Back To The Future

A Madison makeover reclaims a home’s roots—and modern function—in seamless style

Built in 1931, this classic Georgian-style home in Madison, owned by Lauren and Bill Staffieri, exudes a refined, stately charm rooted in classic principles of symmetry and proportion, says designer Rachel Nowikas, principal of RS Design Management in Morristown.

The remodeled kitchen “blends classic Georgian influences with a refined transitional style,” designer Rachel Nowikas says. Flush inset cabinets are painted in a soft white along the perimeter, while the expansive island grounds the room in muted gray.

“Inside, the craftsmanship is truly stunning, featuring intricate moldings and detailed woodwork throughout,” Nowikas explains. “Many of the original solid-wood doors remain intact, complete with their vintage brass doorknobs, hinges, keyhole covers and skeleton keys—all boasting a perfect, timeworn patina.” Additional charming elements include the original hardwood floors and elegant arched openings, which contribute to the home’s enduring character.

The antiqued brass and bronze finishes on the cabinet hardware and lighting evoke age, refinement and a warm, patinated look, the designer says. A key feature is the custom zinc range hood with antiqued brass strapping and rivets.

However, the existing kitchen—part of an addition, likely from the 1990s—“felt completely out of sync with the rest of the house,” Lauren Staffieri says. “Its architectural details and proportions didn’t match the original character of the home.” To address this, they enlisted Nowikas, an associate kitchen and bath designer and an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers, to “bridge the gap between old and new by reintroducing design elements that restored the kitchen’s alignment with the home’s overall historic character,” Staffieri explains.

The cabinetry in the butler’s pantry, finished in blue-gray, was designed to wrap around an existing window. “We installed tongue-and-groove paneling, painted in the same color as the cabinetry, to make the space feel cohesive and elevated—and more than just a pantry,” Nowikas says.

Beyond its stylistic departure from the rest of the house, the dark kitchen felt closed in and had an awkward layout, the designer recalls. Adding to the issue was a back staircase that occupied a lot of space and accessed only the primary suite on the second floor. “Once we decided to remove the stairs, the result was a wide-open space that we were able to thoughtfully carve into a kitchen, pantry and mudroom.”

To honor the home’s original architecture and keep costs down, the kitchen and pantry windows remained intact, with the new cabinetry and layout carefully designed to frame these openings. By preserving the exterior features—including the door in the mudroom—“the new kitchen feels like it belongs to the house rather than being from an entirely different era,” Nowikas says.

The kitchen, now completely reconfigured for better flow and function, features inset cabinet doors as a nod to the traditional British cabinetry often found in Georgian- and early Federal-style homes, the designer says. Perimeter cabinets are painted in a soft white, while the island is finished in a muted gray, grounding the space and adding visual depth.

Open shelving offers quick visibility and access to snacks and cooking staples while lower cabinets store bulk items and small appliances. A beverage fridge and speed oven serve as a convenient spot for kids to get drinks and heat snacks without disrupting kitchen activities.

The spacious island, with natural quartzite countertops matching all the other surfaces, is a fully customized centerpiece that seats five. It includes an integrated dishwasher, an undermount workstation sink with a custom quartzite apron and a discreet paper towel holder, Nowikas says. For Staffieri and her family, “The large island has become the perfect spot for gathering and casual dining, while the open-concept layout makes entertaining effortless.”

To evoke a sense of age and refinement, “We chose a blend of antiqued brass and bronze finishes for a warmer, patinated look,” notes the designer. Among the main features is a zinc custom range hood adorned with antiqued brass strapping and rivets.

The pantry, designed as an organized hub for the family, features cabinetry in a slightly different color than the kitchen island. “We installed custom tongue-and-groove paneling painted in the same color as the cabinetry to make the space feel cohesive and elevated—and more than just a pantry,” Nowikas says.

Located off the kitchen, the mudroom combines function and aesthetic, the designer says. Painted in Sherwin Williams’ “Tempe Star,” the cabinetry, paneling and ceiling create a rich, unified look. The black-and-white checkerboard floor adds practicality while enhancing the timeless, European-inspired feel.

Located directly off the kitchen, the mudroom was designed with function and aesthetics in mind. “The cabinetry, trim, paneling and even the ceiling are painted in the same Sherwin-Williams “Tempe Star” (deep blue with slate gray undertones), making the space feel rich, intentional and less utilitarian,” the designer says. The black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring “is both practical and in keeping with the timeless, European-inspired feel,” she adds. Vertical tongue-and-groove paneling brings texture and durability, while the William Morris wallpaper “introduces a soft, organic pattern that maintains the visual flow of the blue wall color.”

Located off the kitchen, the mudroom combines function and aesthetic, the designer says. Painted in Sherwin Williams’ “Tempe Star,” the cabinetry, paneling and ceiling create a rich, unified look. The black-and-white checkerboard floor adds practicality while enhancing the timeless, European-inspired feel.

Says the homeowner: “The completed kitchen has completely transformed one of the most important spaces in our home. It not only looks beautiful but also functions seamlessly, creating the warm, welcoming and comfortable atmosphere we envisioned.” She also notes that “the updated finishes and colors now reflect our personal style and complement the classic, timeless aesthetic of the rest of the house.”

Editor’s Note: Designer Rachel Nowikas is a member of the Board of Directors for the ASID NJ chapter.