Stephanie Nist had her heart set on a hunter green kitchen — until she realized just how pricey good quality cabinetry can be. Afraid she might tire of such a saturated tone, the self-described maximalist leaned into longevity. “I suggested we combine a soft sage green with a rich walnut,” Cecilia Casagrande, the founder of Casagrande Studio, says.
As a fellow maximalist and longtime customer of Mint Julep, the color- and pattern-filled clothing boutiques in Harvard Square and Coolidge Corner that Nist co-owns, Casagrande assured her client that the new kitchen in her Brookline condo would still show off her style. “Adding walnut to fun, feminine details makes the kitchen feel current and classic,” the designer says.
Sage base cabinets and walnut uppers with brass-mesh inserts for interest and airiness at the top stretch across the wall beyond the peninsula that Casagrande extended to seat two. For the backsplash, the designer again struck a balance between bold and timeless, with a mix of handmade Moroccan taupe and parchment-colored tiles interspersed with nine metallic gold ones. “The Clé tiles are special, but not so specific that they’ll go out of style,” Nist says.
Casagrande and Nist had tile samples in hand at the stone yard, where they chose creamy quartzite with brown veining for the countertop. The natural material offers colors and movement that play off the imperfect shape and texture of the tiles. The matte white GE Café appliances with brushed-brass accents feel simultaneously pared back and glamorous. The finishing touch is the scalloped brass trim on the otherwise-simple painted wood hood. “Cecilia didn’t rest until she found someone to make it,” Nist says.
Across the room, Casagrande closed off the infrequently used door to the dining room in favor of a corner banquette with the same sage green millwork as the cabinets. The cushions and roman shade are made from patterned fabrics by Dutch design house Ottoline. Casagrande earmarked them early on, knowing that Nist loves a red and pink pairing.
When it came time to paint the walls, Casagrande suggested Farrow & Ball’s Calamine, a subtle pink with gray undertones. Nist loves the warmth it suffuses, though admits that she was nervous at first. “I painted around 25 different samples on the walls, but of course I ultimately went with Cecilia’s selection,” she says. “It adds a little bit of flair without really looking like a pink kitchen.”
Resources
Designer and builder: Casagrande Studio, casagrandestudio.com
Cabinetry: Pinnacle Kitchens, pinnaclekitchens-walpole.com
Stone: LeaMar Industries, leamar.com
Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram @StyleCarrot. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.
