Michele Alfano of Michele Alfano Designs, known for her modern signature, recently took on a new challenge to work with clients who prefer a more traditional style. She was asked to modernize the kitchen of a 1892 brownstone in Hoboken, NJ yet maintain the home’s historic touches. Top Knobs Somerset transitional style decorative hardware was an integral part of the design.
“The Hoboken home had great bones,” said Alfano. The designer introduced tin metal into the kitchen that brought in sophisticated and historic detailing. It not only honored the personality of Victorian homes in the 1890s, but also created an architectural focal point in this kitchen.
The tin was recessed into the sheetrock ceiling directly over the island and in line with the pantry. A pure modern gesture.
White cabinetry was accented with shades of grays. The honed gray concrete counter in combination with the polished marble-look island makes a statement. The crisp lines of the island’s waterfall stone edge swirl with attention.
The client fell in love with the Top Knobs Somerset pull and cup pull decorative hardware collection in a brushed nickel finish. Its contemporary design with striking curves and straight edges was a nice accent to the lines of the cabinetry.
The Somerset collection offers a seamless transition between classic and contemporary. The cabinet hardware is available in 2 ½” and 3” cup pulls, nine knob styles and five style pulls: Star pulls, Voss pulls, Arendal pulls, Somerset pulls and Wire pulls. A mixture of 18 finishes varying by product style make the transitional Top Knobs collection ideal for nearly any kitchen design.
The apron front sink was a perfect selection for the kitchen. A contemporary take on a classic style, it is crafted in Silgranit, a granite composite that is ultra-cleanable and extremely durable. The client loves it.
Layers of lighting fill the kitchen space. Recessed ceiling lighting, under-cabinet lighting and modern pendants drop from the geometric tin ceiling over the island. Opening up the back wall with a large span of windows was key to the design. Views of their garden with tons of natural light pours into their space making it feel larger.
According to Alfano, the collaboration with the client worked seamlessly and they are so happy in their new home.
Product Sources:
Designer: Michele Alfano Designs
Cabinet Millworker: Five Star Millwork
Stone Fabricator: Faithful Countertops
Sink: BLANCO IKON Apron Sink
Faucet: Grohe
Hardware: Top Knobs Somerset Pull and Cup Pulls, Brushed Nickel Finish
Countertop Perimeter: Caesarstone Concrete
Countertop Island: Statuary Neolith
Lighting: Visual Comfort Chapman Easterly
Benjamin Moore Wall Paint: Metro Gray #1459
Benjamin Moore Ceiling Paint: Dove White OC-17
The original version of this article cited the home as being built in the 1920s. The article has been updated to reflect the 1892 built date.
