KITCHENS AT THE CORE

By relocating this kitchen from the back of the home, it’s more centralized, functional, and gleaming with distinction.

Across the board, we generally start with the kitchen as the base of the master plan for a home,”says interior designer Jayme Kennerknecht, principal at Kennerknecht Design Group, a fullservice interior and architectural design firm in Beverly, MA. “And in the kitchen, we generally begin with the appliances.”

In one of her firm’s most recent projects, a client’s new ski house, the Sub-Zero refrigerator and Wolf range were the first items she ordered. “There is such great brand recognition, quality, and value with their products,” says Kennerknecht. “My clients are familiar with them and want all the features those appliances offer.”

For Kennerknecht and her team, the client conversation begins with understanding how they will live in their home and use their kitchen. “Will they have lots of folks visiting, so we should be looking at plenty of wine and beverage storage?” she says, “Will they be cooking holiday meals and need double ovens? Do they have little ones in the family that have to have easy-to-access refrigerator drawers? Maybe the kitchen is the first thing guests see when they enter the home, so let’s design a stunning, decorative range hood.” She provided exactly that for a client who wanted their Beacon Hill kitchen to make a statement. “The hood above the Wolf range is over eight feet tall, but it fits the space and their aesthetic,” says Kennerknecht. “We were working with a vaulted ceiling height and top floor kitchen placement,” she says, describing a grand entrance that leads directly into the kitchen of the multi-floor townhouse, “We thought, how do we embrace and enhance this volume? So we ordered a custom hood to help express that grandeur. We allowed this big beautiful, impressive range hood to be a central focus in the space.”

The glass backsplash behind the range was the driver for the rest of the kitchen’s taupe and black palette, including the large, central island. “The client expressed the desire to have seating suitable for a family meal, so instead of the long bar-like island with stools in a row, we intentionally allowed for seating at the end of the island so the family can sit across from each other.”

Other clients prefer to have the more functional aspects of their kitchen appear more subtle. “Some clients are interested in toning down the utilitarian look of their cooking space and seek panel-front, built-in appliances.” Sub-Zero, in particular, has fantastic customization-within-cabinetry options that allow for seamless integration with any design aesthetic. “We look at how we can make the kitchen feel potentially more approachable for the homeowner and then source the appropriate appliance to facilitate that.”

Kennerknecht believes that her team’s job is to make recommendations and then use their resources and knowledge about what’s available to find the best match for each client. “It is all about understanding how our clients live, and then we can design to that lifestyle.”

It’s one of the hardest-working rooms in your house, used by your family and guests throughout the day. Unlike a primary bathroom hidden away in a suite, the powder room is seen by virtually everyone experiencing your house, so why not make it a showpiece with features that are a bit funky or fancy?

“What I love about powder rooms is they are an excellent opportunity to do something more on trend, something you might be nervous about green-lighting in a larger space,” says Elena Mancini, a designer at Kohler Signature Store in Burlington, Massachusetts. “Because a powder room has less square footage, you can choose a higher-end stone tile or faucet or vanity and still stay within budget. It’s the perfect place to spend a little extra for maximum impact.”

Mancini, a six-year Kohler veteran with a bachelor’s degree in interior design, brings both a designer’s eye and technical knowledge to every project she tackles. Here is her advice on adding flavor to this utilitarian space.

COLOR “Don’t be afraid to go dark, like partnering a dramatic wall color with a complementary geometric floor tile. And don’t forget the ceiling, which is a great opportunity to employ a bold color or wallpaper. Wallpaper has made a comeback in recent years—so many interesting patterns to choose from.”

TILE “The unique, well-curated collections of Ann Sacks tile, applied on an entire wall or the floor, can speak volumes without breaking the budget. I like tiling walls at least halfway up for ease of cleaning but also for another layer of texture, which makes a room feel more well-designed.”

TOILET “I always recommend Kohler’s intelligent toilet for the primary bathroom but also for the powder room. This toilet opens, closes, and flushes automatically plus pampers with a heated seat, water cleansing, and air drying.”

Go bold in the powder room with dark walls, elaborate patterns, and custom fixtures.

Kohler Artist Edition sinks come in a variety of exquisite designs and materials.

FIXTURES “Try an eye-catching metal, like Kohler’s modern brushed brass that presents as a very saturated gold. We can even match your toilet’s trip lever to your faucet. Mixing metals, like brushed brass with polished nickel, or matte black with chrome, is a big trend right now. When done right, the effect can be stunning.”

SINKS “Our Artist Editions bathroom sinks offer high-end, artistic designs that are perfect for powder rooms. When the primary use is hand washing, you don’t need a full-size sink.”

ACCESSORIES “Kohler’s Essentials line boasts mirrors with unique shapes and intriguing frames. Consider pendant lights or even a statement chandelier instead of flush mounts for extra glam and visual interest.”

BY KELLY MCCOY