Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/660193
66 SPRING 2016 6-foot marble-topped island in the larger space. "The goal of including a large island made designing the kitchen with the traditional work triangle not an option," says Hanson. "That's why we recommended two sinks. The smaller prep sink creates a work triangle in what was the pantry area, then the larger sink serves as a second prep area and also is used for cleanup." Brennan has found that the solution works perfectly, allowing for a dedicated cooking zone that remains some- what separate from but still a part of the larger kitchen where people can socialize. "People hanging out at the island can converse but not be underfoot," she notes. BRINGING A HOME BACK TO LIFE Brennan took the lead in shaping the interior design, matching the kitchen's paint and countertops with the cool white-and-gray theme she chose for the entire house. She knew she wanted marble countertops, at least in a portion of the space, and went with carrara extra, a blend of white and gray stone, for the top of the island and the counters in the bigger space. In the smaller "working kitchen," as she calls it, she chose more forgiving dark soapstone counters and a light- gray tile backsplash. The lighting fixtures also contribute to the cool-and- classy look that provides a modern twist while remain- ing true to the historic feel of the home. Working with Lucía Lighting & Design in Lynn, Brennan chose bold round pendant lamps for the larger space and a hang- ing schoolhouse-style fixture for the work space. These accents were instrumental in what Brennan calls the effort to bring the "tired" home "back to life." She and the team of professionals she hired succeeded by making sure the freshly renovated spaces comple- mented the 19th-century ambiance of the house. "We didn't change any of the neat lines of the home," notes Hanson. "I think it's nice that we kept all the charm that was there." Brennan says the end result satisfies her desire to create a central place for family and friends to come together while also re-enlivening the appeal of the historic building: "The kitchen is brand new but it's true to the character of the home.... The end result is every- thing that I wanted it to be." Northshore: How did you decide on the design and placement of the round hanging pendants? Reid: Instead of the usual three pendants over the island, we decided to go with two of a larger pendant. It was a question of scale. Scale is important for decorative lighting—choose the right scale and it can give you the punch of design you need for a space. Northshore: What challenges did you encounter with this project? Reid: Brightness was a challenge. Decorative fixtures generally do not have enough brightness. We went with fixtures that had higher wattages that could dim. Northshore: What do you like best about the way the room turned out? Reid: I really like the fixtures. There is a hierarchy between the fixtures; they are complementary but hold their own. They are not only elegant but have a classic design that speaks to the architecture of the home. LIGHTING AN UNUSUAL KITCHEN kitchen & bath nshoremag.com/nshorehome/ "We didn't change any of the neat lines of the home. I think it's nice that we kept all the charm that was there." —Nancy Hanson Ryan Christopher Reid, lighting specialist for Lucía Lighting & Design, answers our questions about how he approached the Brennans' kitchen redesign. See page 180 for resources