Whether your home was built in the time of George Washington or George H.W. Bush, you want the kitchen to shine with contemporary cool styling, technology and functionality. And you can get what you want — if you know where to look for inspiration.
“Traditional is exactly what we go against,” says Denise Davies, founder of D2 Interieurs in Weston, Conn. “When I started this business, a lot of people wanted to design their kitchens in very (traditional) ways because we’re in New England. (Creative director Kerri Rosenthal and I) don’t design kitchens that way and that’s what has brought so many of our clients to us — we can still give them a modern esthetic while keeping with the style of their home.”
That, too, goes for the extreme “gut-and-rebuild” method of kitchen remodeling. Davies and Rosenthal — best friends, New York City transplants and proponents of playful, yet sophisticated interior artistry — are designers who proudly prove that kitchens can be revamped into open, colorful and highly functional living spaces, often without the expense, hassle and waste of more typical makeovers.
“So many people buy houses built in the 1990s or even 2000 and find they have great bones but just need some love,” says Davies, who founded the company about five years ago. “We take a look at what in the kitchen still works.”
Many times the general layout — flooring, cabinets and other key components — still work or can be rehabbed. Think of stripping and refinishing floors, replacing countertops and backsplashes, painting and/or replacing cabinet doors and hardware and similar refreshes that D2 Interieurs calls “Kitchen Botox.”
Of course, kitchen Botox doesn’t always make sense from design, functionality or cost standpoints. Davies and Rosenthal cite a few clients who originally approached them for that concept only to find that a complete overhaul made more sense.
“We just had a client that wanted Kitchen Botox, but we figured that for 10 percent more, they would have a whole new kitchen,” says Davies.
Homeowners, especially those who are enthusiastic supporters of local artists and craftsmen, are gladdened to discover the duo and its team support such providers.
“So much of what we use and install is custom and we use local (and American-made) products,” says Rosenthal. “That’s what really makes the homes we design special. There are no shortcuts to success. We are true to who we are and to our clients.”
Davies and Rosenthal do not shy away from bucking tried-and-true industry trends.
“One thing our tradespeople are always saying is, ‘We have never done this before,” Rosenthal says of using stone, art and metal in various configurations to bring about clients’ visions. “And that’s when we laugh and say ‘Well, let’s do it.”
The duo’s backgrounds, which include high-level business, fine art and interior design, have enough contrast to take projects beyond the routine, as evidenced by their work in locations from modern Tribeca lofts to historic Connecticut estates and beyond.
“Your home is your life and the kitchen is perhaps the most important of that life,” says Davies. “We spend hours with our clients, long before any work is done, asking, ‘How many children do you have?,” “Do you have parties?,” “Do you drink coffee?,” “How important is music in your home?”
The questions not only allow the pair to design clients’ ideal kitchens but also allows the homeowners to reimagine their lifestyles.
The duo’s stylings are so popular beyond their Connecticut home base that they plan to launch a product line that will include customs rugs and wallpaper inspired by Rosenthal’s modern art. Although the two work very much as a creative team, they note that Rosenthal’s strongest contribution involves her knack for imagining unexpected color combinations in a variety of materials. That’s due to her extensive training and experience in fashion and fine art, some of which has been showcased in magazines across the U.S. Her artwork is typically included in D2’s redesigned spaces.
Those items are part of the way the duo’s award-winning designs allow rooms to naturally flow into one another.
Functionality is, of course, the bedrock of the designs. Davies and Rosenthal mention some of the myriad extras in their kitchen designs that routinely amp up clients’ day-to-day satisfaction with their kitchen: warming drawers that allow meals to be served hours after preparation, island-mounted microwaves that take little space but provide king-size power, fully integrated coffee bars with special nooks for mugs and supplies, and even unobtrusive kitchen outlets strategically hidden (think within a backsplash) but placed for maximum convenience.
“You live in your home for many years and no matter what the lifestyle, the kitchen is always the center of activity,” says Davies. “It’s vital to make it seamless and beautiful.”
