Kitchen & Bath Business September 2021 - 45

HOLDING ON TO WHAT WORKED
" When you start removing something like a corbel, underneath the tileAlthough
the existing fl ooring matched the Tuscan
style of the kitchen the clients wanted to be rid
of, it led to other rooms in the house, so it was not
possible to only change the tile in the kitchen and
cost prohibitive to replace the fl ooring throughout
the home.
" Everybody has a budget, " said Moskowitz.
" You have to start and stop somewhere. "
Like the fl ooring, the backsplash covering the
massive hearth would have been a major feature to
replace. And in this case, its simplicity was somewhat
in keeping with the clients' taste, so that was
another element that stayed.
Working with the existing fl oor and backsplash
informed Moskowitz's choice of cabinet stain. Pairing
warmth and modernity, the portobello shade
on the island and driftwood on the perimeter tie in
well with the existing tile, and the driftwood even
matches the grout. Th e creaminess of the backsplash
led the designer to choose an off-white quartz
countertop with warm, translucent, gray veins.
Changing the countertops allowed the designer
to signifi cantly alter the style and shape of the
island without replacing it. Th e original version
had decorative, curved legs and scrolling cherry
corbels holding up an oversized, curved granite
top. She replaced these features with square legs
with a plain, fl uted fi ller more like the new door
style. Th e mostly rectangular new countertop only
has a rounded square detail above the legs.
Because she was working with the existing
fl ooring, Moskowitz had to maintain the dimensions
of the island. She encountered a similar need
in the wall corbels above the range.
45
SOURCES
DESIGNER: Jill Moskowitz,
Kitchen Magic;
PHOTOGRAPHER: Christian
Giannelli
COUNTERTOP: Cambria;
BAR STOOLS &
LIGHTING: Restoration
Hardware; CABINET
HARDWARE: Amerock;
CABINETS: Kitchen Magic;
COOKTOP, DISHWASHER,
MICROWAVE, RANGE &
WALL OVENS: Viking;
FAUCET: Moen; ISLAND
SINK & POT FILLER: Kohler;
REFRIGERATOR: Sub-Zero
ABOVE Choosing two cabinet
stains that provided farmhouse
style and coordinated
with the Italian-look fl oor tile
led the designer to warm,
rustic tones.
work and grout are not the same color as the rest, which has been aff ected by
years of cooking, " she said.
Th us, instead of removing the corbels altogether, Moskowitz designed a
new version that is squared-off and keeping with the new theme. Th e corbels
were built in multiple layers to perfectly match the footprint of the old ones.
Th is corbel shape was picked up again in the adjacent living space where three
of them support an overhang seating area behind the kitchen sink.
ACHIEVING SEAMLESS RESULTS
For this new kitchen look, the designer was able to reuse nearly all cabinetry.
Only the upper cabinets on the sink wall were replaced because the previous
units sat on the countertop, while the new ones are wall hung, which she says
opened the space dramatically.
In addition to matching the homeowners' style, the kitchen is more cohesive
with other parts of the home, including the rustic dining table in the
breakfast area and the living space, which is visible beyond the sink.
" Th e installers were meticulous, and they did an unbelievable job, " said
Moskowitz. " You can sell the dream, but it's no good if it's not installed correctly.
It was a fabulous project because the end result was exactly what the
clients were hoping for. "
During a refacing project, extra attention to detail is required to create a
seamless look. In this case, it was even more important because major existing
elements like the fl oor and wall tile had to be incorporated.

RIGHT The view into the
kitchen from the living space
now displays a cohesive look.
Kitchen & Bath Business September 2021

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