Kitchen of the Week: Blue Cabinets and Coastal Style on the Water
A kitchen designer creates an open layout with a fresh color palette and beachy details that celebrate Florida’s scenery
Stunning views of an intracoastal waterway in Tequesta, Florida, drew Kyle and Rachel Pintarelli to their home. But its aging white laminate kitchen spurred a major renovation. There were two main pain points for the couple: A large partition wall with a raised peninsula cut the kitchen off from the living room and disrupted views of the water. And the plain white style didn’t reflect the coastal setting.
The couple, who own a catering and event company, hired kitchen designer Nicole Whitehorn to help them create a fresh style inspired by the water and a more open layout that connects the main living areas and gives Kyle, a chef, room to test recipes. Whitehorn replaced the wall and peninsula with an island that keeps the sightlines open from the kitchen to the living room, and she used watery blue cabinets and other coastal-style details to celebrate the home’s location.
The couple, who own a catering and event company, hired kitchen designer Nicole Whitehorn to help them create a fresh style inspired by the water and a more open layout that connects the main living areas and gives Kyle, a chef, room to test recipes. Whitehorn replaced the wall and peninsula with an island that keeps the sightlines open from the kitchen to the living room, and she used watery blue cabinets and other coastal-style details to celebrate the home’s location.
After: Whitehorn knocked down the partition wall, removed the peninsula and added an island. These moves substantially opened up the look and feel of the kitchen and living area and added 72 square feet to the kitchen. The couple also refurnished the living room during the renovation.
(The sectional was placed in this location for the photo shoot because two side chairs had not arrived yet. Today the sectional is positioned to be more open to the water views.)
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(The sectional was placed in this location for the photo shoot because two side chairs had not arrived yet. Today the sectional is positioned to be more open to the water views.)
Find a kitchen designer in your area
Vivid blue-gray Shaker-style cabinets (Bachelor Blue by Benjamin Moore) anchor the kitchen and nod to the water views, as well as the home’s exterior. “We went through so many colors for the exterior of our house and painted it Bachelor Blue, and decided to paint the cabinets the same color,” Rachel says.
New wood-look glazed porcelain floor planks run through the kitchen and living areas. “We were looking for something with a calming coastal look that could withstand wet, sandy feet,” Rachel says.
Other coastal details include white shiplap ceiling panels and Parisian-style bistro chairs with rattan frames and woven navy-and-white seats.
Paint colors: Balboa Mist (walls) and Chantilly Lace (ceiling), Benjamin Moore
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New wood-look glazed porcelain floor planks run through the kitchen and living areas. “We were looking for something with a calming coastal look that could withstand wet, sandy feet,” Rachel says.
Other coastal details include white shiplap ceiling panels and Parisian-style bistro chairs with rattan frames and woven navy-and-white seats.
Paint colors: Balboa Mist (walls) and Chantilly Lace (ceiling), Benjamin Moore
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After: The new island and a reconfigured appliance and cabinet layout created a more open and efficient kitchen. “By eliminating that wall, we pretty much gained all the extra square footage in that area,” Whitehorn says. “We literally stretched the kitchen more into the dining room.”
A pair of contemporary black glass wall ovens sit in the former location of the refrigerator, surrounded by pantry cabinets with pullouts for dry goods and small appliances. “This allowed us to have everything within arm’s reach for cooking, and that was key,” Rachel says.
A pair of contemporary black glass wall ovens sit in the former location of the refrigerator, surrounded by pantry cabinets with pullouts for dry goods and small appliances. “This allowed us to have everything within arm’s reach for cooking, and that was key,” Rachel says.
A new paneled fridge stands to the right of the range. The marble-look quartz countertops feature blue and gray veins and golden shades that complement the cabinet color, satin brass cabinet pulls and other brass details. “It’s just nice and bright,” Whitehorn says. “We did a mitered edge on the island top as well for added interest.”
Hand-rubbed antique brass pendants with antique white shades hang over the island. “I think they were one of the first things we picked out for the kitchen,” Rachel says. “We kept them in mind when we were picking out the brass pulls and the quartz counters.”
Countertops: Calacatta Gold, Eternal collection, Silestone
Hand-rubbed antique brass pendants with antique white shades hang over the island. “I think they were one of the first things we picked out for the kitchen,” Rachel says. “We kept them in mind when we were picking out the brass pulls and the quartz counters.”
Countertops: Calacatta Gold, Eternal collection, Silestone
The new 36-inch cooktop features six gas burners and continuous cast-iron grates that make it easy to move pots and pans around. “We gained more storage by putting wide drawers under there for pots and pans,” Rachel says.
Pullouts flanking the cooktop keep spices within easy reach.
Pullouts flanking the cooktop keep spices within easy reach.
Creamy white fish scale tiles with sand-colored grout form the backsplash.
Pot filler: Braccia, 24 inches, in matte black, Anzzi
Pot filler: Braccia, 24 inches, in matte black, Anzzi
An appliance garage keeps the toaster oven hidden.
After: The island completely opened up the sightlines in the home, putting the lush greenery and waterway in full view. “It really makes doing the dishes and putting dishes in the dishwasher wonderful,” Rachel says.
Faucet: Greenwich in matte black, Vigo
Faucet: Greenwich in matte black, Vigo
The renovation included a new beverage station that keeps traffic out of the main work zone. “That wall was a straight wall, and we had the contractors create a niche for this built-in wine area,” Whitehorn says.
Whitehorn coordinated the color scheme of the niche with that of the kitchen, but she used penny tiles for the backsplash, glass-fronted upper cabinets and different cabinet hardware to set the area apart. “My husband’s from New York City, and those knurled cabinet knobs and backplate are like what you see in a great New York bar,” Rachel says.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Rachel Pintarelli, an event planner; her husband, Kyle, a chef; and their 3-year-old daughter, Emma
Location: Tequesta, Florida
Size: 168 square feet (16 square meters)
Designer: Nicole Whitehorn of Waterview Kitchens
General contractor: Ruck Walsh of Accurate Building Contractors
Before: Looking toward the previous kitchen from the living room, a partition wall and raised peninsula divided the two rooms. “We had to open this kitchen up, that was the big goal,” Whitehorn says. “That wall blocked all the water views.”
With 3-year-old daughter Emma to watch over, the couple felt the wall also created a hazard. “The big thing was I couldn’t see my daughter,” Rachel says. “We were trying to keep our eyes on her and it was difficult.”