Cool and Cozy

A Shore Colonial kitchen features warm white, wood tones and a hint of the sea

“The original kitchen island was small and somewhat useless for storage and eating,” designer Ginny Padula says. She specified a larger island and reoriented the seating on one end to allow diners to gather without intruding on prep space. “The pendants were chosen for the classic brass accents, pulling in the finish from the island hardware and the stool footrests,” she adds.

This waterfront residence in Rumson, NJ, was in the midst of a makeover by Bob Trembley of Rumson-based Bob Trembley Home. For the gut renovation of the kitchen, Trembley called in the team at Town & Country Kitchen and Bath in Red Bank, NJ, to help facilitate the overhaul. “The only thing we kept were the travertine floors, which run throughout many of the rooms on the first floor,” says Ginny Padula, owner of Town & Country Kitchen and Bath.

“The home’s architectural style is traditional,” Padula says. “We wanted to stay true to that aesthetic while infusing the kitchen with the updated and modern elements the client appreciates.” Padula and her colleague, Kaila Williams, joined Trembley for a collaboration that would “mix these styles in a fresh, cohesive way.”

Storage space in the island keeps dishes organized and orderly.

Padula and Williams “selected a warmer white paint for the majority of the kitchen cabinetry, with Carrera marble countertops to keep a clean base in the room.” While white cabinetry is a kitchen mainstay, “this custom cabinetry is not your average construction,” Padula notes. “It features a dimensional offset between the cabinet boxes and the doors, which creates an elevated look.” The upper cabinets maximize the room’s high ceilings with glass doors to showcase accents to dramatic effect.

The island brings a hit of color as well as rich wood tones. “We wanted the island to feel more like furniture than cabinetry,” Padula says. “We selected rustic walnut and incorporated legs on all corners. A wood apron under the countertop wraps the entire island. It’s a detail reminiscent of a farm-style table.” The range hood, also in walnut, complements the island. The blue concrete island countertop is a nod to the water view just outside and, Padula adds, “brings a modern element to the more rustic wood below.”

This vacation home is a place where the homeowner “can connect with his family outside of the city,” Padula says. Alongside Bob Trembley, “we worked collaboratively through all aspects of the project, ensuring that the selections and applications worked cohesively for the overall vision of the home.”