MODERN UPDATE
Designer Lisa Sherry was tasked with a complete gut renovation of her longtime-clients’ High Point kitchen. Built in the early 2000s, the kitchen needed a major revamp. “They came to me for my signature style: clean and modern, unfussy but soulful, real and authentic,” the designer says. “This style happens to align with their epicurean tastes, too—plant-based, real food, and clean-eating focused, locally sourced, heathy, and entirely delicious.”
What She Did
ADDED ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS The sculpted plaster hood provides a stunning architectural detail to an otherwise clean, streamlined kitchen. “It also adds subtle texture and a layer of interest, which I love,” says Sherry.
REMAINED NATURAL “It’s an opendoor policy in this home, and that means dogs, too,” says Sherry of the honed limestone flooring that runs throughout the kitchen. “The flooring was specified for beauty and endurance. It will wear and age beautifully.”
WENT ORGANIC In lieu of a traditional tile backsplash, Sherry opted for a honed limestone with a charming irregular finish and an inherently organic vibe.
Meet the Designer
LISA SHERRY
KITCHEN SPLURGE “If I must pick one, I’ll say panel-ready appliances. They integrate seamlessly with cabinetry and elevate the space. I love it when someone asks, ‘Where’s the dishwasher?’ It makes my day.”
BEST DECORATING TIP “Keep an eye—and hand—on texture. Sleek surfaces are natural in a kitchen. Add texture through tile, flooring, countertops, lighting, and textiles. Layers of texture are much like aromatic spices in a delicious recipe: they simply emerge and engage the senses.”
KITCHEN DO “Kitchen islands can be divisive! I am in the proisland camp. More often than not, I specify a working island of some variety. But custom kitchens, which are my expertise, are all about doing what’s right for the space. This is a galley kitchen, ten-by-twenty. An island would be a roadblock, restricting the flow of this organic and fluid space.”
KITCHEN DON'T “Don’t be afraid to gut and start from scratch. Regardless of square footage, the best kitchen designs are balletic, meaning that things flow. My clients often ask, ‘What would you do here if you could do anything?’ When you let go of the old floor plan, new ideas percolate.”
KITCHEN FLIP
Designer Shannon Loeffler first came to Kyong Agapiou to inquire about appliances for her kitchen, which she was updating. The South Charlotte home had seen a few updates, but the kitchen needed an overhaul. Agapiou, a lead designer with Design Centers International (DCI), was ready to help. “It was a basic kitchen without a lot of character and closed off from the rest of the house,” she says. “Small upgrades were made in the early ’90s to include green granite and appliances.” With the renovation, the kitchen was transformed into an Old English hub with a modern twist.
What She Did
KEPT IT LOW As in cabinetry. In lieu of upper cabinets, Agapiou opted instead for large floor-to-ceiling armoire-like cabinetry that provides ample storage but functions like a piece of furniture.
SKIPPED OUTLETS To keep the overall aesthetic clean and modern, the kitchen is devoid of visible outlets on the backsplash so as not to interrupt the tile detail.
DITCHED SYMMETRY The space was purposely designed asymmetrically so the homeowner could use her interior design skills to create balance in the room with decorative display items.
Meet the Designer
KYONG AGAPIOU
KITCHEN SPLURGE “The custom island was designed to be multifunctional and to look like a piece of furniture. It is the showstopper of the room. The main faucet was also a splurge and was like adding a piece of jewelry that she can enjoy every day. It is understated but is an incredible piece that works well with the well-loved and lived-in look.”
BEST DECORATING TIP “I love adding open shelving to allow homeowners to make the space more personal with art or items more meaningful to them and their family. The biggest mistake I see is when every inch of wall is covered by cabinetry storage.”
KITCHEN DO “A must-have in every kitchen is a pullout wastebasket, which is hidden and placed in an area that is functional.”
KITCHEN DON’T “Don’t try to do it yourself or try to save money by not working with a professional. It makes all the difference in the world when you invest in a great design. A professional will take the time to get to know you and your lifestyle, and make it timeless, personal, and beautiful.”
KITCHEN COUTURE
When House of Nomad designers Berkeley Minkhorst and Kelley Lentini were commissioned to give their clients’ kitchen a facelift, the layout was in place. The experienced designers were tasked with injecting personality into what was an otherwise all-over neutral space. The duo incorporated a vibrant, authentic style to the kitchen via new countertops, a custom marble hexagon backsplash from Renaissance Tile & Bath, Circa light fixtures, barstools, and a vintage runner from Shop House of Nomad. The result: a modern stunner where the homeowners can gather as a family and entertain seamlessly.
What They Did
LOW CUSTOMIZED IT “You will never regret splurging on quality custom cabinetry and a gorgeous countertop slab,” says Minkhorst. For this project, the marble for the tile was custom selected to complement the countertops, and “it's a favorite moment of ours, for sure!”
RELAXED THINGS The barstools by Palecek lend themselves to a laid-back style, which the designers carried throughout the home by using natural and woven materials.
POPPED SOME COLOR The nearly all-white kitchen needed a burst of energy. The designers achieved this by adding a vintage
Turkish runner.}
Meet the Designer
HOUSE OF NOMAD
KITCHEN SPLURGE “Quality custom cabinetry and gorgeous countertops will never disappoint. Such big pieces of your kitchen design is worth the splurge,” says Minkhorst.
BEST DECORATING TIP “Less is more. Kitchens can get cluttered and elements competitive,” explains Lentini. “Pick a grounding color to work around and then tie in those details through a pop in the tile, decor, etc. Lighting scale is also important to take into
consideration. We love an oversized lighting moment if the scale is right!”
KITCHEN DO “A coffee bar!”
KITCHEN DON’T “Don't stick to one color or material,” says Lentini. “White cabinets? Add a fun backsplash like this one! Give it personality that reflects you and your family. Also, never go too small in scale with lighting; it will get lost, and you never want that.”