Clients with contemporary taste called on interior designer Sara Swabb of Storie Collective for a makeover of their 1936 Tudor-style home. Working with Unique Kitchens & Baths, Swabb found a happy middle ground in the kitchen, which punctuates an Old World feel with fresh, modern elements. “The owners love Portuguese design, so we brought in character and interest through that to reflect their modern aesthetic,” she recounts. Situated at the back of the house, the kitchen felt cut off from the other rooms. The new plan remedied this flaw by replacing a wall that separated the kitchen and dining room with a peninsula that opens up the space. Portuguese-inspired niches house the range and prep sink.

UKB fabricated and installed cabinets designed by Swabb, who partners with the firm on a cabinetry line. “The challenge was to fit everything into this tiny space,” comments UKB’s Tanya Smith-Shiflett. Painted in Benjamin Moore’s Aegean Olive, the cabinets continue a color thread found throughout the residence. Swabb used tile extensively—a hallmark of Portuguese design. Bejmat natural-terracotta tile flooring is laid in stacked and herringbone patterns, while the walls are entirely covered in glazed zellige tiles. Terracotta tiles in a bold motif accent the range niche. Lighting and plumbing fixtures impart a modern vibe.

PROJECT TEAM
Kitchen Design: Sara Swabb, Storie Collective. Cabinetry Design & Fabrication: Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens & Baths. Renovation Architecture: District Architecture Studio.

KITCHEN DETAILS
CABINETRY: uniquekitchensandbaths.net. COUNTERTOPS: Taj Mahal quartzite through imaginesurfaces.com. WALL & FLOOR TILE: cletile.com. RANGE BACKSPLASH: architessa.com. FAUCET: calfaucets.com. APPLIANCES: fisherpaykel.com, bosch.com, bluestarcooking.com through build.com. PENDANT: vakkerlight.com. CAFE TABLE: chairish.com.