Tour Timeless Connecticut Kitchens

Clean lines, light, and symmetry shine in this from-scratch baker’s kitchen. It features custom cabinets, marble countertops, and a striking accent color that reads as blue: Regent Green from Benjamin Moore.

The designer immediately saw the transformative power of opening up the space, and the clearly defined work triangle is a baker’s dream.

The marble slab chosen for the island features soft, gracefully swirling gray tones.

The sink in the powder room was fabricated from a marble remnant called Fusion Wow; the paint is Anchor from Portola Paints.

Baked Goods
The size of the kitchen in this Westport home was never an issue. The problem was how it related to the rest of the house, which is to say, not at all. Designer Elana Tenenbaum Cline of Carta Creatives in Southport helped her client reimagine the space, proposing a renovation. By taking down two walls and opening up the kitchen to the living area, the flow of the home was transformed. “In the end, the overall footprint was increased by only 400 square feet,” but now the hardworking kitchen is much more functional, says Cline: “It’s also a place to gather.”

Those were the fundamentals. At the same time, Cline collaborated closely with the homeowner, a passionate baker who sought to tailor the space to her needs. She wanted ample workspace, dedicated storage for all manner of baking accoutrements, and the perfect pantry.

Cline delivered—in style. The cabinets are custom, and the countertops are crafted from a refined gray-and-white Italian marble. For sheer drama in a nearby powder room, Cline had the entire sink—front, sides, insert—constructed of a complementary marble.

Project Team
Interior and Architectural Design: Carta Creatives
Builder: Craftworks Construction
Photography: Adam Kane Macchia
Styling: Gina Ciotti

Simplicity is the hallmark of this classic all-white kitchen with Carrara marble countertops and a wide swath of ceramic subway tile.

The kitchen is more than the sum of its parts thanks to its functionality and tried-and-true materials

The bar area isn’t directly adjacent to the calming kitchen, so it got a different treatment: dramatic lighting and a jolt of color.

The coffee bar can be hidden but gets everyday use.

Timeless Palette

It had been a while since Sarah Blank designed an all-white kitchen, but she was up to the task. She and her team at Sarah Blank Design Studio (with offices in Greenwich and Washington, Connecticut) specialize in luxury kitchens, and she found it refreshing to turn a nineties spec kitchen in New Canaan into a functional, tranquil space. Her client finds it calming, which is exactly what they both had in mind.

The game changer was Blank’s treatment of the sink, in particular, the window above the sink. By replacing a short casement window with a taller and wider three-lite one, she allowed more natural light into the room, and framed a lovely view of trees and sky.

No expense was spared in designing what Blank sums up as a “very simple, very classic” kitchen. Yes, it’s white-on-white, but it’s also nuanced, with a mix of textures.

The homeowner not only loves the look of the new kitchen, he loves the feel of it too—from fixtures to finishes. “He told me it was worth every penny because he touches, uses, and enjoys everything every day,” says Blank.

Project Team
Interior design and builder: Sarah Blank Design Studio
Photography: Neil Landino