Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2021 - 64

else. In lieu of traditional cabinets, she added her
own spin, which she calls " flipping the usual blackand-white palette on its head. "
Instead of a simple painted ceiling, the designer
wanted to create extra visual interest to draw the
eye upward. She wallpapered the ceiling and
chose light fixtures that did not take away from
the wall of windows. She selected a wallpaper
pattern that mimics the flow of the veining in the
quartz countertops.
" I knew I wanted to highlight the ceiling, but
coffering it would have been too overpowering, "
said Cartaina, who explained that several of her
peers advised her against wallpapering a kitchen
ceiling. " I thought it was a risk worth taking, and
sometimes you have to trust your gut. "
A bar area on one wall is part of the kitchen, but
the designer used a few elements to also define it as
its own space. It features a countertop with more
brown tones that tie into the wood floor, and an
antique mirror and live-edge shelf add drama.
The gold tones of the hardware and island
pendants, which provide impact but do not take
away from the outdoor views, warm up the black
cabinets. A white oak, wide-plank flooring reflects the light coming through
the windows and also grounds all the black.
The family loves to cook and entertain, so Cartaina included two ovens,
and a microwave in the island is accessible to the children. The layout of the
kitchen is such that guests can be seated on the non-working sides of the
island and out of the cook's way.

64
62-65_KBB_0121_FeatureOne.indd 64

BELOW Although the bar is part

of the kitchen, it features some
distinguishing elements like
the antique wood shelf and
mirrored backsplash.

BEFITTING A PRIMARY BATH

The designer admitted that figuring out the best
way to convert this segmented space took a lot
of planning and collaborating with the contractor and architectural designer. A small window
and a dropped ceiling didn't help with the issue
of limited space.
Cartaina took over the room with the fireplace
and what was previously the master closet to gain
more square footage. The new bath now includes
double sinks, a large shower for two, the now-gas
fireplace and a soaker tub by the window. She
decided to use warm wood grains and tones for
an inviting feel that wasn't as cavernous, and she
wanted the fireplace to dictate her other choices
in the space.
" I wanted this to be the main event, as there
is some sexiness to including a fireplace in the
primary bath, " said Cartaina, who chose an eyecatching photo above it to balance the mountain
vibe and provide a wow factor.
The double vanity has an open base, and the designer wanted to choose an appropriate backdrop
to offset the darker color. She chose a hexagonal
tile that runs all the way to the painted black ceiling, and the mirrors are a play on the tile shape.
This same tile is seen on the shower walls, and she
chose the same marble for the vanity top and the
fireplace. The flooring is a wood-look porcelain,
which Cartaina carried above the fireplace as well.
The large shower space now has his-and-her
showerheads, as well as a handheld to wash the
family dogs. A bench was added for accessibility,
with a niche for toiletries nearby.

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Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2021

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