A Breath of Fresh Air
Writer Marirose Krall | Photographer John Martinelli | Designer Creative Design Construction | Location Cresskill, NJ
The renovated Glantz kitchen in Cresskill, New Jersey is streamlined and soothing.
Brian and Chantal Glantz needed more space to accommodate their family, and it came down to a choice between renovating and moving. In the end, the decision wasn’t difficult; rather than endure the upheaval of house hunting and relocation, the couple decided to embark on a remodel.
Renovations are not without their hassles, to put it mildly, but the Glantzes looked to Glen Lumia of Creative Design Construction in Montvale, New Jersey to help them get the kitchen of their dreams while keeping irritations to a minimum.
According to Lumia, the Glantzes were looking for “better flow, more refrigeration, multiple prep areas and better lighting.” Those ambitious goals required some major changes in the layout of the kitchen area. “We relocated a laundry room, relocated the garage entrance door and reorganized the mudroom,” Lumia says. The reorganization accomplished multiple goals. “It grew the kitchen by six feet overall in width, allowing space for a feature stove wall, a large center island and more space for a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. In addition, the renovation hid the garage entrance from the kitchen.”
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The new, expansive space “boasts a contemporary style with decorative embellishments that add Hollywood glamour,” Lumia explains. He incorporated wood, stone and metal into the design to bring a mix of texture and pattern while keeping the palette subdued.
HOOD | The custom stainless-steel vent hood features a combination of polished and matte finishes.
White Shaker-style cabinets and a hardwood floor create a neutral backdrop for the more decorative additions. Flush appliances keep sight lines smooth. Glass door details on the upper cabinets break up the large expanse of white and add interest to the room. Windows on each side of the vent hood—added during this renovation—bring more natural light into the space.
Gray striations in the quartzite countertops coordinate with the gray and white backsplash tiles. Stainless steel appliances, vent hood and bar-stool frames add an industrial vibe, as do the steel-and-glass pendants over the island. The waterfall countertop on the island brings heft to the airy space without disrupting the serene atmosphere.
BUTLER’S PANTRY | The backsplash and the countertops in the butler’s pantry are the same as those in the kitchen. The Shaker-style cabinetry here features a dark stain.
The backsplash tile, countertop stone and cabinet hardware are all repeated in the adjacent butler’s pantry to provide continuity between the spaces. But the Shaker-style cabinets here carry a dark stain, all the better to coordinate with the whiskey bottles on display on the glass open shelving. This space has a more traditional feel, creating a pleasing counterpoint to the contemporary look of the kitchen.
The new space accommodates the needs of this growing family. The reorganized layout provides for a better traffic flow throughout, and the large island and long perimeter countertop offer abundant space for food prep. “This light, elegant kitchen can be the center of any gathering,” Lumia says. “It’s a show-stopping space that is a reflection of the homeowners’ design style and creativity.”