Within the picturesque metropolis of St. Augustine, Florida, the place historical past and appeal converge, there exists a treasure trove of kitchen opulence. This treasure isn’t a hidden gem however fairly a star that shines brightly on this planet of luxurious kitchen design. With over 15 years of expertise and a level in inside structure, April O’Brien and her agency, Interiors by Studio A, are chargeable for the creation of numerous awe-inspiring kitchens. We spoke with April to study extra concerning the important components required for creating really luxurious kitchen areas.
Love Occurs: What makes a kitchen really luxurious in your view?
April O’Brien: In my perspective, what really defines an expensive kitchen is certainly a mix of things: high quality supplies, considerate design, cutting-edge know-how, all taking part in collectively in concord. To me, it’s an orchestration of varied components, every one contributing to a symphony of favor, comfort, and luxurious.
The incorporation of good house home equipment, as an illustration, elevates a kitchen’s standing immensely. I recall a kitchen renovation we did in Neptune Seashore, the place we introduced in these state-of-the-art home equipment, all in a shocking matte white end with brushed gold handles—it was a visible delight.
Excessive-quality supplies like quartz counter tops additionally play an enormous half in conveying a way of luxurious. Due to this, they’re a staple in lots of high-end kitchens I’ve designed. The contact taps are one other characteristic that’s turning into more and more fashionable. There’s one thing concerning the means to function a faucet with a easy contact that speaks to luxurious and comfort.
And, after all, the pot filler—a element we’ve mentioned earlier than—is one other design factor that provides a contact of luxurious. Then there’s the ending touches, like beautiful {hardware} from prime manufacturers like Prime Knobs or Rejuvenation. These ultimate additions can really improve a kitchen’s aesthetic.
Lighting, too, performs a important position. It’s not nearly visibility—it’s additionally about temper and highlighting the kitchen’s finest options.
Nevertheless, what I consider makes a kitchen really luxurious is how these components work collectively, every complementing and enhancing the others. In right this moment’s luxurious kitchens, you’ll seemingly see expansive quartz counter tops, spacious islands, high-end finishes, and good home equipment, from taps to stoves and dishwashers. However greater than the sum of its components, it’s how these items come collectively that creates a
really luxurious kitchen.
Lh: Are there any signature design components or particulars your agency is thought for incorporating in luxurious kitchens?
April: Proper now, the sport changer in our luxurious kitchen designs is pot fillers. And never simply any pot fillers, however people who flaunt high-end finishes. They harmonize so nicely with the remainder of the {hardware} and taps within the kitchen, sustaining that seamless, cohesive look our shoppers adore.
Although we’ve carried out some lovely work in conventional types—assume Victorian components and ornate particulars—we’re noticing a particular shift. The pattern now could be all about glossy, fashionable traces. Much less of the frilly particulars, extra of the clear, easy class. It’s the modern aesthetic that’s actually capturing our
shoppers’ curiosity.
And relating to colours, two shades constantly take middle stage: matte black and aged brass. They’re not simply fashionable; they’re the must-haves. Whether or not it’s for a faucet, a deal with, or a fixture, these are the hues our shoppers are asking for. They convey in that sense of sophistication and luxurious that’s all the time welcome in high-end kitchen design.
Lh: May you stroll us by certainly one of your most profitable luxurious kitchen reworking tasks? What challenges did you face, and the way did you overcome them to realize the ultimate design?
April: One mission that stands out in my reminiscence concerned a consumer who wished to transform her kitchen however didn’t need to substitute her current cupboards. She wished new counter tops and a change within the kitchen’s footprint. She had a half wall serving as a peninsula with a bar prime, and her cupboards had been fitted across the room’s perimeter, even connecting to the peninsula. Her want was to take away that half wall, which introduced a novel problem given the connection to the cupboards.
However the problem didn’t finish there. The half-wall she wished to take away additionally related to the cupboards. As soon as it was eliminated, we discovered ourselves left with a shortened cupboard the place a lazy Susan had beforehand been. We needed to assume innovatively to unravel this surprising downside. So we determined to name in our cupboard maker, who expertly created an finish cupboard that saved the microwave. To keep up consistency in design, the brand new cupboard door was made to match her current type. Then, we painted all the kitchen in a unified coloration, serving to to seamlessly combine the previous with the brand new.
As for the island, we needed to begin from scratch with fully new cupboards. Merging her current cupboard with the brand new ones within the island was certainly a problem, however we had been capable of create a shocking freestanding construction the place the peninsula as soon as stood.
