Our kitchens are command central—the spaces where we spend most of our time at home, whether it’s gathering together as a family, preparing a meal or pulling together a party-worthy spread.
Seeking a place to retreat or relax? Whether you’re drawn to elegant glitz or sleek contemporary, bathrooms are increasingly spaces where we can add details to make them uniquely ours.
The kitchens and baths featured in this year’s showcase combine practicality with good design.
From kitchens designed specifically for entertaining to a masterfully redesigned master bathroom, each of these spaces perfectly suits their owners.
The difference between a good renovation project and a great one is the designer’s ability to effectively capture a client’s vision.
That’s what happened when Denyne Sanville, of Denyne Designs, LLC, in Dunstable, Massachusetts, worked with Lauren Martin to remodel her family’s Bedford kitchen. “I love to entertain, and wanted something fresh and more modern,” Martin says. “I wanted to make our kitchen larger by removing a wall in our dining room.” Her long and narrow kitchen could accommodate multiple cooking, prep and cleanup areas, but she wasn’t sure how to handle seating. “We have friends coming over all the time as well as two children, and I wondered where I’d put everybody,” she says.
Sanville—working with Kris Whitehead of New England Custom Remodeling in Merrimack—opened up the space by combining the existing kitchen with a rarely used dining area and walk-in closet. Instead of creating one long island (“It would’ve made the space look like a bowling alley,” Sanville says), she designed two. The black, painted islands are topped with white quartzite and ground the room. One island is across from the refrigerator and serves as a cooking and prep area. The second is closer to the family room and has two refrigerator drawers on one end so guests—especially kids— can grab drinks. A beverage refrigerator on the opposite end of the island provides adult alternatives. Gray-glazed white perimeter cabinets with subtle moldings line both sides of the kitchen and are set off by a variegated, marble tile backsplash.
“It’s a long, narrow space that doesn’t feel that way because of the way the islands are positioned,” Sanville says.
An L-shaped butcher-block table for six at the far end of the space provides seating close to a large pantry and a door leading into the backyard. The pantry and a second storage area are cleverly hidden behind two custombuilt, sliding barn-style doors in the dining space. One area contains snacks; the other is a coffee station. The crisscross design on the barn doors is inspired by the elliptical window over the kitchen sink. The same design is carried through to glass door mullions on the cabinetry and the marble, mosaic tile behind the induction cooktop.
The new kitchen and dining area not only meet Martin’s needs, but won an honorable mention for Excellence in Kitchen Design: Renovation at the 2020 New Hampshire Home Design Awards. “The project was successful because of the collaboration between Lauren, Kris and me,” Sanborn says. “The space feels very cohesive.”
WHAT MAKES THIS KITCHEN UNIQUE
Custom cabinetry by Siteline Cabinetry and black walnut butcher-block wood tabletop from Denyne Designs • (978) 846-3046 • denynedesigns.com
Super White Quartzite kitchen countertops from Top Line Granite (978) 251-8087 • toplinegranitedesign.com
Barn doors custom made by B&C Barn Doors • (781) 307-2361 bcbarndoors.com
Variegated marble blacksplash tile and Rialto natural marble feature (behind the stove) from Artistic Tile • (877) 237-4097 • artistictile.com
Chairs from Grandin Road • (866) 668-5962 • grandinroad.com
Lighting from Styles of Lighting • (888) 308-4353 • stylesoflighting.com
Appliances from Baron’s Major Brands • (800) 350-2499 baronsmajorbrands.com
Renovating a bathroom can be just as complicated as remodeling a kitchen. Cynthia Clark, of Cynthia Clark Interiors in Hampton, was asked by a client to transform his second-floor master bathroom into a luxurious, Zen-like environment. She knew she’d have to work around the space’s slanted cathedral ceilings and rectangular shape. “My goal was to make the room more open, functional and calming while balancing the yin and the yang,” Clark says.
Clark established a monochromatic color palette of gray, taupe and blue-gray that ties together the fixtures, tile and custom cabinets. She also played off a Palladian window that provides most of the natural lighting in the space. A balance of materials—wood, metal, stone and glass—as well as organic plants help bring the outside in.
