Wonderfully Unique Spaces
DESIGNERS WHO TRULY LOVE WHAT THEY DO KNOW THAT EVERY PROJECT IS A JOURNEY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH A SPACE, REDEFINE A ROOM, OR TRANSFORM A CLIENT’S ENTIRE HOME.
Raelyn Capozzi went on a journey of sorts with a Buffalo family looking to brighten up their dark kitchen and add some character to other rooms, including the butler’s pantry, mudroom and laundry area.
Design Resources
It was a unique project that relied heavily on local craftspeople for pattern rich tile and other handmade materials to achieve a wonderfully unique look and feel for the home. “We made the kitchen very timeless and neutral and then went bolder with color in the secondary rooms,” said Capozzi, founder and principal designer of West End Interiors. “The client had some inspirational pictures of a white kitchen. What we like to do is then use those as our inspiration: How can we elevate this and make it special?”
Collaboration is a core value of her multifaceted interior design studio, where she believes in integrating ideas from clients, artisans, and her internal team to deliver enviable results. Thoughtful design details and distinctive finishes are part of every project, and for this client, Capozzi selected soldier-stacked clay tile along with traditional marble tile for the kitchen walls.
“Switching things up and using that two-tone gave the room a lot of life,” she said. “We wanted it to be a space that felt very comfortable and welcoming to the family. Before, it felt sterile, and the materials weren’t super high quality. Now it feels homey and warm and inviting. The functionality really improved, too.”
The cabinetry was done in two colors, as well. The countertops, meanwhile, are honed quartzite. And the range area — with accents and depth and layers — serves as a focal point of the room.
“This kitchen takes influences from traditional design and transitional interiors,” Capozzi said. “Some of the lighting and plumbing fixtures are a touch more modern, but combine those, and you get a classic, timeless design. We want it to feel current and relevant, but we also want the client to love it 10 years from now. And I think that is what this project captures.”
Serving as the contractor was TBrothers Renovations.
Whether large or small, today’s kitchens continue to be a prime gathering spot for family and friends.
“Everyone wants to hang out there, and I think that is why people invest in their kitchens and want them to feel more comfortable and not so commercial anymore,” Capozzi said. “We have designed kitchens that have occasional chairs and sofas in them, almost like a living room. People are taking that concept and running with it for one of the rooms where they spend the most time.”
The smallest touches can make an impressive difference.
“If you are going to open a cabinet door every single day, we want the hardware to feel like a little luxury that you get to touch.
We want the cabinets to close softly and for everything to be in the right spot,” she said.
Elsewhere in the house, you will see V-groove wood paneling and colorful wallpaper that offers a nice contrast to the lighter themed kitchen.
“The pantry is dark and moody and green,” Capozzi said.“The mudroom is a bright blue. That room and the powder room are conjoined, so we did all the trim in the same color, which is a unifying factor. We color-saturated that area to make it cheerful when you walk in.”