Northshore Magazine

October 2014

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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countertop due to code issues. Accom- modating the downdraft required an extra four inches of dead space in the peninsula. Since the glass countertop—custom- made by fusing multiple layers of glass in a kiln—was built separately from the soapstone countertops, the exact propor- tions of the radius could not vary. "It was critical that those arcs lined up," says homeowner John Garibotto. "I had to cross my fingers and hope no one made a mistake." The glass countertop actually dictated the rest of the space, Garibotto adds. "I ordered the largest size they could make," he recalls. "I used that as a design guide for how big the overall kitchen [could be]." The radius wasn't the only detail that posed a challenge. When it became appar- ent that there was no way around having a support pole going right through the peninsula, Garibotto put his background in mechanical engineering to good use, inventing a metal support that telescoped up through a small hole in the soapstone countertop after installation. This elimi- nated the need for a seam cutting across the end of the peninsula. "John made the pole look appropriate in the space," says Richard. "He has very mod- ern tastes, and he usually strives for some- thing different from what everyone else has." Garibotto says his work designing medical devices—he is the founder of a medical device firm and holds more than two dozen patents—gave him a unique approach to crafting the kitchen. "Just be- cause it's not at Home Depot doesn't mean you can't get it done," Garibotto says. "I knew how to find things that were not easy to find or I had them custom made….It's [about] not taking 'No' for an answer." The results speak for themselves. "I think [the curved peninsula] really balances the heaviness of the mahogany cabinetry," Richard says. "It adds that light 'beachy' look, which takes us back to where they are, in Marblehead." The balancing act started years earlier, in 2011, when the Garibottos had to get a variance to add 121 square feet to the house to accommodate the plan for a kitchen and mudroom, hardly an easy task in historic-minded Marblehead. Thanks in no small part to three abutting neighbors signing a letter approving the plan, the Garibottos got their chance to build their strikingly unique kitchen. Kitchen ne 52 nshoremag.com October 2014 Actually, the kitchen might be a little too nice. Another part of the renova- tion, a gorgeous new deck, rarely sees any use. "Even when it's really beautiful outside, we rarely go out on the deck," Garibotto says. "Everyone always sits at the peninsula." crown-point.com Design Sense Top, dark mahogany cabinetry defines the space; below, a metal support blends seamlessly with the rest of the design elements.

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