MIND THE CURVE

A one-on-one with Arteriors directly from High Point Fall Market 2022 arteriorshome.com

Another new year is upon us, and with it comes all sorts of exciting possibilities for our lives and our homes. A fresh start can also mean reinvigorating our living spaces with new touches to give our homes the breath of fresh air we may be craving. As we head into 2023, some of the design industry’s best and brightest are keeping up-todate on the hottest looks in interior design. Whether you’re thinking of doing a full-scale renovation or just wanting to add a few small changes to your home, here are some ideas you’ll want to keep in mind.

D+D: What colors are trending for 2023, and why are you choosing these color palettes?

Kristen Furman, Design Director West | Out East

West | Out East has been one of the most notable names in New York architecture and interior design for the past 30 years. The company has showrooms in New York City, East Hampton, NY, and Westport, CT. Once listed as one of the 100 best architects in New York City, West | Out East brings a modern sense of class and style to every project it touches.

Kristen: For us, you will typically see a lot of whites, grays and neutrals for architectural materials, while adding pops of color through furniture. We normally go much lighter for our design projects.

Interestingly, however, one new aspect of color we’re trying out in our design can be seen in the study of our showroom. We painted the walls a dark olive and a much lighter color on the ceiling. We also utilized warmer tones for the furniture to complete the look. This is a more masculine aesthetic, and we also wanted it to feel welcoming when people enter. As it turns out, that space has been the most well received of the entire showroom. That response to warmer, richer environments has shifted our perspective heading into 2023 to start using deeper tones for our designs. This shift seems to be due to more people working from home and desiring even more soothing looks in spaces like dens, bedrooms and even dining rooms.

One key aspect of this color focus is the lighter coloring as the eye gets closer to the ceiling. This adds a sense of height to the room, so that darker tones don’t take away from the visual space in the room. Utilizing plants or foliage is also very important to us, as they add a sense of life through color in the room.

D+D: What color palettes are trending in the kitchen for 2023?

Karen Berkenmeyer, Owner/Designer

Karen Berkenmeyer Home

For over 30 years, Karen Berkenmeyer Home has provided a one-stopshop design experience for kitchen and bath design. Its team of de- signers provides custom cabinetry, tile and stone, plumbing fixtures, countertops and more. Karen and her talented team bring comprehensive knowledge to every client’s home, whether it be a simple upgrade or a complex, large-scale project.

Karen: I’m still seeing a lot of white, specifically more soft whites. Those tones seem to be taking over the stark whites that have been popular in recent years. We’re also seeing a lot of different shades of green coming into the kitchen. Gray greens and pastels in particular are getting to be very big. Grays and taupe are definitely not going anywhere, either, as popular colors choices in the kitchen.

We’ve also been starting to mix a lot of light wood tones, such as rich cut white oak with the white and green tones that are trending right now. Some kitchens we’ve done even have three different finishes. For instance, one project might feature a white perimeter, with color on the island and oak tone on the bar. Using multiple finishes is one direction we’re definitely heading right now.

More color in the kitchen is one way people are moving, and I think it’s great. More color in the cabinets and materials of the kitchen gives the space more distinction and, as a designer, I find it wonderful to work with. Green in particular is making a resurgence.

D+D: What are some ways to bring the feeling of “wanderlust” into the home?

Karen: Probably the biggest way we use is featuring a spa bathroom in we love because it not only adds visual interest and personality to each home, but it can also be practical, offering long-term value, style and durability.

For instance, hardwoods like rift cut white oak and natural walnut stand up beautifully in busy areas. Stainless steel is an excellent material for sink faucets and undermount sinks, and yet this decision doesn’t have to dictate the other finishes in the room. One recent renovation project incorporates natural walnut detail on the hood, open shelves and bar countertop, which contrasts with the light painted cabinetry. The plumbing fixtures are stainless steel, whereas the cabinet hardware and light fixtures are a mix of satin brass and matte black. Even the quartzite countertops are leathered to provide an extra layer of texture while offering excellent durability.

D+D: What is your take on rounded or curved kitchen islands, and what makes them such an appealing feature?

Fred

Puksta, Product Designer Crown Point Cabinetry

Crown Point Cabinetry is a family-owned -and -operated business that creates handcrafted custom cabinetry for the kitchen, bath and wherever else a homeowner might need its services. The company specializes in a wide variety of period styles, from Early American to Victorian. Crown Point provides its superior cabinets across the country, and has the reputation of being one of the nation’s highest quality cabinetmakers.

Fred: Rounded or curved islands always attract one’s eyes, primarily because they look “different” in juxtaposition to the predominantly rectilinear shapes the design. Clients can imagine themselves on the beach or somewhere else far away, while enjoying the comforts of their bathroom in their own home. That’s the biggest way to bring that feeling while keeping the clients calm and relaxed in their space.

