Architectural Elements Distinguish a Glen Ridge Kitchen

A pass-through window connects to the outdoors; a wall opening overlooks the family room

Teal and yellow accents work well with the walnut flooring and cabinetry in this Glen Ridge kitchen.

“The contractor was shrugging his shoulders, but he came around.” That’s interior architect Martina Servos remembering the reaction to a feature she incorporated into the Glen Ridge kitchen of clients Pamela and Kirk Linden. The element in question — a narrow opening between the kitchen banquette and the family room — is unusual and it serves a design purpose. “I always like architectural elements; they make a space less trendy. This is a vertical element that works beautifully against the horizontal bench,” says Servos, the owner of Lemon Grass Interior Architecture in Bloomfield.

In fact, the entire space, which is the result of an addition onto what was once a galley kitchen, works beautifully as a curated compendium of architectural elements, saturated color and wood tones. “I knew I wanted to incorporate walnut with a rich and moody color,” homeowner Pamela Linden says. Those walnut wood tones in the cabinetry are accentuated by the way they are framed. “We came up with that angled rail style,” Linden says. “The cabinetmaker mocked up a cabinet front for us and it turned out even better than any of us expected. It’s spectacular and we love it.”

A narrow opening next to the banquette overlooks the family room. The cabinets at right hold glassware and serving items.

As for the colors, “I thought I wanted a teal,” the homeowner shares, “but I explored a million different teals before landing on the one that we picked.” Servos describes the characteristics of their color of choice: “In normal light, that blue/green leans darker. But when the sun hits it, it looks like a cool 1950s convertible color. It’s metallic. It’s fun.”

“Martina was instrumental in confirming that my choices weren’t too crazy,” the homeowner says. “She was very disciplined about where the color needed to go. She wanted the walnut to be a special moment. She had to rein me in a little bit. She told me ‘we don’t we want the island or shelves (rear left in photo) to be walnut, it needs to be in very special places in the kitchen.’”

Servos paired the teal with an earthy yellow range hood and coordinating stools and chairs. “The yellow came because we added brass,” Servos notes. The two shades together make a bold yet sophisticated statement. “You want it lively, but not as colorful as a 5-year-old would put together.” The color combo has a Midcentury Modern flair — a look that matches the aesthetic in the rest of the house. “In my view, spaces should flow, especially when they are as visibly connected as they are in this case.”

Artwork and potted plants adorn a load-bearing brick wall that constitutes the reverse side of a fireplace in an adjoining room. “We had to keep it while making it feel updated and more my style,” the homeowner says.

The large window above the sink is another nod to Midcentury style — with its large pane of glass allowing sunlight to flood into the space. “The huge, flip-open, pass-through window works for the Lindens’ lifestyle. They can entertain and talk with people sitting on the deck while they cook.” The homeowner agrees wholeheartedly: “Our friends love it. The counter extends outdoors and we have stools out there. We love having that indoor/outdoor connection on a nice evening. I serve from there and talk to people outside. That’s been a really fun addition.”

A tile “rug” sets the foundation for the island. The wall with the mesh cabinets contains piping and couldn’t be removed. “With old houses, you can encounter these challenges,” Servos says. “They force you to find a solution and that can become your favorite element.”

And about that vertical opening near the banquette — the kids love it just as much as their parents, though they may enjoy it in a different way. “Nobody ever sits there,” Linden says with a laugh. “They step on it to go through to the family room.”

The pass-through window to the outdoor counter is popular with guests during warmer weather.

For Servos, creating a space that the whole family can enjoy is the main goal. “As an interior architect, my goal is to design spaces that clients can live in the way they want to live — spaces that make them happy.”