Advertisement

This Glam Kitchen Remodel Solidified Our Obsession with Calacatta Marble

While the footprint was kept intact, the major aesthetic upgrades and larger cabinetry made a huge difference.
While the footprint was kept intact, the major aesthetic upgrades and larger cabinetry made a huge difference.

While some construction-heavy projects may be intimidating, designer Tina Rich was more than ready to take on a Midtown New York kitchen renovation from start to finish. “I grew up on construction sites, so that’s one area of interior design I really love,” she says. “Small, isolated spaces where you can get into the details like cabinetry and millwork are really fun for me.”

The clients, who have lived in their apartment since the late ’80s, were looking for a full transformation of their drab kitchen, which featured lackluster laminate cabinetry and a dysfunctional layout. Today, they love how bright and open the kitchen feels and are obsessed with the stone shelf under the window.

Kitchen location: Midtown, New York City

The “before”: The cabinets were “well-loved and needed a functional and aesthetic upgrade,” Tina says. Some cabinets hung from the ceiling and blocked the view into the dining room. The clients also had dated appliances and not enough storage.

The inspiration: “We wanted everything to be clean, simple, bright, and beautiful,” Tina says. In lieu of white cabinets, she landed on a taupe-gray hue, Benjamin Moore’s Shale, which gives the space a sophisticated touch. Furthermore, she wanted to keep materials minimal with blonde oak flooring, hidden appliances, and Calacatta marble.

Square footage: 144 square feet

Budget: “A lot of the time with kitchens, clients don’t know what to budget for, and that’s where I come in, helping them pull together a budget,” Tina says. “We didn’t come to a set number but looked at different lighting, appliances, and construction estimates to get the final budget.”

Before: The dated overhead cabinets were the first feature to go.
Before: The dated overhead cabinets were the first feature to go.
Before: While an all-white scheme makes a space feel more open, the white cabinetry in the previous iteration made the kitchen feel dull.
Before: While an all-white scheme makes a space feel more open, the white cabinetry in the previous iteration made the kitchen feel dull.

Main ingredients:

Hidden appliances were a no-brainer.
Hidden appliances were a no-brainer.

Most insane splurge: “The stone for sure,” Tina says. The clients fell in love with Calacatta marble and “couldn’t let it go regardless of the price tag. We knew the style we wanted to go for and looked at ones with more veining for character.”

Sneakiest save: The biggest save was the oak hardwood flooring, which only costs around $7 per square foot and was chosen for its beautiful creamy undertones and durability. “You can buy flooring for as little as $4 per square foot from The Home Depot or specialty wood for up to $20 per square foot,” she says.

The best part: The floating Calacatta marble floating shelf is the undeniable standout. “Any space in a kitchen where you can showcase your dinnerware and ceramics is a great and beautiful touch,” she says. “The chrome faucet underneath makes it a really pretty moment.”

What I’d never do again: The stone was the most difficult part of the project because the clients wanted large slabs without seams. “It’s a challenge to get them into New York elevators and into a space in general,” Tina says. “I don’t envy stoneworkers. I almost had a heart attack when it was brought into the kitchen, but it was well worth the anxiety because it’s so beautiful.”

Final bill: $57,000

By taking the marble all the way up the backsplash, Tina was able to create a floating shelf that adds more character to the small kitchen. We love the ceramics by Kati von Lehman and the artwork by Jessalyn Brooks.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest