Designer and gallerist James Yarosh embraced the renovation of this townhouse kitchen for more than the artistic opportunities it presented; the client had become a close friend of Yarosh after he completed an earlier renovation of her home.
“The clients are avid travelers and very active in their support of the arts. Having worked with them on several projects, I know their love of pattern and color,” said Yarosh. While other spaces of the home are bold and directly inspired by European museum design, the designer envisioned the kitchen as a contrasting space of calm and rest for the eye, using minimal color but still offering moments of visual interest.
The founder of Holmdel, NJ-based James Yarosh Associates, the designer feels it is important – particularly for open floor plans – that while the kitchen is often the heart of the home and must function seamlessly, its design should be in service to the larger picture of the home’s identity.This open space townhouse kitchen sits between two custom bookcases and becomes part of the family room, dining and sitting room areas.
Townhouse Kitchen Team
Yarosh partnered with kitchen designer Joan Picone (who the client had brought on board) and her preferred cabinetmaker, James Zdepski, both who share his love of craft and value quality. “The collaboration was a new process, and trusting one another let us all shine,” Yarosh said. “Ultimately, it created a result that was a full-on win for the client.”
“Working with Joan enabled me to push the boundaries of design. Trusting her as a professional gave me a safe space to spend more time with the client, exploring the details of materials and decorative elements. James Zdepski is a true artisan who thrives on precision and detail,” said Yarosh.
The designer selected Benjamin Moore’s Skipping Stone for the base of the kitchen’s color palette, matching the custom bookcases on either end of the space. The idea was to blend the client’s love of pattern and visual excitement with a restrained, sleeker approach influenced by traditional European aesthetics.
Lining the range top alcove, the designer created a tumbling-block backsplash with natural stone. The pattern is echoed in the laser-cut door panels that front the coffee bar. According to the designer, it was satisfying to add a secondary pattern to the kitchen without the use of additional color. “I was able to scale the pattern properly to create depth and impact for the space, which has 9 1/2-foot ceilings. The charm created with the cut out pattern also helped to blur references of time, allowing the space to be anything but boring.”
“I must admit it was a joy to have a client so invested and interested in detail, which allowed us to create something truly special together. I am lucky to conduct my business relationships like friendships,” said Yarosh, who is about to embark on third project with the homeowners. “It’s always best when we can hold hands and leap together to share the ride of our design journeys.”
Sources
Design: James Yarosh, James Yarosh Associates; Kitchen Design Collaboration: Joan Picone; Photography: Patricia Burke; Cabinets: James Zdepski; Cabinet Hardware: Rocky Mountain; Cooktop, Range, Vent Hood, Wall Ovens: Thermador; Countertops: OHM International; Dishwasher: Miele; Faucets: Hansgrohe; Microwave: Sharp; Paint: Benjamin Moore; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero; Seating: Artistic Frame; Sinks: Julien; Tile: Studium Tile