Porcelain tile—the same product used in multiple sizes and designs—ties the bathroom space together. “I love that this tile has so many colors blended throughout,” Clark says. “The blend of patterns and sizes in the tile creates interest while still resembling quiet rhythm.” In the large, all-glass shower, the tile runs vertically from the floor to the ceiling. “It depicts rain, it’s very soothing,” she says. The shower features brushed-nickel fixtures—including a handheld shower, body sprays and a steam unit—that complement the room’s soft colors. A half-wall separates the lavatory from the remaining space.
The vanity counters and shower trim are statuario quartz, an easy-to-maintain material that looks like marble. The sinks are a faux stone, handmade of jute, cement and other materials to make them lighter than standard concrete. Rustic iron finishes on the bathroom vanities add contrast and tie in with the home’s postand-beam construction. “I like to use a combination of different metal finishes because they add character and depth to the overall design,” Clark says. Cordless Roman shades add a nice finishing touch.
Clark’s client says the bathroom is exactly what he wanted. “He walks in, feels peaceful and calm, and enjoys his little luxuries,” she says.
WHAT MAKES THIS BATH UNIQUE
Custom vanities, mirrors, handmade sinks, custom Roman shades available through Cynthia Clark Interiors • (603) 929-2987 cynthiaclarkinteriors.com
Lighting from Rockingham Electric • (603) 436-2310 rockinghamelectric.com
Brushed-nickel shower fixtures from Ferguson • (603) 436-3550 ferguson.com
Porcelain tile from Portsmouth Quality Flooring • (603) 436-3422 portsmouthflooring.com
Statuario Classic Quartz vanity counters and shower trim from Seacoast Stone • (603) 379-9133 seacoaststone.com
The cornerstone of Joanne Anderson’s kitchen renovation was a seventy-two-inch Lacanche range. “The range drove the design,” she says. “Before I planned any part of the kitchen, I looked at ranges on Pinterest.”
The elegant French appliance also inspired Anderson’s design team— Meghan Collins of Creative Spaces in Bedford and Josh Doonan of Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont. Working with contractor Andy Smith of Northern Estate Home Management in Wolfeboro, the team determined that fitting the range into the existing kitchen space— in addition to adding an island that met Anderson’s cooking and storage needs and a pantry—required taking square footage from an adjacent bathroom. The bright new kitchen, pantry and updated guest bathroom perfectly fit the Andersons’ lives.
The kitchen is ringed by custom-built white cabinetry designed by Crown Point; the antiqued handles and drawer pulls match the range fixtures. Anchoring the space is a two-level center island, topped by a thick piece of leathered marble. The island contains a microwave and plenty of storage; the lower level at the island’s far end is a baking station, with a dedicated drawer for baking supplies. “I wanted a lower counter,” says Anderson, who is five-feet-one-inch tall. “In the course of talking about the kitchen layout, I realized that I [used to] cook on my tiptoes. I use that new prep space all day long now.”
Another unique feature of the island is a four-foot-by-four-foot section of counter that’s heated from underneath, which can be used to keep dishes warm. Perimeter countertops are marble, as is the large backsplash behind the stove. The large, steel stove hood was made in Colorado.
Just off the kitchen, the cheerful pantry is a bright indigo blue (also inspired by the range). The space not only features storage, but also a coffee maker built into a wall of cabinets, a beverage refrigerator and a toaster oven. Cherry floating shelves tie in with similar shelving in the kitchen. At the far end of the space is a leaded glass window that Collins discovered at Nor’East Architectural Salvage in South Hampton. The floors were inspired by a visit to New York City’s Tavern on the Green restaurant. They are white oak parquet in a Versailles pattern, stained to match other floors in the house.
Part of a spacious first-floor guest suite, the elegant new bathroom has a large shower and soaking tub. The walls are glazed, blue-gray tile arranged in a herringbone pattern; a wood shelf, made of reclaimed wood, adds a rustic accent. The dark gray vanity, also from Crown Point, is topped in marble. “Joanne has a good eye,” Collins says. “She just needed some help pulling things together.”
Anderson agrees. “The renovations were a bigger job than we thought, but we love how everything worked out,” she says.