One thing you have to be careful with is making more permanent choices based on travel experiences, because you might get tired of it in a few years. I try to draw inspiration from homeowners’ wanderlust in things like color usage or wallpaper, rather than elements like cabinetry and flooring.

When working with clients who want that wanderlust feeling they got from their travels, I find it often dictates their color choices. They tend to go with cobalt blues, the greens that are trending, and even rich gold tones for their homes.

D+D: What is the perfect trifecta of materials for the kitchen in 2023?

Jennifer W. Howard, Owner/Designer JWH Design & Cabinetry

Jennifer Howard started JWH Design in 1996, and now offers her distinct knack for spatial awareness in design projects all across the country. Her design team creates custom cabinetry with materials built in the firm’s own mill shop, allowing clients yet another way to embrace their own unique style.

Jennifer: There has been a steady increase in incorporating wood species, warmer paint colors and mixing metals in our kitchen designs. This is a trend that comprise the majority of a typical kitchen design and/or most architecture. There is an aesthetic “softness” to curves that is very appealing to many. And there is a physical benefit to maneuvering around the soft lines of a curve, rather than the hard-pointed geometry of a corner. Curves are technically more difficult to produce, and therefore can be more expensive to include in one’s design. But sometimes these very barriers and the previously mentioned benefits drive a client to further differentiate their designs from what is typically produced.

Brian

MacDonald, Principal Davenport Contracting

For more than 35 years, Davenport has been a top-quality firm for both fullscale builds of custom homes and renovation projects. The company also has a home-focused division that handles smaller scale renovations, additions and maintenance. For President Brian MacDonald, Davenport’s hard-earned reputation rests squarely on the care his team members show their clients, as well as the homes they build for them.

Brian: Arches are a universal architectural form dating back thousands of years. They add interest, rhythm and graciousness to a building. The design of an arch incorporates a circle that represents unity, integration, wholeness and harmony.

Our homes are a place of refuge from the world around us; we look to our homes to enfold and cherish ourselves and our families.

An archway presents an invitation to enter a space. In one recent project we completed, archways connect the kitchen to the breakfast room and family room. Keeping the theme consistent, an arch encloses the cooking stove as well. An interesting design element is the bookshelves built into the arched passage—a creative storage solution.

In a limestone home we worked on, arches break up the linear aspect of the rear façade, giving a pleasing rhythm to the home. From the interior, the same arches lend a graciousness to the room.

Ken Mittlestadt, Millwork

Interstate + Lakeland Lumber

Interstate + Lakeland Lumber has served its clients for more than 100 years, offering a wide variety of custom millwork, construction materials and design services. The company always keeps its ears to the ground to make sure it is offering only the most on-trend and cutting-edge products and services available.

Ken: Decorative arched elements are added to many homes to provide an interesting design and sometimes focal point to various areas throughout the house. Windows and doors are often designed with arched tops or elliptical tops, which sometimes carry through to the interior design. In the interior, arched openings are also created with the same shape added to the doors, cabinets and cased openings. The real added beauty is how these elements are trimmed out with beautiful casings both on the interior and exterior. Arched openings and windows can completely change a simple design into something very unique and eye-catching if done tastefully and proportionately.

Having the proportion of the arch correct is a focal point in the design of the arch: too small or too large can ruin the whole concept. When designing the shape of the arch, it is important to understand the chosen shape with the architectural style of the home. Once this determined, designing a special decorative treatment is the next and most important step. Sometimes the arched openings will have curved paneled jambs that can be the most impressive element in a room or hallway. Most curved woodwork is very labor intensive and can add a big expense, but when done right, it can be the most talked-about design feature in a home.

Fred: Arches have been with us from ancient times, and I believe they have never left, though they may be used more sparingly in modern times as accents or focal points. Their appeal is that they “look different” from the typical rectilinear forms that dominate most spaces. People building custom often want something different from what they see in the marketplace. Arches and curves can be an element to deliver that difference. An ellipse can drive that differentiation even further. The ellipse can be even more eye-catching, since it is an arch without the same symmetry. If an arch is more difficult than a straight line, then an ellipse can be more difficult than an arch. An ellipse is not used as often as a typical arch, and therefore has unique factors that some say elevate the richness of the piece to a higher degree than the typical arch. Therefore, for any given design, we always try to see if the ellipse may be a more suitable solution versus the typical arch.

