“There wasn't a bidding war, but there was a lot of work,” Carolyn Salinetti said of the 2,000-square-foot fixer-upper she and her husband bought in Melrose about 10 years ago. Nice light, a decent layout, and nice architectural details attracted the designer who owns Blissful Interiors to her 1940s cape cod.
It wasn't the chipped kitchen cabinets or red Formica countertops that got them involved. They quickly replaced them and did several other things to make the house livable. After checking out other simple fixes on their list, the couple discovered that the back of their house was no longer structurally sound due to termites. “We saved up for an extension and prayed the house wouldn’t collapse in the meantime,” she says.
Five years later, Salinetti worked with architect Emily Lammert to design a two-story addition measuring 250 square feet. The primary suite, with a deep window seat and walk-in closet that's the envy of the neighborhood, sits above the family's new kitchen, and while it's definitely not a '40s relic, it feels right at home. “We didn't want a shiny white kitchen,” Salinetti says. “We wanted a cozy feel that blended in with the rest of the house.”
The kitchen is located to the rear of the dining room, with a very wide case-like opening connecting the two spaces. Cabinets surround three walls, creating a highly functional U-shaped layout with a central island, essential for a family of five. The old kitchen has become a mudroom, another essential, and a walk-in pantry can now be installed.
Color was the key to fostering a homely atmosphere and cheerfulness. Salinetti chose a rich teal hue for the transitional-style cabinetry. This is a color she describes as neither green nor blue. “The way it looks changes depending on the light,” she says. She was particularly enamored with how it complemented the brass trim on her GECafé appliances, which she noticed and ultimately selected. The hardware also boasts a brass finish, with simple, unrefined knobs and a crisp backplate.
The original kitchen lacked windows, but this one has three windows over the farmhouse sink that open to the backyard, and a window that overlooks the backyard, all polished. It features a sill that steps down to a polished Pegasus marble countertop. “I'm all about the feel of things,” Salinetti says. “Polished marble is one of her favorite materials to touch.” When it comes to maintenance, she doesn't worry about it. What's more, most of the preparation takes place on an island above the butcher's block.
Textured glossy ceramic tiles in a variety of whites continue to the ceiling, adding subtle interest and warmth. Walnut shelving enhances the effect and displays items Salinetti treasures, including a dinosaur planter her son gave her as a birthday present. “All of our personalities are here,” says the mother of three.
Schumacher's “Citrus Garden” Roman shades are a colorful, cheerful, yet sophisticated (not to mention iconic) pattern that encouraged Salinetti to incorporate a variety of colors into his schemes. “Thanks to the awning, we were able to surround the island with pink counter stools,” Salinetti says with delight.
The island itself is clad in walnut butcher block, a material Salinetti decided to use from the beginning. “It brings so much warmth and connects with that old feeling that I wanted,” she says. A white dome pendant with a metallic gold interior resonates with the appliance palette and emits a golden light at night, offering an unexpected view to those who look up.
Behind the island is a walk-in pantry with a custom walnut door with wavy seeded glass. Not one to waste a design opportunity, Salinetti quickly decided to turn the pantry into a decorative pantry rather than just a random box of cereal boxes. Due to the shallow depth, we custom-ordered the shelves to be painted with Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor, a blue-grey cast with charcoal. Light-colored butcher block countertops offset the dark colors, while painted ceramic knobs, ceiling wallpaper, and pink flush-mount light fixtures add style. “The combination of these elements feels historical,” says Salinetti.
But perhaps the kitchen's most appealing feature is the spice cabinet, built from the home's original ironing board closet and now painted robin's egg blue. Easy-to-clean glass shelves provide easy access to alphabetized bottles with retro hand-written labels. “We carefully removed and reinstalled the top part before the demo,” Salinetti says. “We also retained the hinges. We boiled down 80 years of paint.” Features like this made Fixer's uppers worth the effort.
Learn more about the project team
Interior designer: blissful interior
architect: Lammert Design Studio
engineer: bouchard engineering
