Boston's Tuxedo Kitchen takes inspiration from James Bond

Craziest splurge: The homeowners had their eye on a La Cornue range, so they were thrilled when Dana suggested it. “The French aesthetic fits with Tuxedo's concept, and as they love to cook, it made sense for them to invest in a top-of-the-line range,” the designer says. The marble backsplash was also pricey, so they offset the cost by using quartz for the countertops.

Best save: But the biggest savings came when they forgo a custom banquette in favor of West Elm's modular system, which cost $4,100, one-third the price of the custom option. “It's so comfortable, chic, and fits the corner's specific dimensions down to the inch,” Dana says.

Best part: It celebrates the charm of this 1840 brownstone by leaning into the intricacies and occasional quirks of the existing situation, which serve as a guide.

Things I never want to do again: “I can't think of any!” Dana says. “If I have second thoughts during a project, I just address them and fix them as they come up.”

Final bill: Homeowners estimate the costs will be about 1.5 to 2 times what they expected.

rear: The owners followed their real estate agent's advice and decided to live in the house for a year before making any big decisions, and when their 4-year-old son dictated his breakfast order in the bathroom (the bathroom door opened into the kitchen), they knew it was time to get started. The new powder room tucks neatly into the corner of a small hallway that also leads to the basement. Dana painted it a burgundy (Brinjal by Farrow & Ball) that matches the brick walls. “Using a color that's already in the original materials means you're not really adding another color,” she says.

Joyelle West Photography