Showcasing Timeless Connecticut Design

This kitchen reads old-world elegance with a thoughtful mix of materials. The beams were wrapped, and an existing table was stained and adapted to make an island that feels like a found object. It is topped with a Nero Marquina marble in a leather finish. The pendant is from Visual Comfort & Co.

A steel-and-glass partition and door were inspired by the home’s original leaded windows; it maintains separation while filling the adjacent pantry with light.

High-gloss cabinetry by Plainville’s H&B Woodworking was always part of the plan, but the original brick was a serendipitous discovery.

. A blue banquette and small metal table create a casual dining area.

Timeless Tudor

A design-minded art collector who loves to cook, this homeowner had a single ask:a bright, hardworking, welcoming space, one that retained her Farmington Tudor’s signature warmth and depth.

“It was a pleasure to work with a client who wanted to honor her home’s period style,” says Stacy Millman of SKM Design in West Hartford. “Together, we bridged the gap between old and new.”

They framed the kitchen’s new-found beauty by opening it up to the great room. A showstopping copper range hood and sweeping marble backsplash set the design narrative. Millman says a timeless balance was achieved with a mix of rich wood tones, high-gloss cabinetry, deep color accents, brass fixtures—and that backsplash. A ribbed-glass partition atop the marble keeps the pantry out of view.

Slabs of Arabescato Fantastico were meticulously book-matched to give the illusion of continuity on the wall, a shelf, a sill, and around corners. The dramatic Italian marble is known for its creamy white background and bold, sweeping veins.
Worthy of its surroundings, a stunning La Cornue range anchors the space.

Project Team
Architecture and interior design: SKM Design
Builder: Oxford Builders
Cabinetry: H&B Woodworking
Photography: Julie Bidwell

A cross section of the space captures its antique styling—from the detailed cabinetry and elegant pulls to the painted marble-tile backsplash.

The gathering island has a furnished feel, thanks to upholstered seating and shaded fixtures.

Sanza Carrara marble tiles from StoneImpressions frame the La Cornue range.

The double faucet is equipped with a HydroTap, which provides cold, boiling, or sparkling water on demand.

Living History

This was a grand sea captain’s Mystic home in its heyday. An extensive renovation ushered it into this century while paying homage to its historic roots, says designer Jonathan Gordon, who was called in to give the kitchen a bespoke turn.

The standards for historic preservation were met (such as working with existing windows), says Gordon of Design by the Jonathans in New Haven. “We went with a classic blue-and-soft-white palette, wood, and gold: a traditional look,” he says. “We leaned into the home’s ‘antique-ness’ and nautical heritage without hitting you over the head.”

Gordon embraced artisanal millwork, especially in the apron-front sink (with brass meshwork doors), the cabinetry concealing the range hood, and the countertop edge profile. The painted-tile backsplash is a standout.

Appliances kick things up a notch: they include a beverage drawer in the island and golden-brass faucets with a HydroTap that provides hot, cold, and sparkling water options. In love with the La Cornue range shade called Wintersky, Gordon asked for a paint sample and took it to True Refrigeration, which used it to color match the refrigerator.

Project Team
Architecture: Mercer Bertsche Vernott Architects
Interior design: Design by the Jonathans
Cabinetry: EHL Kitchens
Photography: Marina Porl

A simple sculptural arch softens the room’s right angles, framing a bold marble backsplash while concealing the range hood. The upholstered leather stools swivel.

The chameleon-like rope lighting fixture is visible at one end of the expansive banquette

Floor-to-ceiling cabinets ensure a clutter-free kitchen.

A concealed coffee bar was a must for the homeowner.

Niches on both sides of the range store essentials like spices and olive oil.

Nature Study

This eat-in Westport kitchen was dubbed the “greenhouse,” a romantic nod to the place where the clients met: a flower shop in Boston’s Faneuil Hall. “The space is inspired by earth, nature, and greenery,” says designer Fiona Leonard of Darien.

The husband and wife were “downsizing in style,” Leonard explains. They wanted everything to be just so in the new kitchen: “It had to be uniquely hers, complete with an all-important (but easily hidden) coffee bar.”

The custom flat-panel island was painted an evocative ultra-dark hue with rich blue-green undertones, a move that inspired the overall palette and vibe. The team chose a timeless mid-tone finish for the oak cabinetry and completed the look with brass pulls. A long, beautiful window was maximized by installing a fourteen-foot banquette. In lieu of a formal dining room, “we did two identical tables with one curved and one straight end,” says Leonard. They can be kept apart for breakfast—or pulled together for entertaining.

The couple splurged on handcrafted LED rope lighting, a flexible, sculptural fixture from Luke Lamp Co. that combines luxury with industrial design.

Project Team
Interior design: Fiona Leonard Interiors
Builder: Coastal
Cabinetry: Attila Milak
Photography: Davidson McCulloh