I
f you sit down and have a conversation with a few home designers, you’ll come away floored by everything that goes into planning and creating a beautiful, functional space for families to enjoy. You’ll also find that no two designers have the same process for achieving this goal. JWH Design & Cabinetry, however, does share one thing in common with the other designers we’ve chosen to feature: its designs reflect a philosophy known as “biophilic design,” meaning it is very intentional about bringing the natural world into our modern—sometimes spartan—buildings and homes. “’Biophilic is relatively new to my working vocabulary, but it has been part of my design style for over 20 years,” explains Jennifer Howard, founder and principal designer of JWH Design & Cabinetry. “I have always believed that interiors need to connect with the outdoors as much as possible to create the most comfortable atmosphere for living.” This project was a little different from other projects JWH had worked on in the past. Because it was restricted to the kitchen area, JWH wasn’t able to change or add to the number of windows and doors, so the designers’ goal became to make sure the natural light was maximized in the space. “With the abundance of foliage outside the windows, it seemed natural to make the interior feel like a connection to the exterior,” says Jennifer. “Open walnut shelves kept the area between the windows light and airy. Warm colors, natural materials
and lots of wood in varied textures accomplished this goal.” Before JWH Designs worked its magic, the dark spaces of the Tudor home had stumped even its architect owner. Born and raised in California, the homeowner was used to bright and airy spaces, but what she had here was tight, bland and woefully disjointed. The original Tudor-style elements of the home were part of the appeal of the home, however, so the challenge for JWH was to incorporate those original elements in the kitchen area while updating them to feel and look more current and in line with the client’s desired aesthetic. “The natural walnut used for the open shelves and bench seat coordinate with the existing oak floors and mixed trim details that run through the home,” says Jennifer. “The existing leaded glass windows inspired the metal brackets and hardware, while the warmer cabinet color on our JWH Custom Cabinetry is a nice contrast to the white marble countertops and backsplash. The rustic beams look like they should have always been part of the home, but they were actually rescued from an old barn near our mill shop in Pennsylvania!” JWH Design & Cabinetry transformed this claustrophobic, lackluster, run-of-the-mill kitchen into a bright, inviting, natural space by finding creative ways to bring the indoors and outdoors together. Now it’s a place where the entire family can come together to cook and enjoy a meal in close proximity to the natural world outside their windows. Design + Decor
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