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When this Martha's Vineyard house was purchased, there was no real kitchen — a salvaged sink base tucked under the window, a freestanding stove on one wall, an old refrigerator on the other. Yet despite the missing finishes, the house was built entirely by its original owner, and the structure itself speaks to real skill: sound, well-built, with an interesting layout that keeps surprising you room to room.
The renovation started from scratch. New floors were laid over the original wood plank, keeping that same character underfoot while giving the space a fresh foundation. Working with a local kitchen designer, the cabinetry stayed simple: white shaker-style doors, with open shelving in place of upper storage to keep the room feeling light and easy. Caesarstone’s Primordia quartz counters echo wet sand at the water’s edge, and blue fish scale tile picks up the coastal thread too, catching the light and shimmering come evening. Mellow pewter knobs and pulls add a soft, timeless finish throughout.
Overhead, the open ceiling and exposed beams were left just as they were — we avoided the temptation to paint them white, letting that original craftsmanship stay front and center.
The kitchen dining area is anchored by a true statement piece — a dining table with elaborately turned legs, paired with a blueberry blue beaded light fixture, both from Arhaus — a Breezy Blue Home favorite for furniture and lighting. The beading catches the light beautifully over the table, and the chairs surrounding it feature different back styles to add visual interest while staying part of the same collection. In the adjoining hallway, a bold blue-and-white striped Annie Selke rug adds a visually graphic pop of color under foot. Walls are Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White, trim is Super White.
Space came at a premium in this one-bedroom Long Beach Island, NJ condo, affectionately known as “The Ocean Pearl” — the entire unit is under 400 square feet — so every decision had to earn its place. High-end slab cabinets bring a soft echo of driftwood without literally imitating it, while the quartz counters carry subtle veining that catches the light the way a tideline does moving across wet sand.
Despite the tight footprint, the kitchen holds a full-size dishwasher, a slim refrigerator, and a 24-inch range with a microwave above — nothing scaled down more than it had to be. The sink landed in the corner, the only spot that made sense in the layout, and it works better than expected. The same cabinetry and quartz carry into the living area for extra storage, tying the two spaces together and making the whole footprint feel thoughtful rather than cramped.
Unlike the two kitchens above, this one hasn’t been built — it’s a design concept I’ve been playing with, exploring soft sage cabinetry and warm brass details rather than a finished project.
Painted in a muted green with just enough gray in it to read coastal rather than country, the cabinetry anchors this kitchen. A deep apron-front sink pairs with a bridge-style faucet in warm, unlacquered brass. Glass-front upper cabinets keep the room open, with favorite dishware on display. Shiplap walls and a woven linen window treatment over the sink add texture, and a wood island brings in a natural, grounding warmth.
A stainless range with a vent hood sits against a textured white tile backsplash. A woven wicker pendant hangs over a window-seat breakfast nook, and a jute rug grounds the floor below.
Three kitchens, three very different spaces — each one shaped by its own architecture, square footage, and history. That’s really the throughline here: the best results come from working with what a space already gives you, not fighting it.
If your budget allows, bringing in a kitchen designer early is worth it. A good one sees things you won’t — layout tweaks, storage solutions, small design moves — and can steer you away from costly mistakes before they happen. Beyond that, the real secret is choosing finishes you genuinely love rather than whatever’s trending. Trends fade. A kitchen you love living in doesn’t.
Stay breezy 🌊
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