Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2024 - 59

tinct zones for cooking vs. socializing or relaxing - or " helping, " in the case
of the grandchildren. According to interior designer Natalie Erickson, the
wife was picturing having all the kids over, all around the island with her.
The stools, and the fabric covering them, were selected with child-friendly
durability and sturdiness in mind.
LIGHT THERAPY
In the clients' previous home, the kitchen had been relegated to the middle
of the house and lost its window facing the backyard to accommodate a
large addition. That left the kitchen somewhat confined and definitely dark.
They wanted none of that in the new house, which the designers obliged via
a fresh, white aesthetic, high ceilings and lots of natural light.
To create a sense of intimacy despite the high ceilings and open flow of
the kitchen, dining room and great room, Deep River employed columns of
cabinetry at the corners of each room. Perimeter soffits, cove lighting and decorative
wood beams on the great room and kitchen ceilings also play a key role.
" It's part of that European feel: You can imagine these timber beams
holding up an old brick home, " said Mather. " But we've modernized them
by keeping it really clean and simple. "
The warm stain color echoes the flooring and provides additional coziness.
Erickson said if the team had done the island stain on the beams, it would
be a very different feel. The beams serve another, more sentimental purpose.
" The clients have a lake house that's been in their family for the longest
time, and it has actual timber beams that have been carved and painted, "
said Mather. " We thought this would be a nice homage to that. "
A STRAIGHT SHOT
The long, rectilinear primary bath lies between the main bedroom suite and
laundry room, with doors to each at the short ends of the space.
" It's a great flow for their everyday living, " said
Mather. " They can cut right through the bathroom
with dirty clothes, into the laundry room,
then go about their day right from there. "
The roll-in, zero-threshold shower includes
multiple showerheads, including a hand shower
that can be used when seated should the need
arise. Twin sinks and ample marble counter
space give the couple some elbow room, and a
luxurious soaking tub sits beside a huge window,
looking out over a wooded vista. A hidden
automatic shade provides extra privacy with the
push of a button.
With the prominence of the elongated bathroom
floor, Erickson said it had to be spectacular.
Again, taking inspiration from European
homes with marble mosaic patterns, the designers
decided to " zoom out " and do a larger,
square-tile install with some contrast. The
pattern and coloring mimic the mullions and
transom windows along the tub wall, helping
unify the space.
For a couple looking to stay in their new home
for the rest of their lives, surrounded by family
members of all ages, the stage is now set.
" They've gone from something really dark
and closed-in, " said Mather, " to a home with
a vast yard, beautiful landscaping and all this
natural light. "
BELOW Just past the shower
in the long, spa-like primary
bath is the door to the laundry
room; the homeowners can
conveniently take clothes
straight through the space
from their bedroom.
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Kitchen & Bath Business July/August 2024

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