Project Details:
Interior Designer: Pascale de Fouchier, Pascale de Fouchier Interiors
Studio Location: Baltimore, MD
Client review: The client is very whimsical and eclectic. She’s drawn to vintage style, and this is one of Baltimore’s historic Victorian homes. It has many charming details, and she wanted the kitchen to reflect the spirit of the house, but in an updated way.
Design Aims: When I first walked into the kitchen, I knew the layout had to come first. The room was long with tall ceilings, and I didn’t want it to feel like a corridor. The family loves to entertain, and I wanted to ensure it was functional for cooking, as well as a welcoming gathering spot. The historic glass cabinets had to stay, and I used them as an anchor to keep the Victorian character alive, while infusing a little bit of English countryside style.
From the Designer | I’ve always been attracted to green, and because it’s found in other rooms on the first floor, it provided a thread to the rest of the home. Benjamin Moore’s Kelly Green was the first paint I suggested, but we tested a lot of others before circling back. The color is very cool, but also very intense, so I focused on mostly using it in the butler’s pantry. The idea behind the black-and-white checked Magnolia Home wallpaper in that same space was to create a “wow” moment. It’s unexpected, but at the same time nods to the country house style we were looking for.
The client was hesitant about a white kitchen, but because of its scale, I used Sherwin-Williams’ Arctic White on that cabinetry and honed Carrara marble from Gramaco Stone Source on the countertops. I then carried the Kelly green onto the base of the island to nod to the butler’s pantry.
When considering the breakfast nook, I wanted it to feel a bit different from the rest of the kitchen. I repurposed a Ballard Designs banquette, upholstering it in a Kravet burgundy fabric. The hue tends towards the pink, which the client was dying for, so we were able to bring that color in way that made sense with the rest of the design.
I always knew I wanted artwork above the banquette, but I pictured pop art. Then I came across this piece by Bona Fidesa and thought immediately, “This is it.” That painting captures the entire project — vintage style with touches of humor here and there.
Photography by Jenn Verrier.
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