Traditional with a Twist

When the owners of this 1980s home in Mamaroneck opted to renovate their dated kitchen, it wasn't to go more modern, but more traditional. To bring the space into the 21st century yet give it a timeless quality that could go the distance, they turned to interior designer Linda Blair of Scarsdale-based Blair Interiors Group, who has a flair for adding just enough drama to classic designs that they appear firmly rooted yet utterly updated.

To open up the kitchen, Blair removed a wall to the adjacent family room, establishing a better flow. She swapped tired beige cabinets for lighter and brighter ones from the French Country Collection by Luxor, a line from St. Jerome Canada for which Blair is a dealer. The creamy color, Orchid, has a striated finish with a glaze. The look was re-created by a professional painter on French glass mullioned doors from Home Depot that lead to storage closets and rooms beyond.
Bringing the cabinets to the ceiling does double duty: in addition to producing a more current aesthetic, it also provides the extra storage the homeowners craved.

An oversized island-one of Blair's trademarks-offered both a gathering spot and a workspace (a Thermador range makes cooking while chatting with guests a cinch). “I like to do big islands, the bigger the better. It just grounds a kitchen,” Blair says. Adding interesting touches on the island-such as column-like details that echo the columns that separate the kitchen and family room-presents “extra dimension and character.”

Except for the wall ovens, the appliances-“all Thermador,” says Blair, “which the homeowner loves using”-were covered with matching paneling to keep the space streamlined. Absolute Black granite countertops and backsplash also help create the simple but traditional look the homeowners were after.

“What makes the room so appealing is that we opted to use a lot of different colors and textures,” Blair says. “The character of a room, especially a kitchen, is created by these seemingly incongruent mixes: brushed steel, soft striated painted finishes, wood floors stained a rich dark color, antiqued hardware, and the repeated collections behind glass cabinet doors that create light on all sides.”

Absolute Black granite countertops, which create a visual link on counters and on the backsplash, are used both horizontally and vertically with a simple edge detail that's both contemporary and economical. Warm woods-stained dark on the floors, lighter on table, chairs, and barstools-add contrast to the creamy cabinets and deep countertops.

A rich cherry table near the island ensures there's plenty of seating options when guests come. Blair opted to use both knobs and handles of embossed antiqued brass to “mix it up a bit.”

To the left of the opening to the dining room is a bar area, where bar tools are kept hidden in cabinets below and pretty glassware is showcased in glass-fronted cabinets. To its right is a desk and a frosted glass-fronted pantry with floor-to-ceiling shelves, a design technique Blair uses often. The glass keeps the room light while hiding sundries and other functional items.

Using a variety of shades and textures, such as creamy cabinets with a striated finish, antiqued brass hardware, woods with different stains, and well-lit spots to display collections created this classic kitchen that has real staying power.

Linda Blair ASID
Blair Interiors Group, Ltd.
One Chase Road Scarsdale, New York 10583
(914) 472-8159