fast facts
location: New Jersey square feet: 156 Style: Cottage-inspired L-shape
fun fact: Though the island looks like a basic table, it has drawers for storage.
Chrome fixtures, hardware, and accessories add shine inside this beach house kitchen. “The retro bar stools and light fixture bring a little urban vibe into the bungalow,� interior designer Jules Duffy says.
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everyday getaway A stroke of luck turns a weekend retreat into a full-time home. w r i t t e n b y Amber dawn barz p h o t o g r a p h e r Tria Giovan f i e l d e d i t o r Lauren Payne
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Visiting the beach is nice, but living there is a dream come true.
A job change enabled the owner of this seaside cottage to sell his permanent home in a nearby city and move to the Jersey Shore full-time. The tranquil setting offers enticing views and a host of leisure activities he can enjoy any day of the week. The challenge the move presented was to turn what had worked as a casual weekend retreat into a more functional and attractive home. Specifically, the kitchen and adjoining rooms needed to better accommodate business and casual get-togethers as well as the owner’s growing passion for cooking. Two professionals, kitchen designer Mark Arthur and interior designer Jules Duffy, helped with the transition. “The original kitchen had nice natural light thanks to a pair of windows and two skylights,” Arthur says. “But the layout was a very odd U-shape. A peninsula that had cabinets hanging above it split the work area into two tiny rooms that limited work space and made it nearly impossible to entertain.” opposite: The cooking area gains prominence thanks to a decorative tile backsplash and a display shelf above the range. above: The chicken-wire door inset draws attention to the owner’s glassware collection. above right: Varied shades of blue and green in the backsplash tile add a refreshing burst of color. right: A 30-inch professional-style range provides cooking precision in the same amount of space as a standard range.
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The solution was relatively simple: Rip out the peninsula and open up the 13×12-foot room to create an L-shape work core with a center island. “The new layout works well with the vaulted ceiling and makes the kitchen look and live larger,” Arthur says. It also makes working and entertaining in the room more comfortable. Guests can sit at the island and enjoy the company of the cook or move from the kitchen to the adjacent dining room without creating a traffic bottleneck. Multiple space-expanding strategies keep the room feeling airy. For starters, the table-style island increases the amount of open floor space. Open shelves add to the room’s perceived depth. “We raised the cabinets above the sink to provide more headroom and clearance for a high-arc faucet,” Arthur says. “The stair-step cabinet design also draws attention to the room’s high ceiling.” To maximize storage, Arthur chose tall wall cabinets and extended some of them down to counter height. He also included several large drawers below the counter. “Drawers often provide more storage than cabinets fitted with pullouts,” Arthur says. “And you can grab what you need in one quick motion.” The color scheme further expands the room’s perceived dimensions and complements the home’s cottage style. “The beveled carrara marble subway tiles add depth and sophistication, yet retain the crisp, clean feeling we were trying to achieve,” Duffy says. “The light stone also contrasts well with the black counters.” Colors used in the adjoining dining room and living area were drawn from the tile backsplash behind the range. “The combination of fabrics and finishes in the three rooms works to create a relaxing living space with a touch of sophistication,” Duffy says. KBI Resources begin on page 132. opposite: A plate rack and open shelves receive additional design panache thanks to an arched cornice and wide crown molding. “The stair-step cabinet arrangement also makes the area a focal point,” kitchen designer Mark Arthur says. above right: In the dining room, pinch-pleated sheers installed near the ceiling line draw the eye up, making the ceiling appear higher. right: The colors in the living room and dining area were inspired by the cool tones of the range backsplash tile.
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