The first time designer Nina Farmer set foot in her clients’ 1904 English Arts and Crafts–style house outside of Boston, she was smitten with the period features—finely hewn moldings, leaded glass windows, grand mahogany mantels. Unfortunately, none of that extended to the kitchen. A previous renovation had stripped it of any original detail, leaving a sea of cherry cabinets instead. “It just didn’t feel like the rest of the house, so we needed to find a way to reintegrate it,” says Farmer. The question was how.
“With all that woodwork elsewhere, stained cabinets would have felt heavy, but a typical white kitchen wouldn’t fit, either,” she says. So she split the difference, combining an Arts and Crafts–inspired stained surround with two-tone painted fronts. A bit of Art Deco detailing—most visible on the custom brass-trimmed hood—provides a glamorous twist. “It was definitely an experiment on our part, so the clients had to trust us!” says Farmer, laughing. “But a little of this and a little of that ended up feeling totally current.”
Pepe Stool
Arc Globe Pendant
Who Lives Here?
A young family of five lived in the house for three years before renovating to restore it to its original glory.
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Two-Tone Cabinets
Farmer chose two Farrow & Ball paints: Pavilion Gray and Downpipe. The tile backsplash and marble counter were kept solid white: “There’s already enough happening on the cabinets!” says Farmer.
Out of Sight
The original bay window limited storage above the sink, so Farmer added plenty of under-counter cabinets throughout. Short pendants light the room from above without blocking the view of the kitchen.
Metallic Trim
Knowing the anthracite Lacanche range would be a focal point, Farmer designed a brass-edged hood to complement it. Mesh cabinet fronts were added to thread more gold tones throughout.
Butler's Pantry
Farmer simplified the palette in the butler’s pantry, painting the cabinets a solid gray-blue color that also appears in the adjacent dining room. “When the doors are open, the spaces still feel integrated,” says the designer.
Repeating Motifs
“We designed this ‘command center’ to be utilitarian but also beautiful,” says Farmer, who replicated features from the stove area—mesh, Deco detailing—via a screened window that looks into the pantry.
Textural Touches
Handmade Moroccan tiles by Mosaic House are a more textured substitute for standard subway.
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