Clients in Annapolis wished to renovate their circa-1980s open-plan kitchen/family room, where they spend the majority of their time. They hired designer Erin Paige Pitts to create a more functional layout and a fresh, modern sensibility.
What surprised Pitts was the couple’s wish for a contemporary aesthetic, which contrasted strongly with the traditional style of the rest of the house. “They came to me with lots of pictures of very modern spaces,” she recalls. To bridge the contrast, she opted for what she calls “a layered modern look with wonderful finishes that convey warmth and interest.”
Dropped soffits and an awkwardly angled peninsula gave the original kitchen a dated look. Pitts removed the soffits and replaced the peninsula with a long, spacious island that would be convenient to every part of the kitchen and provide a spot for casual meals. Silestone counters and textured backsplash tile from Porcelanosa add to the modern vibe.
To keep the room bright, Pitts combined gleaming, white-lacquered upper cabinets with warm, gray-stained wenge lower cabinets that ground the space and create visual interest. She installed a wet bar at one end of the island, using frosted-glass cabinets and a metal mosaic-tile backsplash that complements the rest of the space.
Metallic light fixtures from Urban Electric hang above the island and sleek, modern stools offer plenty of seating. Open shelves in front of the windows hold purple accent pieces that pick up the colors in the rest of the room. v
• DETAILS •
Cabinetry & Stools: Snaidero USA; snaidero-usa.com. Countertops: Silestone through Atlas Stone Fabricators; atlasstonefabricators.com. Appliances: Sub-Zero and Miele through Ferguson; ferguson.com. Backsplash: Porcelain tile through Porcelanosa (porcelanosa-usa.com); metal mosaic tile through SICIS; sicis.com. Sink & Faucets: Brizo; brizo.com Lighting: The Urban Electric Company; urban electricco.com. Flooring: Walnut, Carlisle Wide Plank Floors; wideplankflooring.com.
INTERIOR & KITCHEN DESIGN: Erin Paige Pitts, Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, Gibson Island, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: Geoffrey Hodgdon.
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