Erin L. Serventi of Watsonville, Calif.-based E.L. Designs faced a challenging project: connecting two rooms of different ceiling heights, compromising two different styles and creating more usable space – all within a tight budget.
“Due to the size and shape of the island, we needed to have the slabs fabricated with a seam, which was not desirable,” said Serventi. “However, we worked very closely with the fabricator to lay out the seam and pick caulking to perfectly match the slab so the seam isn’t even noticeable.”
“I love the built-in bar,” said the designer. “We had LED tape light installed in recessed channels in the floating shelves, and it really makes a statement!”
To help save on costs, the team worked to maintain the integrity of the existing walls and the original tongue-and-groove ceilings.
The husband’s more transitional style comes into play with the lighting and the flooring, while the wife’s mid-century modern leaning shows in the backsplash’s hexagon-shaped tile and the bold lines of the hood.
The layout of the kitchen was transformed when the opening between it and the dining room was relocated and resized. This allowed the team to move the refrigerator adjacent to its original location, freeing up a more ideal spot for the cooktop and oven.