Kitchen

The residents, Marjon Helder and Martin Blankendaal, salvaged wood from the previous house that stood on the lot and used it to craft the cabinetry in the kitchen. In the adjacent living room, oversize wood spools, once used to hold cable wire, serve as coffee tables. The Skyflyer pendants were designed in 1960 by Yki Nummi.

"Everyone who visits speaks of the warmth created by the timber lining boards and the interest of the raked ceiling in the kitchen,” says homeowner Sarah.

Not every client-designer relationship would have thrived under such extreme circumstances, but Dovey credits Sarah and Ben’s attitude for the project’s success. “They were observant and thoughtful, and really took the time to ask all the right questions,” says Dovey. “In the end, it went so well just because of the great relationships.”

In their query letter, Ben and Sarah were clear that they wanted a home that could accommodate all of life’s messes. “We don't want a white display kitchen that only looks good when it's clean and not in use. We want our kitchen to be able to work hard. We love to cook and when we do, there are usually lots of things on the go and a mess being made.”

The all-black kitchen adds stark contrast to the crisp white walls and ceilings. A long island provides ample space to meal-prep while the custom cabinetry offers plenty of storage.

The main house presents a sleek kitchen, complete with black quartz countertops, all new appliances, and a large central island.

Adding storage under the new stair maximizes the kitchen's footprint. Hemlock wood on the stair was stained to complement the casework. The faucet is from Brizo and the green backsplash tile is Heath.

Travertine and copper Meta Ochre suspension lamps from David Pompa add some shine and texture into the interior.

The study room's malleable screens is a novel way to give privacy to the study room without closing it up completely.

Red Line Woodworking fashioned new fronts for the existing solid oak cabinetry.

The kitchen and bathrooms have brass faucets sourced from Etsy seller BrassPure that will patina overtime. Ceramic dish wares and custom cabinets give the kitchen an earthly, lived in feeling.

The refrigerator has vintage charm, but is brand new, a Northstar by Elmira Stove Works. Similarly, the hexagonal floor tile is new, but the retro pattern is a natural with the original wood timber teams.

The brass light switch to the left of the brick hearth is original to the home and provided inspiration for the brass fixtures on the cabinetry and range.

During the restoration process, the couple uncovered the original wooden beams and brick hearth. To emphasize the European cottage style, they installed a French range and kept cabinets and shelves at an almost rustic simplicity.