WHAT MAKES THIS KITCHEN UNIQUE
Gas range by Lacanche • (800) 570-2433 frenchranges.com
Stainless steel stove hood by Raw Urth (866) 932-7510 • rawurth.com
Custom cabinetry and floating shelving by Crown Point Cabinetry • (800) 999-4994 crown-point.com
Island and dining table lights from Restoration Hardware • (857) 239-7202 restorationhardware.com
Antique, leaded-glass window in butler’s pantry from Nor’East Architectural Salvage (603) 394-0006 • noreast1.com
Parquet floors, thirty-nine-inch white oak in Versailles pattern, from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors (603) 595-9663 • wideplankflooring.com
Tile from Artistic Tile • (603) 886-1920 artistictile.com
Kitchen perimeter and butler’s pantry counters, Calacatta Retro marble with a honed finish; kitchen island and wall behind range, Namib Fantasy marble with a leathered finish, both installed by Ripano Stoneworks (603) 886-6655 • ripano.com
Countertop heater by Feels Warm (952) 898-9505 • feelswarm.com
When a Candia couple approached Herb Goedecke, of Goedecke Flooring and Design Center in Bedford, about remodeling their second-floor master bathroom, they had already given a lot of thought to what they wanted and how they envisioned the space. The wife, a fashion designer, wanted a clean, contemporary design and a large clothing closet. “Their home is a contemporary post-andbeam. They’ve done beautiful improvements over the years,” Goedecke says.
“It’s got some rustic features but with contemporary flair.” Keeping everything simple was key.
Double pocket doors lead into the bathroom from the master bedroom. At the front of the space is an air-jetted bathtub, set against a dramatic Mont Blanc marble and natural cherry wood wall. The wall hides a large, walkin shower that’s open on two sides.
A single pane of glass separates the shower from a set of cabinets containing linens, towels and other necessities.
The shower wall is Bross Blue granite; the homeowners bought the shower head in Italy. The radiant-heated floors are tiled in black porcelain and provide the only heat in the room. An easy-toclean, three-inch tile baseboard lines the space.
A sleek, custom-designed cherry vanity has two sinks, each centered under lighted medicine cabinets. The counters are constructed of easy-toclean engineered stone. Designed with double drawers and removable shelves to access the plumbing underneath, the vanity offers plenty of storage space. A foot pedal on the right side of the sink enables users to turn on the water hands-free. Charging stations and electrical outlets inside the cabinets offer added convenience. A lavatory adjacent to the vanity is accessed through a swing door, offering additional privacy.
Around the corner from the main bathing area is a long hall lined with natural cherry cabinetry, containing the couple’s clothing and everything they need to maintain it. “We mapped it all out,” Goedecke says. “We discussed everything they wanted to include, and then we designed the cabinets to hold everything—sweaters, T-shirts, shoes, all their clothing. There’s even a pull-down ironing board in one of the closets.”
When the bathroom renovation was finished, the homeowners encouraged Goedecke to enter the project into an awards competition. The bathroom subsequently won Excellence in Bath Design at the 2020 New Hampshire Home Design Awards. “The homeowners had a fantastic vision,” he says.
“They knew what they wanted, and we had the privilege of making their dreams a reality.”
WHAT MAKES THIS BATH UNIQUE
Custom cabinetry by Goedecke Flooring and Design • (603) 472-5221 • goedeckedesign.com
Evanescence Collection bathtub by BainUltra from The Granite Group • (603) 545-3300 thegranitegroup.com
Bross Blue granite shower wall and vanity backsplash from Rumford Stone (603) 224-9876 • rumfordstonedealers.com
Mont Blanc marble accent wall from Rumford Stone • (603) 224-9876 rumfordstone.com
Verdera vanity mirrors by Kohler from Ferguson (888) 222-1785 • ferguson.com
Counters by MTI Petra from Fixtures, Etc. Kitchen & Bath • (603) 893-6777 • fixturesetc.com
Montepulciano porcelain tile from Goedecke Design Center • (603) 472-5221 goedeckedesign.com
Copernicus by Hubbington Forge lighting (over marble accent) from The Lighting Showroom (603) 471-3299 • thelightingshowroom.us
The owners of this home bought their North Hampton residence three months before they wanted to move in. Just before the closing, they invited their remodeling team—Linda Cloutier and Lori Genovese of Linda Cloutier Kitchens and Baths in Greenland and Ben Auger of Auger Building Company in Greenland—to the house to discuss renovations. “There was a nor’easter, and they came out to look at the kitchen during the storm,” says the homeowner. “I brought out bottles of champagne for them.”
