Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021 - 66

SUS T AINABLE DE SIGN
A Kitchen with a Conscience
A
FTER A FEW YEARS in their Cary, N.C., suburban home, a retired couple
decided it was time to infuse it with modern style and brought in
Raleigh-based designer Rima Nasser to make it happen. In addition
to updating the look, the clients wanted a more functional kitchen.
By working with Nasser, owner and lead designer of TEW Design
Studio, they got a bonus - a home that was more eco-friendly.
Nasser builds sustainability into her projects, and the fi rm believes in using
sustainable elements even if they are not specifi ed. Like the Cary clients,
many are simply looking to modernize and improve functionality, but when
Nasser explains the benefi ts of the choices she makes, they get excited about
the process and results.
" Oftentimes, when we source the best materials and fi xtures with these
design goals in mind, the most appropriate solutions end up being ecofriendly, "
she said. " When that happens and we explain it to the client, it turns
out to be an eye-opener for them. "
TRADING ORNATE TUSCAN STYLE FOR MODERN LINES
It was a favorite accessory - a teal and yellow lamp - that led to the clients' design
goals and defi ed the color palette. Th e living room, where the lamp was placed,
opened directly to the kitchen, so the project included both spaces. Most of their
furniture was leaning toward mid-century modern. Nasser was tasked with updating
the kitchen to complement the furniture and the clients' taste but making sure
it still looked like a fi t in their traditional home. She envisioned clean lines and pops
of color and knew that improved functionality in the kitchen was a must.
66
Convincing clients to go
eco-friendly in a design
inspired by a personal treasure
Th e existing raised-panel, Tuscan-style beige
ABOVE The kitchen has a lot of
contrast, but it's also soothing
thanks to clean lines and
simple brushed-nickel pulls.
BELOW RIGHT The 30-in.
refrigerator/freezer columns
meet the clients' request
for food storage and blend
seamlessly with the dark
paneling.
cabinets with ornate glazing did not match the
clients' aesthetic. Worse, the cabinet corners had
45-degree angles purely as a design feature, and a
hexagonal island followed the lines of the cabinets.
Th e cooktop was placed at a 45-degree angle, too.
" It was odd, " said the designer. " It's not the most
comfortable way to cook. "
Because the clients like to entertain, Nasser
designed a custom hidden bar - it's located in the
new built-ins in the adjoining living room where
there is also a wine fridge and beverage fridge. To
maintain consistency, the same style was extended
to the nearby laundry room.
By CARRIE WHITNEY
/ JULY-AUG. 2021 / KBBONLINE.COM / Th e offi cial publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com http://www.KBBONLINE.COM

Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2021

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