Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2022 - 49

plans. In addition to taking out the wall to incorporate the space of the
former hallway, Verbist moved the entry door to a location in the living
room. The changes increased the square footage of the kitchen.
" Now when you enter, you arrive at the large, open living space facing big
windows and the view of the countryside, " said the designer. The former
entry door was replaced with a kitchen window, bringing in more light.
MAKING CHOICES ONLINE
While the contractor and client were in France, Verbist did layouts, floor plans
and material selections from California. The client visited stores to verify the
quality and color of products, then she and Verbist discussed them.
" I like to touch, to see it in person, to compare everything together, " said
the designer. " But I could not do that because I was not there. My client
was my eyes and my hand. It was a collaborative effort. "
There was a lot to specify in this whole-house renovation, beginning
with flooring, which was updated throughout with wide-plank engineered
wood. For the completely demolished kitchen, Verbist chose cabinets in a
wood-look laminate with movement in the finish.
The warm wood cabinets complement the porcelain backsplash and
countertop, which have a thin, rusty vein. Copper finishes on the cabinet
hardware and pendants complete the look, and a white glass hood almost
disappears into the wall.
" The modern hood is simple and not so visible, " said Verbist. " It's not
what you see first. The focal points are the pendants and the backsplash. "
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CULTURAL COMPETENCIES
The client had asked for a modern luxury kitchen, a designation that could
mean something different in France than in the U.S. Luckily, Verbist understands
both styles and gave her client the European version of modern
with a favorite American flourish.
In addition to the pure line of the flat-panel cabinets and selection of sleek
edge pulls rather than handles, modern French style calls for panel-ready
appliances. While that is a typical feature of even a medium-range kitchen
there, it is generally a high-end option in the U.S., explained the designer.
When it comes to countertops, laminate is acceptable in France, whereas
in the U.S. quartz or granite is de rigueur. For this kitchen, Verbist leaned
into her adopted American sensibilities and suggested a marble-look quartz
countertop, which she used as the backsplash too and took it to the bottom
of the upper cabinets, creating a dramatic statement.
" Compared to laminate, bringing in that much porcelain was a big cost, "
she said. " But my client loved it, and she never regretted the expense. "
FLYING IN FOR THE FINISH
The kitchen is now larger, brighter and open to the living spaces, allowing
the client to see everything, including the countryside, while cooking.
Near the end of the project, Verbist got the chance to visit and spent time
shopping for finishing touches in Paris with her client.
" I learned that doing a job remotely is possible if you trust people, if you
have a good relationship with your client and the contractor, " she said. " The
team is a triangle - contractor, designer, client. And it works, even remotely,
if your client trusts you. "

SOURCES: DESIGNER: Samia Verbist, Samia Verbist Interior Design LLC; PHOTOGRAPHER: Camille Plichard, Les Interieurs Normands ● BACKSPLASH & COUNTERTOP: Neolith ; BAR
STOOLS: Maisons du Monde ; CABINETS, HARDWARE & SHELVES: Mobalpa ; COOKTOP, DISHWASHER & OVEN: Whirlpool; FAUCET: Blanco; FLOORING & WINDOWS: Leroy Merlin; HOOD:
Selection; LIGHTING: Tom Dixon; REFRIGERATOR: LG; SINK: Luisina
KBBONLINE.COM
49
RIGHT Pantries are not
common in French kitchens,
but some - like this one - have
an arrière-cuisine where
the refrigerator is located. If
the refrigerator had been in
the main kitchen, it would
have been paneled like the
dishwasher.
ABOVE In the U.S., undermount
and farmhouse sinks are
popular, while in France, this
low-profile, almost flush style
is more common.

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM

Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2022