A Neutral Kitchen in Newton

Finished with high-gloss lacquer, the cabinets in the new butler’s pantry feature glass shelves and mirrored backs. Phillip Jeffries’s “Shine” wallcovering and a Striato Olimpico marble countertop complete the iridescent look. / Photo by Sheryl Kalis Photography

Location: Newton
Size: 500 square feet

Creating an inviting place for family gatherings was paramount for these Newton homeowners, who craved an airy kitchen with plenty of counter space and storage. “The kitchen hadn’t been renovated in more than 30 years,” says designer Jennifer Stuart, of Metropolitan Cabinets & Countertops. “Our concept was to open it up as much as possible to make the layout more workable.” In this case, that meant ditching an unhelpful peninsula and doubling the size of the previous island. Covered in durable Florim porcelain, the new, nearly 13-foot piece boasts alderwood cabinets and drawers, darker counterparts to the white-painted maple cabinets installed along the walls. Many of the island’s built-ins are outfitted with inserts that help partition internal space. “Sectioning off the kitchen in whatever ways you can makes everything more efficient,” Stuart says.

While functionality ranked high on the owners’ wish list, aesthetic appeal was important, too. To that end, the revamped space boasts an eclectic yet complementary mix of materials, including patterned glass (evident in some of the upper cabinets), Cambria stone counters, and eye-catching marble tile for the wall near the sink. “Texture has been a big part of our design in the last couple years,” Stuart says. “Doing a kitchen in one finish doesn’t translate the same way as a kitchen done in several.”

Porcelain tile flooring runs throughout the kitchen, which includes a sunny dining area. / Photo by Sheryl Kalis Photography

Photo by Sheryl Kalis Photography

THE FACT FILE
Contractor Chilton Development Company
Appliances Sub-Zero refrigerator and Wolf range and wall ovens, all Clarke.
Backsplash Florim porcelain, European Granite & Marble Group; “Luminous Beam” marble with silver, Akdo; alderwood.
Countertop Florim porcelain, European Granite & Marble Group; “White Cliff” stone, Cambria.
Flooring Iris “Memo” porcelain, Ideal Tile.

See the rest of the Kitchens Guide 2018.