The mirror-finish surface makes the piece look more like a gorgeous Georgian sideboard than a work island.
The overall result is a sophisticated-looking kitchen and dining area that feels modern yet traditional, with a coffered ceiling spanning both. (The old coffered ceiling in the dining room had to be replaced when the space was enlarged, as were all the floors, because of the difficulty of matching wood once three walls came down.)
The dining half of the room retains its formal ambience, thanks to balanced lighting and chic floor-to-ceiling curtains that pool slightly on the floor.
“The trick is to keep all the details symmetrical and balanced,” said Martin, who added the owners now have the best of both worlds: an open, efficient workspace and an elegant dining area.
She chose linen for the drapes because of the pleasing natural texture, “and for their sense of luxury and quality as the light reflects on them.”
One of the challenges was creating enough storage after taking down so many walls. Martin solved the problem by designing a shallow bank of cupboards for dry goods on the side of the room facing the windows. This broad, new pantry area is about six inches narrower than a typical cabinet, so it’s an efficient space-saver.
“I’m so glad we opened the room up, and I think the transition is beautiful,” said the wife, who especially appreciates the lights over the kitchen island.
The sparkling, German-made pendants add a glow of romance. Made by Schonbek and called Bagatelle, they feature crystal and metal trim.
Long-stemmed wall sconces in the dining area are repeated on either side of the living room fireplace.
One of the major changes, and a subject of more “agonizing” debate during the reno, was whether to brighten all the dark woodwork with paint.
“It was a major stumbling block for the owners,” said Martin, who noted men like the warmth of wood in its natural state. “It’s part of their nature,” she said with a chuckle.
Although it went against the grain initially, both owners now love the light, taupe palette. While they were at it, they replaced all the baseboards, removed some of the plate and picture rails, and took off all the door hardware and replaced it with highly polished nickel.
“When we first moved in it was a lovely and very livable home,” said the wife. “It had been very well cared for, but was just a bit tired. We weren’t sure which designer to hire, but our builder Max suggested Jenny.
“The minute I saw her website I knew she was right for us. She is very detail-oriented, very organized … very good at doing everything.”
Martin said she was able to connect to the owners’ wishes quickly, partly because they have been collecting art for a long time.
“Looking at people’s art helps me tune into them much faster and translate their taste.”
The massive renovation – which covered about two-thirds of the main floor – really began five years ago with a major redesign of the garden.
“An extensive amount of infrastructure went into the garden,” said landscape architect Jonathan Craggs, who trained at the Royal Horticultural Society in Surrey, England, and studied residential landscape design at the Inchbald School of Design in London.
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