Date: August 14, 2013 | Story: Tiffany Burgess Adams | Styling: Tiffany Burgess Adams & Ellen Scruggs |
A Conway homeowner enlists the help of an experienced kitchen designer and the advice of a close friend to create the kitchen of her dreams
Designing the kitchen for the new construction home she shares with her husband, Don, was not something Kim Silvestri entered into lightly. It took years of planning—four to be exact—and a bit of help from a trusted designer along with lots of conversations with a close friend. “We waited four years to build after purchasing our lot, and I spent that time cutting things out of magazines and gathering pictures of rooms and products I liked,” says Silvestri.
Kathy Scharff, a close friend of Silvestri’s suggested she put the clippings to good use by making inspiration boards. “I made a board for every room in this house,” laughs Silvestri. So it’s no surprise when it came time to put the inspiration to use, she was prepared. She took her boards to Inside Effects in Little Rock where, with the help of designer Leslie Tetrev, she was able to make the vision a reality.
“She walked in one day, saw it and immediately fell in love,” says Tetrev of the Vintage granite slab, which became the countertop for the kitchen island as well as the color basis for the kitchen. “I even sent my friend Kathy a picture to let her know I had found the perfect piece,” laughs Silvestri of the aha! design moment. From there Silvestri pulled the color for the wall cabinetry from a hue seen in the slab to carry the serene appeal throughout the space. However, selecting a color for the island cabinetry proved to be a bit more complicated. “I have always loved Sherwin-Williams’ Black Fox and wanted to use it in my home, but when we started painting the island, it came out looking more purple in the room,” says Silvestri. Not to be deterred, she conversed with her friend Scharff and the two decided on a custom mix that gives an effect similar to Black Fox.
Aside from the work surfaces, there were several other must-haves on Silvestri’s wish list. “My previous home was very busy, and I really wanted this house to have a natural, calming feel that takes our view [of Conway’s Lake Carol-Dan] into account and doesn’t have a lot of ornamentation,” says Silvestri of her motivation behind the design and its peaceful presence. Casement windows, which offer an abundance of both natural light and fresh air, play heavily into the room’s color scheme by allowing nature into the home. In a similar manner, classic pendants, which hang over the island, provide plenty of light without becoming a focal point.
Finally, since the Silvestri’s children are grown and living on their own now, she knew it would be smart to add a few practical features for empty nesters. She chose dishwashing drawers over a traditional full-load dishwasher for the convenience and energy-saving appeal of smaller loads. And while they may have benefited from the expertise of a knowledgeable designer and the style guidance of a trusted friend, the space is now truly a reflection of the Silvestris and their initial inspiration pieces.
Design Resources
Kitchen design Leslie Tetrev, Inside Effects, Little Rock, (501) 954-8866, inside-effects.com
Appliances Metro Appliances & More, Jonesboro, (870) 933-7800, North Little Rock, (501) 771-1840, Springdale (479) 750-2200, metroappliancesandmore.com
Cabinetry David Grant, Grant’s Cabinet and Millwork, Greenbrier, (501) 479-2923
Cabinetry hardware Ridout Lumber, locations statewide, ridoutlumber.com
Countertops, flooring and tile Inside Effects, Little Rock, (501) 954-8866, inside-effects.com
Fresh floral Tipton Hurst, Conway, (501) 329-6663, Little Rock, (501) 666-3333, North Little Rock, (501) 753-0709, tiptonhurst.com
Lighting Hambuchen Lighting, Inc., Conway, (501) 329-3861, hambuchenlighting.com
Paint Sherwin-Williams, locations statewide, sherwin-williams.com
