New Weekly Article - Two's Company || Your Home and Lifestyle

Oil and Wine Jars

Add a touch of classical style to your home with these black glazed urns, reminiscent of the oil and wine jars once used in various parts of Europe and Asia. www.wisteria.com

LOWER LEVEL

The lower level kitchen can be classified as a little more casual. “The space is slightly more shaded, so we used warmer colors in honey tones and yellows to brighten it up and make it feel more sunny,” Fillbrandt says.

The design has more neutral tones with kaya wood cabinets that feature a custom honey-caramel finish. Lower level lighting consists of rustic single-bulb pendants with a darker finish in what might be described as the modern-comfort kitchen. A basket-weave light fixture hangs above the table. While both kitchens contain glass-top tables, the bases have different shapes. Backless iron barstools feature comfy leather seats. “The contrast of the black iron and the wood tones creates a warmer, cozier feel,” Fillbrandt says.

UPPER LEVEL

“The one major difference is that the upper level kitchen did not have a formal dining room,” the designer says. “That’s why I went with something that was darker and a little more sleek looking, with a sparkly chandelier that was slightly more dramatic for the top level that has the most spectacular views.” Simply put, the upper level has more of a glam factor. “Everybody responds to the sparkly chandelier and the skylight at night. It’s very sophisticated and chic,” Fillbrandt says.

Sometimes the same material can have a different effect, like the Carrara marble backsplashes that appear in both kitchens. The tiles were cut into slightly more irregular and elongated 2 x 6 slabs to give them more of a custom look. And while the lower level kitchen took on a very warm look next to the grays and creams of the marble, the upper level takes on an icy, more dramatic tone. “It’s a good neutral material to work with,” Fillbrandt says of the marble.

Dark espresso cabinetry adds drama to the space, as do a pair of modern minimal pendant lights and a chandelier that is shaped like an atom. The metal barstools in the upper kitchen feature a grid pattern along the back, while the more tailored dining chairs sport cream-colored upholstery and dark wood trim. Stainless steel appliances and recessed lighting are well-suited for both spaces. The round sink in the upper unit peninsula adds a modern edge. “It’s a nice shape,” the designer says. Written by Jeanine Matlow.

Kitchen compositions can be rather complex, but Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt, principal of Marsh & Clark Design, in San Francisco, likes to keep the concept simple, even when her challenge is anything but. For this particular project, she was asked to create not one, but two distinct kitchens in a distinguished Edwardian duplex in San Francisco. While an architect had already done the majority of the remodeling that was required, the owners were looking for someone to select the finishing touches.

As Fillbrandt explains, the layouts were very similar. Both spaces are about twelve-and-a-half-by-sixteen feet and both include sweeping views of San Francisco. She was able to blur the lines between similarities and differences by using a variety of elements in unique ways. Fillbrandt describes both spaces as
being transitional in nature. “I didn’t want to stray too far into modern or classic. They have traditional details with modern elements blended together,” she says. “I did make a few strategic differences like the lighting that helped evoke the different looks.”

The designer demonstrates that you don’t have to be too extreme when creating two distinctive designs for similar spaces. Though each space has a truly unique feel, Fillbrandt says there were three key elements that were different: the color schemes, cabinetry, and lighting. “Sometimes the simpler you keep things, the better they will be,” she says. “They do look really different and they each have their own identity. If you keep your backdrops and proportions really simple and layer on art, etc., you’ll get a completely different look.”

Besides, she says, “If you have a great foundation, you can do anything from there.” Perhaps the most significant element the kitchens have in common stems from the fact that the award-winning firm is known for creating fairly timeless spaces. So, unlike many of their trendy counterparts, these refreshing rooms won’t look dated anytime soon.