Kitchen Must-Haves from the Experts at NKD

As the owners of Newton Kitchens & Design (NKD), Tricia and Pierre Matta understand what it takes to make your kitchen both beautiful and functional for today’s modern lifestyle. Having recently renovated their own kitchen, here are the “must-have” elements that they can’t live without!

Transitional Lighting

Being able to create an ambiance in your kitchen is essential, according to the Matta’s. If you’re big entertainers, like they are, then transitional lighting throughout is the key to making a kitchen not feel like just a kitchen. Their island has generous seating and LED backlit countertops under the marble, perfect for dimming the lights and illuminating the island top to set the mood as desired.

“In one touch, you can change the atmosphere or ambiance with this well-planned lighting,” Pierre said.

Functional Storage

Hide-away storage is one of the biggest home trends right now and, per the Matta’s, it is especially important in your kitchen. Tricia emphasized her love for clean and clear countertops throughout the space, which is why they have a massive rectangular shaped island that sits in the middle of the kitchen. It not only has deep storage space and can seat five people comfortably, but also has a built-in wine fridge and steam oven, separate from the Wolf Sub-Zero dual-fuel electric oven with gas top directly behind it. Their kitchen seamlessly transforms from casual cooking for two to evening entertaining for many.

Functional storage also gives them the creative opportunity to highlight their favorite items. “I wanted to showcase all of my crystal and stemware so we designed a glass hutch with metal doors and beautiful lighting inside,” explains Tricia.

Keeping things Traditionally Non-Traditional

While we all adore a traditional working kitchen, the Matta’s say it is important to blur the lines a little. Desiring a sense of traditionalism, they maintained their separate formal dining room, but Tricia still wanted to find a way to be part of her guests’ conversations while cooking. Having a modern, oversized center island solved this issue by doubling as their traditional kitchen table, with ample working and seating capacity to feel all-inclusive when both spaces are filled with family and friends. 

A large rectangular sink, instead of a traditional double-sink, was chosen by the Matta’s for ease in clean-up when entertaining. “You can load everything into one sink instead of trying to fit all into two,“ says Tricia.

And when it came to the look of the kitchen, the NKD owners chose a non-traditional high gloss finish to reflect the more modern living space nearby.  “Because of the windows, it makes the room look bigger and makes the living area look like part of the kitchen,” Pierre said. “When reflective, it doesn't read as kitchen cabinetry, it reads more like furniture.” 

The result… a seamless transition of living and working spaces to add to the overall appeal of their beautiful home.

Newton Kitchens & Design (NKD) collaborates with many of Boston’s most respected architects, interior designers and builders to create unique spaces and one-of-a-kind pieces for discerning homeowners throughout New England and beyond. To thank their trade partners and to celebrate their upcoming 10-year anniversary, an invitation-only showroom celebration event is planned on Sept 22nd, in collaboration with media sponsor BDG. 

Collaborators:

First Class Marble & Granite

Needham Decorative Hardware

Clarke (Wolf, SubZero)