Photography by Alise O'Brien
A recently retired Clayton couple was looking forward to a new beginning in a freshly built home within walking distance of their children and grandchildren. They wanted, says designer April Jensen of ADJ Interiors, “a memory-making hub” for family and friends to gather.
So Jensen went to work: Using a palette of white, taupe, and gray, she created a soothing backdrop for the well-loved pieces and stylish new purchases that pepper the kitchen. The bird’s-eye maple barstools, for one, were made by a friend and given to the couple long ago. The metal breakfast table, newly fitted with a walnut top by Martin Goebel, has been a family treasure for nearly three decades. Jensen added walnut trim to the range hood and the racks in the wine cooler to layer texture as well as tie elements together. A new saffron chair by B&B Italia in the adjoining family room looks as much like a piece of art as it does a place to unwind.
“It was important to the clients that each piece of furniture stand on its own,” says Jensen, noting that local sourcing was also a priority. The chairs around the kitchen table and the aforementioned chair in the family room were purchased at Centro Home Furnishings.
Subway tile in Sugar from Waterworks’ Brickworks collection complements the cabinetry, painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Repose Gray. “It’s almost a platinum,” says Jensen. “It’s the perfect mix between taupe and gray, and light bounces off it so beautifully.”
Suspended above the white Macaubas quartzite–topped island are three Louis Poulsen pendants. The island is big enough to allow the clients to host large groups with ease; it’s also operated as an informal office space for the husband as he’s transitioned into retirement.
These clients wanted to close the book on the home and décor they’d lived with for 40-plus years. “They let go of many beloved pieces, but kept those that are cherished and frequently used,” says Jensen.
Standout Feature: The cabinet hardware is silver. Even though it’s high-maintenance, the hardware was an important decorative element for the client, a silversmith. The hardware “represents such an important part of who she is,” says Jensen.
