Designs by Deborah  (203) 637-5271   www.debbiedann.com  

Back to Profile | Published in Connecticut Cottages & Gardens | Published in New York Spaces | Featured in "On The Couch"

Do you think the furnishings and objects in a room reveal much about the homeowner(s)?

Interior designers and psychologists have demonstrated in past On The Couch columns that they can identify characteristics of an unidentified home with amazing accuracy. This issue, we’ve invited interior designer Kyle Timothy Blood of Kyle Timothy Home to face off against Dr. Venus Nicolino, Ph.D., a practicing doctor of clinical psychology in Beverly Hills. How close do their assumptions come?

The Interior Designer says

Kyle Timothy Blood

This homeowner clearly has a penchant for the South of France and accordingly gave strict marching orders to the kitchen designer in this renovation: bring the color palette, textures and utilitarian yet whimsical aesthetic of Provence into this “kitchen with a view.”

The Moroccan-style lantern, a refreshing departure from overbearing island lighting fixtures, gives the final nod to a design that successfully seeks to evoke another land.

The client most likely hired a kitchen design firm, as evidenced by the custom design of the cabinetry, which, along with the backsplash, and countertops, create the framework for a cook’s getaway, where he or she can create simple yet delicious dinners reminiscent of a lavender-infused countryside, with fresh vegetables and flowers, not to mention specialty cheeses, meats, breads, and ordinarily delicious table wines. Careful consideration was given to the appliances, whether for utility or eventual resale value: a Wolf range, a pot filler and brushed-nickel plumbing fixtures and hardware. One assumes the refrigerator is to the right of the island and that the dishwashers as well as a wine refrigerator are concealed behind custom cabinetry panels.

However, the homeowner is practical, maybe a bit too much. One wonders: Has he or she moved fully moved in, or is this a stage set? Where are the copper pots? The wooden spoons in a crock next to the stove? Even a teakettle or coffee maker—all the tools a true gourmand would have at hand. The client is either a Francophile minimalist; has paired down for resale; or has yet to completely outfit this kitchen, which promises many a happy memory and meal.

The client is either a Francophile minimalist; has paired down for resale; or has yet to completely outfit this kitchen, which promises many a happy memory and meal.

The Shrink says

Dr. Venus Nicolino, Ph.D

At first glance, this kitchen appears clean, cool and orderly. However, upon closer inspection, it has an strangely pared-down quality. Don’t be fooled by the place settings– A glass of wine with your gazpacho served mid-day on imported china?– this room was not designed for a casual dining experience. Despite the minimal flair provided by European-inspired accents, this space lacks the personal touches that normally make the kitchen the heart of a home. It does not look “lived in”– which, I suspect is the homeowners’ intention.

I imagine the person who lives here is a powerful business woman in her early-to-mid-forties with an time consuming career. Noticeably absent are any napkins or hand towels, giving the observer the impression that she values cleanliness over functionality.

The use of subtle tones of strong colors, as seen in the lighting, island plant and countertop accessories, brings a hint of femininity to the strong edges of the marble and tile. It appears the owner of this space had the desire to incorporate all the structural elements to give the room an almost traditional feeling, but it is the lack of personal touches that leads me to believe that perhaps there is a conflict between reality and the perception of perfection.

Both Designer and Psychologist made some correct assumptions, but they didn’t quite hit the mark. I designed this space for a business woman, who is a top banker in NYC, her entrepreneur husband and their two young children. She did want the kitchen to have a traditional design with a French country influence, but pared-down without the typical rooster motif.

The lighting and barstools are from Couleur Provence in Darien and were chosen to tie in with the more casual eat-in area, which isn’t shown here. The family is neat and tidy—usually the most you’ll see on the island is a small bowl of tomatoes—and though there are never any crock pots or teakettles on display, we did some editing for this photograph and removed towels, hand cream and other plants.

The designer is correct that the wife enjoys cooking, but the couple also loves to entertain here and often invites adults to gather for cocktails and hors d’oeurves around the island. But the kitchen is also a space for day-to-day activities and sees a lot of foot traffic. The family room is off to the right of the eat-in space, making it very much lived in and a central part of the home.

— Deborah B. Fields, Designs by Deborah