In this historic treasure, the marriage of old and new can be found in the unique design details.
Story by Ann Butenas | Photos courtesy of Kohler Signature Store
If you can’t take your eyes off of this fabulous kitchen, we can’t blame you. It was part of an overall historic home remodeling effort and this space is a show-stopping masterpiece. It’s layers of design and authentic personality make entertaining effortless and just spending quality time at home with family so relaxing.
With the new design overseen and created by design consultant Shelby Tillman of Kohler Signature Store by First Supply, this project required a keen eye for the historic presence of the home while bringing it into the 21st century.
“The idea was to keep it current, clean and fresh but to also be mindful of what was initially there and not take it too far,” noted Tillman. “The combination of new and old elements was important in this design, and we also wanted to make sure the kitchen would flow with the rest of the house.”
Tillman was excited to work with the homeowners, as their tastes were quite similar, which made pulling the entire look together much easier.
“Shelby did an amazing job of incorporating a modern take on a very traditional design, and we love it,” expressed the homeowner. “She was so amazing to work with and the outcome was far better than we anticipated. She designed it so well.”
Many elements came together to make this kitchen embrace both form and function. A wall was removed to open up the space and what was formerly the dining room was transformed into a casual hearth room for the family to gather.
“We love the openness to the space, as the kids can do their homework at the island; we can have the fireplace on and watch TV and not feel as if we are all on top of each other while still enjoying the same space,” noted the homeowner.
Some of the notable aspects of this kitchen include the custom-finish brass Bridge faucet, which is a part of Kohler’s Artifacts line.
“The island makes the faucet a focal point,” indicated Tillman. “It pops from wherever you see it, giving it an early 20th century look, which is our nod to the historic personality of the home.”
Gracing the walls is a multiple stone mosaic tile by Ann Sacks, which was custom ordered. The tile is comprised of four stone elements: honey onyx, Thasos marble, shell and Calcutta marble. The warmth of that design was then pulled down to the countertops, which are made of Calcutta marble.
“It was our first choice of tile for the master bathroom remodel we did last year,” recalled Tillman. “However, we couldn’t get it made within the short deadline we had, so we made a quick recovery and were able to use in the kitchen as another focal point.”
Other features include all new appliances, a wine fridge, as well as a Kohler Whitehaven cast iron sink within the island; and a built-in microwave by the refrigerator. The island also boasts a confident navy color that is beautifully complemented by the warm beige perimeter cabinets. Brass knobs and pulls add the perfect finishing touches to the space.
