Creating a kitchen with a typical Vineyard feel is much easier when you have an experienced kitchen designer. And the man behind the much admired island in her kitchen is Nina Howell, design guru at Vineyard Home Center. Nina majored in art and made jewelry, but when she moved to the Vineyard full-time with her family 14 years ago, she took her talents to the kitchen and her design realm. brought to. Through her work at her Vineyard home improvement store, Nina has developed valuable partnerships with her contractors and customers. And by mastering the art of creating kitchens, Vineyard Home Center has earned her top honors in Martha's Vineyard magazine's Best of the Vineyard contest in the Best of Kitchen Design category for the fifth year in a row. We've helped you get it.
Q. What can you tell me about the Vineyard Design Center, located within the expansive Vineyard Home Center?
— Ray Ewing
A. We have a lumber yard, a hardware store, and we sell windows, doors, and everything you need to build or renovate a home. And right here in the middle of it all, our design center focuses on cabinetry, hardware, countertops, and backsplashes. All materials arrive at our sister company, Hinkley Home Center on the Cape, without the additional shipping charges you would incur with Cape Cod Express. It is transported here by truck twice a week.
Q. I should mention that you are part of the fifth generation of the Moore family of Island artists. Your brother Allie is an art director and his brother Andrew is a fine artist.
A. That's why when I design a kitchen, I always leave space for art. Our mother was an artist and high school art teacher, and our father was an architect. We were always doing art projects since we were kids. My interest was soft sculptures using fabrics and jewelry. I learned a lot from my father, who would take me to see the designs he was working on. For me, the design of the kitchen was spot on.
Q. What is the role of Vineyard kitchens in modern home design?
A. It's definitely a hangout place. And generally people want to keep things simple with clean lines. Most clients clearly want their home to look different than their off-island home. When I help clients who live here, they want the same clean look: glass doors and open shelving. I like the look of open shelving, but I'm always wary of dust, especially if I have renters. It's not very practical.
Q. Good hint, but it's too late for me. Are there any specific materials you instruct your clients to use to achieve this simple, clean design?
A. I think it's a discussion about the appearance of the cabinets: raised panels vs. flat panels. Raised panels are more decorative, but most tend toward flat panel doors. There are lots of different options for flat panels with simple trims.
Q. What hardware statement would you suggest for a simple flat panel cabinet? A. People do a lot of things. That's the fun part about them! Q. Is it usually true when the customers are having a lot of fun?
A. The customer is always right. I guide — I always give my opinion — but they don't have to accept it.
Q. Are there trends toward more environmentally friendly furniture manufacturing and materials?
A. The paint finish is durable and environmentally friendly. They've come a long way with it.
— Ray Ewing
Q. Let's talk about new cabinets and refurbishing existing cabinets. After all, does it cost as much as building new cabinets?
A. My advice is, if you are happy with the current layout and the interior of the cabinet (boxes and sliding doors) is in good condition, it is possible. There's no point in starting to change the layout. If your cabinets are in good condition, you can be happy with painting them and installing new countertops, knobs, and handles.
Q. What are some other strategies to save money on kitchen projects?
A. There are many ways to save money. There are certainly different door styles. Some people may like one style, but there's another style that's a little different, and that style costs two levels less.
Q. What about countertops?
A.It's the same thing. If the vendor has the countertop in stock, it will be significantly cheaper than custom-made. Again, if they say they love this counter, I ask, “Can you love this (stock item)?” I guide them through several options to ensure they save money.
Q. What is the good direction for stock countertops? What is your favorite?
A. There are granite, natural quartz, marble, etc. I love natural stone, but it's not very durable and can be a little busy.There are also many artifacts [engineered] A non-porous and stain-resistant quartz product. Perfect for rentals and if you want a more subdued look.
Q. When I built my kitchen, I was excited about the trendy color choice, but three years later I no longer see that color (gray!) in design magazines.
A. That's why I don't really follow trends. I just think the trend will die out. I like my clients to think about their favorite colors and think about what they would like to use in their home. If you're looking through magazines and see a color that you like, that's great, but don't google the trendiest colors of the day and go for it.
Q. Is there one cabinet color that is always best?
white. There are a lot of white people. My favorite is Executive Cabinetry's Frosty White. It's a step down from white, has a bit of warmth, and pairs well with a variety of countertops. You can add color to the details of decorations, tableware, and paintings, or you can add color to your backsplash, where there are many options.
Q. What advice do you have regarding storage solutions?
A. When I design, I always like my clients to take the design plans back to the kitchen, mark them up, and see if they need more space for utensils, trays, bowls, etc. It's good practice because everyone stores things differently. A built-in microwave in a hood with a fan is also a great solution for small kitchens. I love the small beverage fridge on the kitchen island. Where to place your coffee machine is an important discussion.
Q. How does the contractor-client relationship work?
A. Most of my clients are sent to me by contractors, and we go through design books together. You can then do your own field measurements and design using a program that includes all companies to incorporate all of the different cabinet choices.
Q. If I start this spring, when can I see my new kitchen?
A. Unless you want your kitchen in the fall, April is the worst time to start a project. If you want to build your kitchen in the summer, start in the fall. It takes 7-12 weeks to make your furniture. No matter what happens, plan for at least three months.
Q. How many kitchens are currently in production?
A. There are probably 15 kitchens in different stages. It used to be that spring was busy, fall was busy, and summer and winter less so, but the lines are becoming blurred.
Q. Lastly, what does your kitchen look like?
A. It is white with quartz counters. I have a lot of great works. It's easy when you have a few artists in your family. But the smartest thing we did was a bay window. If you have a small kitchen, just open it. As an accent, the bay window has a counter that is different from the kitchen.
Sissy Biggers is a regular contributor to Vine and a frequent contributor to Martha's Vineyard Magazine.
Vineyard Kitchens – White for the Win
Kitchens with mostly white cabinetry are popular at The Vineyard because of their clean, coastal, and timeless appeal. Nina Howell of Vineyard Home Center recommends starting with white and adding another color to your artwork, backsplash, countertops, and perhaps your island cabinet. Photo: Nina Howell.
left: The owners of this kitchen incorporated Grandma's old butcher block into the new cabinets and accented it with a custom backsplash. right: This mostly white Vineyard kitchen is accented with the muted seafoam color of the island cabinets.
left: The owners of this Vineyard kitchen chose a full-height quartz backsplash behind the stove. Existing brickwork adds texture. right: Well-placed artwork, a blue subway tile backsplash, and a dark countertop in the sink area add pops of color to this clean open kitchen.
