It looked like a mousetrap—there was just wall after wall after wall,” says Donna Ferrarini, interior designer at Ferrarini & Co., of the ground floor in a client’s home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Desperate to make the kitchen, especially, feel open without expanding the footprint, the owners called on Donna and her son, Matthew Ferrarini, the firm’s principal designer.
They removed the wall between the kitchen and the dining room and swapped an off-center door to the garden with windowed French doors that have screens to let in more light, greenery, and air. Upper cabinets were demo’d to make the area feel as spacious as possible. And in lieu of an island, Matthew designed a tall pantry cabinet that hides the microwave, food, and even a broom and vacuum.
Paul S. Bartholomew
The team pitched a moody, industrial look for the finishes, and the owners went all in. “This isn’t a Manhattan condo—it’s the suburbs of Philly,” Matthew says. “They allowed us to step outside the norm, and do really unique things.” Black cabinetry, Edison lights, titanium granite counters, and painted brick veneer walls lend authenticity. “It looks like the original brick, doesn’t it?” asks Donna. “It’s lumpy and bumpy and seems like it’s a hundred years old.”
Bold Moves
Clients who were up for anything allowed the team from Philadelphia-based Ferrarini & Co. to double down on stylish selections, like cabinets in Farrow & Ball Off-Black, which bounces a surprising amount of light around the room. Lights: Troy Lighting. Rug: Rugs.com. Wall paint: Ethereal White, Sherwin-Williams.
Coffee Station
Paul S. Bartholomew
An antique mirror backsplash adds just enough visual interest to a long stretch of counter dedicated to coffee making. “It’s my favorite part of the kitchen,” says Michelle, one of the homeowners. Cabinets: Kahle’s Kitchens. Espresso machine: Breville. Coffee machine: Cuisinart. Hardware: Top Knobs.
Smart Shelving
Paul S. Bartholomew
To offset dark cabinets and counters, the team wanted the white brick walls to shine through. Enter custom steel-and-wood open shelving. Faucet: Brizo. Brick veneer: Avalon Flooring (discontinued).
Better Beams
Paul S. Bartholomew
Matthew added a few faux ceiling beams next to a structural one, and clad them all in the same wood veneer so they’d match. “We dressed them up!” he says. Hood: Zline. Range: GE Café Series.
Contractor: Home Optics Contractors.
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