Resources;

Karen Berkemeyer

Karen Berkenmeyer Home 175 Post Road West Westport, CT 06880

203.454.0032 karenberkemeyerhome.com

Kristen Furman West / Out East 133 Fifth Avenue, Second and Third Floors Entrance on 20th Street New York, NY 10003 212.529.3636 westouteast.com

Jennifer W. Howard JWH Design & Cabinetry 1111 Boston Post Road Rye, NY 19589 914.967.6020 jwhdesigns.com

Brian MacDonald

Davenport Contracting, Inc. 78 Harvard Avenue Stamford, CT 06902 203.324.6308 davenportcontracting.com

Ken Mittelstadt

Interstate + Lakeland Lumber 247 Mill Street Greenwich, CT 06830 203.531.8050 interstatelumber.com

Fred Puksta

Crownpoint Cabinetry 462 River Road Claremont, NH 03743 800.999.4994 crown-point.com

When we think of who’s involved in building a high-end home, we think of architects, engineers and interior designers. We don’t often consider the work of landscape architects, who play an important role in the overall design and outcome of the project. Some of us don’t even know exactly what they do, other than plant trees and bushes. In this issue’s “In the Field,” we explore the role of the landscape architect in a high-end residential project: at what stage the firm gets involved, and the tools it uses to collaborate with the rest of the team, including the client, architect, engineer and interior designer.

We spoke with Nancy King, one of the principals at Seventy Acres Landscape Architecture and Design in Sandy Hook, CT. Seventy

Acres is known for its holistic approach and commitment to finding sustainable and innovative design solutions that enhance the clients’ outdoor experience and create a lasting connection with nature. As manager of the firm’s collaborative design team, Nancy sees her mission as reinforcing the relationship between her clients and the environment. “My philosophy is that landscaping should be dynamic,” she says. “What we create shouldn’t always look the same, but rather change with the seasons. I like re-wilding properties and returning them to nature.”

The property is located in Westchester County, NY. Almost seven acres in size, it is graced by gorgeous, undulating meadows. “Most properties don’t have meadows this beautiful after the landscaping work is done,” Nancy says. “Its starting point was really good.” The house was designed by Trillium Architects in Ridgefield, CT, a firm specializing in passive house, net-zero and off-the-grid new homes.

Nancy describes the home as a “legacy” property, one that is intended to stay in the family for generations to come. In addition to putting energy-efficiency and a low-carbon footprint at the top of their list of priorities, the environment-conscious clients had a keen interest in contemporary Japanese design for the private areas immediately surrounding the house. The home features an interior atrium inside the front door, creating an internal garden that can be viewed from inside. Outside is a koi pond, a bridge that leads into the internal landscape, and a contemporary lap pool with a Japanese influence. And there are lots of stunning meadows.

At the suggestion of the architect, Seventy Acres was brought in at the very beginning of the project. This was critical to creating a comprehensive design that flowed from the home’s exterior to its interior. “By collaborating with the clients, architects and engineer from the start,” Nancy explains, “we are able to understand where the house will be sited, and learn the essentials, such as the location of the septic system.” Taking the clients’ desires into consideration—lap pool, gorgeous meadows, walking trails, long views, private gardens in a contemporary Japanese style—Nancy and her team studied factors such as circulation, topography and how water moves through the property to come up with a master plan: a schematic drawing showing how all the areas can be arranged and connected.

Interior designers and architects use 3D rendering to create a threedimensional, computer-generated image that shows what an architectural project will look like when it’s completed. “It allows us to show connections between indoor and outdoor spaces,” Nancy explains. “We render the site’s topography in 3D, while the architecture firm does its own 3D model of the building. Those programs speak to each other, allowing us to merge them. It’s very exciting to see them come together; it helps clients understand what we are doing. To see the finished image is mind-blowing. It becomes a functional tool for all aspects of the project.”

The house is in the final stages of completion, yet the landscaping has not even begun. With the master plan and 3D renderings complete, this part of the project will start in the spring of 2023. The work will be ongoing because it will take years for all features of the landscape to grow in, requiring perseverance and patience.

“When you work with all these professionals, including soil scientists and structural engineers, everyone is doing their piece,” Nancy says. “They are 100% focused on what they are doing, but nobody is looking at the entire picture. That’s the job of the landscape architects.”

Resources:

Seventy Acres LLC

27 Glen Road, Suite 303 Sandy Hook, CT 06482 203.491.2405 seventyacres.com

Asher Browne Gardens

Japanese Gardens

Asher Browne, Principal asherbrowne.com

Trillium Architects

Elizabeth DiSalvo, Founder & Principal Architect trilliumarchitects.com

BPC Green Builders, Inc. Mike Trolle and Chris Trolle Principals & Founders BPCgreenbuilders.com

Kellard Sessions Consulting Civil Engineering Services kelses.com