Kitchens
2. Black, White and BoldDesigner: Christine Vroom of Christine Kimberlee DesignsLocation: Los AngelesSize: 260 square feet (24 square meters); 20 by 13 feetHomeowners’ request. “The vision the homeowners wanted at first was classic and timeless white,” says designer Christine Vroom, who collaborated with her clients through Houzz ideabooks. “Well, as you can see, we started venturing into a much more glamorous and elegant version of that classic white. They wanted bespoke, unique, custom — something you don’t see on every corner in the Los Angeles area. The theme then became high-end, chic and edgy, yet still having classic roots with the high contrast of the black and white.” Elegant features. Custom brass-and-zinc range hood. Black cabinet details (Black Knight by Benjamin Moore). Calacatta Michelangelo marble slab island countertop. Thassos marble backsplash in chevron pattern. “The features that give this kitchen grand luxury are definitely the tile selections, the high-contrast features and the scale of the appliances,” Vroom says. “Although the backsplash was a more modern pattern, the subtle glimmer and sparkles of the Thassos make it feel really ritzy and tone down the tre...
2. Sunny Side UpSomething magical happens when sunlight hits brass fixtures, light wood floors and creamy cabinets (here, it’s the fittingly titled Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore). Michelle Mentzer designed a winning recipe for this welcoming vibe. Even the gray-tiled backsplash and granite countertop add to the visual softness.See more of this home
Floral White OC-29 by Benjamin MooreInterior designer Jenni Leasia calls this shade “under the radar.” She’s found that it works well in the Pacific Northwest, where gray skies are common. In this photo, she used it on all the trim and cabinetry.“I have used it on ceilings in a house where we wanted to keep them bright but soft,” she says. “It’s perfect for cabinetry, where clients want white, but not bright white. Sometimes when we show a swatch to a client, they will think it is too creamy, but it really reads as white — a soft, creamy, easy-to-live-with white.” Depending on the light, the designer says, sometimes it reads a little more white, sometimes a little more creamy, but it never looks yellow or washed-out gray.
1. Transitional Designer: Gabriele PizzaleLocation: Etobicoke, Ontario, CanadaSize: 247 square feet (22.9 square meters); 21½ by 11½ feet (6.5 by 3.5 meters)Homeowners’ request: Transform a 1950s galley kitchen without upper cabinets by building an addition on the back of the home and creating an open-concept layout with lots of light.Gray and white: White Shaker-style cabinetry with custom molding. Charcoal gray painted island. Gray-and-white herringbone-patterned backsplash. Quartz countertop that resembles marble. Stainless steel sink and appliances. Oil-rubbed bronze pendants. Dark gray stools.Other special features: Skylights. Glass-paneled door to the backyard. Hardwood floors. Large-scale pendant lights.
After: By moving the refrigerator to a different location, the cooking area, with a stainless 30-inch five-burner gas range, now feels comfortable and spacious. Above the range is a custom shiplap hood with white oak detail that plays off the end caps on the island. Bryan and Lisa’s collection of black pottery inspired the color palette for the herringbone backsplash, made of handmade black tiles with a light gray grout. “We wanted both the tiles and herringbone pattern to pop,” Klimala says. “I like the texture of the pattern, and I love the drama of it. It’s definitely a ‘wow’ kind of tile.”
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