Refaced Cabinets Transform a Room

The starting point for the palette was the beautiful quartzite used for the countertops. Do not confuse it with man-made quartz. Quartzite is a natural stone that looks similar to marble, but is harder and more durable. “My client knew right from the start that quartzite was absolutely necessary,” Freeze says. The edge of the island countertop is twice as thick as that of the surrounding countertop, giving it a suitably strong presence in the center of the room. The same goes for the large overhead pendant lights.

“My clients are good at combining antiques with contemporary art and so on,” Freese says. “The goal was to combine modern and traditional elements. The reed diamond detail I suggested was a Scandinavian architectural detail that felt like it brought a bit of a vintage feel.” Meanwhile, the clean edges of the countertop add a modern touch.

The island and hatch are lift-sawn white oak. “Lift sawing gives the wood a more straight grain pattern with less grain variation,” says Freese.