Fortunately for the couple, the weather didn’t deter the building and design team—which included Cubby Derby of J. Covington Interior Design in North Hampton—from transforming their home, including their kitchen and master bathroom.
The kitchen is inviting and elegant, featuring gray walls, marble countertops and a marble-topped gray island that is the room’s sculptural centerpiece. “[The homeowner] loves to cook,” Cloutier says. “She wanted to open up the kitchen and make it user-friendly. Now, it fits [her] personality: full of light, bling and sparkle.”
The light-filled space, which includes a wet bar and wine cave, is lined with white, glass-fronted cabinets with gray crystal knobs. Stainless steel appliances—including the stove hood—add shine. The homeowner particularly likes her side-opening Bosch wall oven, located on the same wall as the microwave and refrigerator. “I love it,” she says. “You don’t have to bend over or worry about it tipping over. It’s the best thing I’ve ever owned.” Elegant, gray glass chandeliers add sparkle over the island.
Another unique feature: A TV, topped by a piece of marble that matches the counter, recesses into the half wall separating the kitchen and breakfast area. Once raised, it can be turned around to face viewers in either room.
The master bathroom, with his and hers spaces, also reflects the homeowner’s sense of fun and glamour. The “hers” side of the bathroom is highlighted by a spectacular gray, marble-topped vanity with an elegant mirrored cabinet. Two crystal chandeliers and hammered silver sinks add bling. Opposite is a large, marble-tiled shower. The honed marble floors have radiant heat, and there’s also a towel warmer. “I keep the bathroom warm because I hate to be cold,” says the homeowner. Past the shower is the “his” bathroom. Also designed in shades of gray, the space features a large, marble-sided bathtub and a marbletopped vanity.
“This was a fun project,” Auger says.
“[The homeowner] has great taste and likes an element of fun and sparkle. I think this project really demonstrates that.” NHH
WHAT MAKES THESE SPACES UNIQUE
Kitchen and bathroom custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode Cabinetry, available from Linda Cloutier Kitchens & Baths (603) 964-2959 • lindacloutier.com
Kitchen and bathroom countertops are Calacatta Belgia Marble from Ripano Stoneworks • (603) 886-6655 ripano.com
Range and built-in microwave from Thermador • (800) 735-4328 thermador.com
Single wall oven, Benchmark Series by Bosch • (800) 944-2904 bosch-home.com
Refrigerator by Sub-Zero (800) 222-7820 • subzero-wolf.com
Kitchen lighting, bathroom chandeliers and bathroom overhead lights from Rockingham Electric • (603) 436-2310 rockinghamelectric.com
Kitchen and bathroom crystal knobs from Top Knobs • (800) 499-9095 topknobs.com
Cup pulls from Schaub & Company • (616) 871-0040 schaubandcompany.com
Shower tile from Portico Fine Tile & Design • (603) 964-3383 porticofinetile.com
RESOURCES FOR KITCHEN AND BATH DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS
A Winning Kitchen
Denyne Designs, LLC • (978) 846-3046 denynedesigns.com
New England Custom Remodeling • (603) 833-2354 newenglandcustomremodeling.com
A Zen Spa
Cynthia Clark Interiors • (603) 929-2987 cynthiaclarkinteriors.com
Inspired by a Range
Creative Spaces, LLC • (603) 801-2444
Crown Point Cabinetry • (800) 999-4994 crown-point.com
Northern Estate Home Management (888) 890-4001 • nehmllc.com
An Award-Winning Master Bath
Goedecke Flooring and Design (603) 472-5221 • goedeckedecorating.com
A Sparkling Kitchen and Master Bath
Auger Building Company • (603) 430-9004 augerbuildingcompany.com
Linda Cloutier Kitchens & Baths, LLC (603) 964-2959 • lindacloutier.com
J. Covington Design • (603) 520-1284 jcovingtonderby.blogspot.com