I knew very little about kitchen design before starting this project so the learning curve was steep. For me, choosing hardware was the first step: I had been introduced to the E.R. Butler & Co.’s Butterfly Pulls by Ted Muehling years back and they left a huge impression on me – so when the time came I knew I had to use them. I envisioned the creatures positioned haphazardly so they looked like they were flying freely around the room. In my mind, that meant I wanted to create a simple and elegant world in which they could live and be the star of.
Other decisions were really easy, including my choice of plain front, minimal cabinetry, and drawers. I wanted a floating shelf above the sink in the same material as the counter.
I wanted the appliances to all match- the handles on the fridge, dishwasher, oven, everything. When it came to the countertop material, though, I hit a roadblock. I threw around the idea of using a marble or stone top, but I wanted the countertop surface to be the same as the backsplash (and the shelf!). I knew I did not have the patience to constantly clean up after myself in order to avoid stains on the counters and behind the stove. And to be honest, I don’t love granite (a controversial position, I know).
While I was in Milan for the furniture fair in April of 2016 I came across the new collections from Ceaserstone and was like, “YES!! I’ve finally found my solution for the counters.” From a material standpoint, the look and feel is quite similar to marble, but the ease of care and longevity of the product sold me from the start. I ended up choosing Statuario Maximus, which has the appearance of marble. Without sounding too sales-y, my designer friends are often fooled that it is real stone. At the same time, the counters achieve the very streamlined and understated effect that I had envisioned from the project’s inception.
In the end my initial vision came alive – the butterflies have indeed ended up as the stars of the room.
Photos by Lauren Coleman
For more kitchen reveals: Jessica Marx of J. Marx Atelier Kitchen Reveal | Insights from Sheri Adelman