When a 1920s colonial-style beach house in New Jersey needed a kitchen facelift, its owners called upon New York-based interior designer Nicole Cohen. With a background as a multidisciplinary artist, Cohen approaches design through a visual lens that plays with composition, color, and form in an approachable way.
Here she found inspiration in the original architecture, including stucco walls and arches, choosing to “work with” the period features rather than against them. That said, “The original kitchen was too small and in bad condition,” says Cohen, citing the lack of color, nonfunctional floorplan, and dated Formica finishes. “It didn’t make sense for a young family who wanted to spend a lot of time together in the home.”
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Cohen aimed to create a kitchen that would fit the family easily—without it feeling crowded when cooking or entertaining. Working with the team at Monmouth Custom Builders, the designer embarked on an eight-month renovation that included the kitchen, pool, basement, and porch, all of which combined for a 4,000-square-foot retreat.
In order to make the kitchen the true heart of the home, the team opened up the space into an L-shape that connects the dining room, den, and back porch. Now it’s filled with color and light.
Take, for example, the star of the show: green Mosaic House floor tiles. “The couple let us know that they had a mutual love for the color green, and we wanted to make sure that was featured prominently,” says Cohen. “I found this tile when I was shopping for other materials for this project, and it felt like it was a perfect fit.”
Custom cabinetry by Castle Woodcraft, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and a custom terrazzo dining table all combine to “make the kitchen feel special,” says Cohen. “In each of the projects I work on, I always try to create one piece of furniture that can live on in the client’s home. With this table, we custom-made the aggregate and shape.”
Simply White by Benjamin Moore throughout helps the room feel more open, deVOL Kitchens and mounts by Schoolhouse create glowing layered lighting, and Mosaic House floor tiles add personality. “The color makes the room vibrant and exciting,” she says. “I love how happy the space feels, like the perfect place to eat ripe peaches and homemade pasta.”
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