Lauren Patel began dreaming of starting over from day one with the early 1900s Victorian kitchen she shares with her husband, Mitul, and their three children. Although much of the Arlington home retained its character, the kitchen, with its dark brown cabinetry and beige backsplash, did not survive. Additionally, the kitchen felt isolated when accessed through the entryway along the side of the house or through a swinging door from the dining room. “I wanted it to feel more like a part of the house and look as if it's always been that way,” says Lauren.
When it comes to its exterior, Lauren chose furniture-like cabinets painted in dull but not too dark tones, and materials that age with age, such as natural marble and unlacquered brass. I wanted to cultivate sensitivity. “I like soulful characters,” says Lauren. “A white kitchen is classic, but it didn't fit the vibe I was looking for.”
To find maximum functionality with their existing footprint and achieve their desired aesthetic, the Patels turned to Lara Shaw. A friend who worked with Shaw on their kitchen told the couple, who had never worked with a designer before, that Shaw would support their vision rather than ignore it. I promised. “Our chemistry was great. We understood each other completely,” says Shaw.
Shaw quickly ushered the couple into a custom-built inset cabinet. “Stock cabinets don't give you that seamless furniture effect,” explains Shaw. “They wanted a cupboard that felt cozy and had a timeless feel.”
The cabinet color is Benjamin Moore Oilcloth, a muted, warm green with hints of grey, which could be considered neutral. “I originally envisioned darker colors, but lighter shades worked better in our house,” says Lauren, recalling a time when she had previously painted her bedroom a dark color, but ended up changing it. say. “It's a bright green, but sometimes it looks dark. It depends on the time of day.”
As for the layout, the L-shaped configuration was left as is, except for a few important adjustments. The refrigerator that was interfering with the back door was replaced with a tower cabinet that hides the toaster, coffee maker, etc. Next, the refrigerator was moved to the adjacent wall, where the cabinets ended. “By replacing the giant slider to the deck with a standard-sized glass door, we were able to move the refrigerator there and expand the cabinetry,” says Shaw.
Perhaps the most valuable move occurred in the sunny, plant-filled vestibule just beyond the back door. Here, Shaw closed off the interior windows leading to the dining room to install a floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinet, solving a major shortcoming. “There's so much food in storage. It's life-changing,” Lauren says.
The focal point of the room is an ivory enamel series with brass trim, an item at the top of Lauren's wish list. She and Shaw experimented with different color options, including dark green and black, before settling on this combination. “I love this feminine approach,” says Lauren. “Lara says it's a jewel in the kitchen. It definitely is.”
A honed Danby marble backsplash and shelving complement the vignette. This must-have feature was inspired by a feature found in influencer Athena Calderone's former Brooklyn brownstone. That said, Lauren envisioned using a stone with similarly strong veining, but Shaw recommended something quieter. “The stone was so flashy, so trendy, with black, gray and gold stripes, that it cost three times as much,” says Shaw. “It has movement, depth of color, and stays within your budget.”
This stone carried over into the island, which Shaw was able to extend after deciding to widen the opening between the dining room and kitchen to create a better connection between the spaces. Lauren embraces the idea of patina, that natural stone develops over time. The unlacquered brass pendant lights by deVOL, a British brand that accentuates the overall atmosphere of the kitchen, will show some age over time, just like the unlacquered brass bridge faucet.
The renovated kitchen matches the integrity of the Victorian home and is suitable for the family of five living there. “We're a down-to-earth young family and we're not very formal, and the kitchen reflects that,” Lauren says. “Lara gave us as much practicality as possible, but she made it beautiful at the same time.”
