above: A peek into this Connecticut kitchen reveals Robertson’s skill at concealing storage behind plenty of style.

Cooking with Color

This kitchen pro reveals her blueprint for stylish storage

INTERVIEW WITH SARAH ROBERTSON, STUDIO DEARBORN  //  PHOTOGRAPHER ADAM KANE MACCHIA

Tell us about what the clients wanted for this kitchen.
We initially started them with a remote design consultation, which is not uncommon for me. They had a layout but didn’t feel like it was 100% what they wanted. We pivoted and jumped in, offering to do the cabinets for them.

One thing that was clear right off the bat was that they didn’t want a white kitchen. They were moving from the city, had a strong sense of style and they loved color, which was exciting and fun. It was just a matter of pulling together that perfect blue color and then softening that with the countertops.

She cooks a lot and has a lot of pots, pans, ingredients and small appliances. We wanted to make sure that all of those things were accounted for. We also wanted the space to have an openness and made sure they got a lot of light, but that large window killed all the cabinetry along that wall. So, we created what feels like a freestanding china cabinet. All of her glassware and plates are in there, near the dishwasher, but it still feels special when you reach in. The range wall was a bit more uniform, and they wanted a hood that blended in, but we added a ton of storage over there for food and appliances.

How does your design process typically work?
I have two different approaches. I have projects where I’m just helping with online consultations, and that usually involves one or multiple calls with a high-level layout and storage. And then I have my full-service studio clients where we do everything. We design all the cabinets, help with all the finishes, coordinate with the contractor. Initially, this client thought they were going to stick with the consultation but it’s not uncommon for people to decide that they want me to then do the cabinets, because they’re so specialized.

We start by doing a layout that gives them views of their kitchen in 3-D, so we’re able to walk them through the rendering, which really helps people understand what the space is going to look like. Once we’re done with that and happy with the layout, we move in to more of a cabinetry focus. While that is going on, we’re usually already in the construction process, pushing the project forward. And then it’s the finishes. There are a lot of parallel processes going on.

What are some of your favorite features here?
I love the color, which is Benjamin Moore’s Water’s Edge. I love the china cabinet—which is cherry—and you don’t really see a lot of that right now. It was fun to bring that in and show that it can be done and still feel current. We spent a lot of time picking the tile. It’s subtle, but it’s a pretty textural pattern from Pratt & Larson. We loved that it read as tone on tone. I really like their appliance garage.

How has designing kitchens changed in the last few years? What are people asking for now?
I think that their kitchen was an interesting example, because I think we’re seeing a lot of these coffee bars. I feel like that’s one thing that we didn’t used to hear about that everybody wants now. In their case, we had a spot to put it on that back wall. It has a wall-of-cabinetry feel to it, but it also includes the doors to the dining room. They’re hidden doors that are built into the cabinetry. They open and they fold into the wall and disappear, which was fun, but a challenging detail. The doors to the coffee bar open and retract so it just goes away. A lot of people are looking for that coffee station that they can open and close.

What’s the most important thing to consider before starting your own kitchen remodel?
The first things you have to consider are the proportions; to make sure there’s enough room for traffic flow around an island. We always want to make sure there’s plenty of room for clearances. Natural light is a close second. For me, if a kitchen has exterior walls, I want to maximize the views with windows. I’ll tell people that we’ll find a place for all of your stuff, but if your kitchen is dark, you’re not going to want to be in it. We’re not going to prioritize an extra cabinet and kill the light in the process.

What are some new kitchen features that you’re looking forward to using?
I’m trying to convince people of the benefit of a toe pedal for the faucet. That can be a game changer and it’s not high tech at all. And it helps to use less water and makes working in the kitchen easier. People are also trying to get more of a furniture look with their islands. This kitchen has two islands, which is becoming more of a thing in larger homes. In this case, it was a long, narrow kitchen, so instead of the typical side-by-side, these were end-to-end, but it worked out really well. They have an independent range and then a separate oven. We do see tucking a second or third oven into a remote spot, like an island or a butler’s pantry.

PROFESSIONALS:
Design & Cabinetry: Sarah Robertson, Studio Dearborn, Mamaroneck; studiodearborn.com
Contractor: Dalton Gordon, DG Construction Service, Stamford, 203-554-7437
Stone: Fordham Marble, Stamford, 203-348-5088; fordhammarble.com
Hardware: Katonah Hardware; katonahhardware.com