The flooring posed yet one more hurdle. She wished to maintain her unique ground, however the rework had resulted in some areas being gouged out. With out new tiles to fill in, we needed to give you another answer. So, we determined to put LVP over her current tiles. The tip outcome was breathtakingly lovely, providing a distressed wooden look that added to the appeal of the rework. She was so proud of the look of the LVP she determined to make use of it all through her whole house.
Lh: In your expertise, what position do Interiors by Studio A shoppers often play within the design course of? How a lot do they affect the ultimate design, and the way do you guarantee their imaginative and prescient aligns together with your experience?
April: Shoppers are essential to the design course of; they supply about 60% of the preliminary idea. They provide us a strong place to begin which we construct upon. Earlier than we dive into the precise design course of, we conduct interactive assessments. This consists of every little thing from creating Pinterest boards to having casual meet and greets to holding a number of planning conferences.
Throughout these interactions, we dissect their imaginative and prescient, their needs for the area, and the sensation they need to evoke. We use these insights to form the ultimate product. In fact, we don’t merely current one possibility; we give them a spread to select from. As soon as they’ve chosen, we run with that type, integrating our experience and information into each element.
The finishes and different components often fall beneath our discretion. The consumer would possibly counsel a coloration they love, after which it’s as much as us to interpret that into a method, right into a course that aligns with the luxurious design they’re after.
Lh: With sustainability turning into more and more necessary, how does your agency incorporate eco-friendly practices and supplies into your luxurious kitchen remodels?
April: At Interiors by Studio A, we’re significantly keen on Cali Bamboo owing to its distinctive dedication to environmental sustainability. What units them aside is their use of recycled supplies in each single product they produce. This consists of their whole line of flooring, making them an important accomplice to have in eco-friendly luxurious design. But it surely’s not simply their inexperienced practices that we’re enamored with. The sturdiness and longevity of this bamboo is second to none. That is of paramount significance in our line of labor, the place each materials we use wants to face up to the take a look at of time.
Moreover, our commerce low cost with Cali Bamboo allows us to offer even higher worth to shoppers of Interiors by Studio A, permitting us to ship eco-conscious, luxurious designs at a extra accessible value level.
Lh: In what methods have designing kitchens for Interiors by Studio A shoppers within the South affected the design course of?
April: In my expertise, Southern kitchens typically stand out on account of their bigger scale. They have an inclination to favor an open design, the place the kitchen and dwelling area movement into one another. Due to this, the open idea is likely one of the defining options of a Southern kitchen. Think about a large island, cupboards reaching as much as the ceiling, and interspersed glass cupboards—a definite Southern type.
However a Southern kitchen doesn’t should be restricted to conventional designs. Regardless that my private type is extra eclectic and transitional, I discover it fairly fulfilling to modernize Southern-style kitchens primarily based on every consumer’s preferences. There have been cases after I’ve encountered shoppers with a choice for very conventional, even antiquated aesthetics. The problem, and in addition the fun, lies in taking their core concepts and subtly tweaking them to include a contemporary aptitude.
Lh: The place do you see the traits going for luxurious kitchen design within the subsequent few years?
April: As for the upcoming traits in luxurious kitchen design, I envision a number of shifts in coloration and materials preferences over the following few years.
I see a resurgence of platinum and chrome finishes, significantly in stainless-steel purposes, which appear to be making a comeback. Whereas matte black will seemingly keep its recognition as a strong, timeless selection, I predict the pattern of gold accents regularly phasing out over the following couple of years.
White cupboards, as soon as the epitome of a recent kitchen, are slowly dropping their prominence. As an alternative, we’re seeing a surge in using vivid colours in cabinetry, significantly jewel tones. Emerald inexperienced, sapphire blue, and ruby pink are being embraced with open arms. Moreover, many purchasers are choosing two-tone cabinetry, bringing a novel aesthetic to their areas.
A couple of years in the past, pastel tones had their second, however their recognition appears to be fading. As an alternative, we’re seeing an increase in slate hues—blues, grays, and greens. They’re charming, calming, and carry a way of sophistication, precisely what you search for in luxurious kitchen design.
The pattern I’m significantly enthusiastic about is the rising choice for pure, unfinished white oak cabinetry. These cupboards, often given only a gentle satin end with none stain, present a uncooked, sandy look that’s gaining traction in luxurious kitchen designs. It’s about celebrating the pure great thing about the fabric, which provides each heat and texture to the area.
To sum up, the upcoming traits appear to favor extra daring coloration decisions, an appreciation for pure finishes, and a shift in metallic accents. However as all the time, it’s about creating an area that really speaks to the consumer’s private type and desires.
All Photographs Courtesy of Interiors by Studio A
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