Dramatic Italian Marble Highlights Kitchen Redesign

Crafting a classic kitchen with modern flair

The bold veining of the Italian marble backsplash served as the foundation for the kitchen design, interior designer Alison Nifoussi says. A walnut island lends warmth and contrast to cream perimeter cabinetry. “The three pendants over the island hang at various heights, and their squiggle shapes blend vintage charm with a modern vibe.”

As part of a ground-up build in Monmouth County, the homeowners envisioned a classic cream kitchen featuring durable manmade materials, says interior designer Alison Nifoussi, principal of Tweak Interiors LLC in Little Silver. They also wanted to incorporate a wet bar where there was originally an opening to the office. “We decided to close the wall so they could get just that,” Nifoussi says.

Lincoln quartz countertops are easy to maintain, while the backsplash dazzles with 12-by-24-inch tiles made of Italian marble with dramatic reddish-purple veining. “They fell in love” with the marble, which became the “jumping-off point for the design,” Nifoussi says. Using it on the backsplash instead of on cooking surfaces minimized concerns about stains and etching, she says, while also providing a striking visual impact.

The kitchen features cream perimeter cabinets in a “micro” Shaker style, while the bell-shaped range hood has a custom plaster finish that is slightly more pigmented than the cabinets—an essential detail in the design, Nifoussi says. Hardware incorporates satin brass “for that Old World charm” and matte black “for high contrast against the perimeter cabinetry.”

The moody wet bar, composed of walnut and black-stained cabinetry with reeded glass doors, resembles a bespoke piece that complements the adjacent kitchen. Soft, diffused light from the chandelier’s milk glass orbs illuminates the sculptural dining table, making meals feel like a fabulous restaurant experience in the comfort of home.

Integrating walnut into the island, open shelves and adjacent bar adds warmth, contrast and cohesiveness. “The moody bar is outlined in walnut with walnut upper cabinets, while the lower doors and tall cabinets flanking the countertop areas are finished in a black stain to create a color-blocking effect,” Nifoussi says. Honed Python granite features dramatic diagonal veining on the bar’s countertop and backsplash, while simple brass pulls “elevate the piece, making it look like a bespoke piece of furniture.”

Lighting was another key design element. Milk glass orbs in an updated classic ring design, for instance, provide a soft diffused glow over the dining room table. “It’s the perfect mate to the three squiggle pendants over the island, offering a yin-yang of modern to vintage,” Nifoussi explains.

Drawing inspiration from Italian design, the dining table is a “sculptural showstopper,” she says. Finished in a smoked honey stain with a cone-tapered base, its blush marble detail complements the dark mauve seat cushions upholstered in high-performance velvet, tones that are also found in the exotic stone backsplash. “This timeless kitchen envelops you like a delicious glass of burgundy wine and serves as the gathering spot in this beautiful new home,” Nifoussi adds.

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared under the headline “Bold & Beautiful” in the February-March 2025 issue of Design NJ.

For more stories on rooms featuring stone with dramatic veining, see A Spa-Like Primary Bathroom in Saddle River, Marble Brings the Wow Factor to a Small Powder Room, Guiding Light and A Marriage of Tastes.