Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion - Third Time's a Charm


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Text by Mary Forsell • Styled by Kathy Curotto

It was only a matter of time. With two kitchen renovations already under her belt before HOME COMPANION launched a decade ago, executive editor Barbara Elliott Martin was ready for a third redo that would finally give her the mix of efficiency and comfort she craved. After living many years in a late 19th-century Georgian-style house in St. Louis with husband Bud and their two daughters, Barbara’s idea of the perfect kitchen had evolved. Each renovation kept pace with the family’s changing lifestyle.
“The first redo occurred within a year of moving in and was fairly streamlined—plain countertops and Mexican tile,” she says. “During the second, 15 years later, we took down three walls that divided a butler’s pantry, mudroom, and kitchen, and made it one big space. I worked with an architect and a structural engineer on that one.”
This time, Barbara didn’t want drastic changes. “My white-on-white kitchen was starting to seem cold. I wanted to create a comfortable space where you’d actually enjoy spending time.”
She didn’t rush the process. “For two years, my day planner was bulging with snippets from kitchen magazines and the internet, as well as sketches from my own imagination,” she says. “I also had the advantage of finding inspiration at work.”

(a) Extra-thick countertops mimic concrete. An off-center prep sink frees workspace. (b) White-on-white was OK… for a while.

(c) Warm touches like vintage tile abound. (d) Sage green island cabinets add softness. (e) Wall-mounted plasma TV can be viewed from any angle. (f) A paper shredder, a must-have accessory for kitchen office nooks, slides back behind a cabinet door.

A lot had been accomplished during the previous renovation. “The basic work triangle was already efficient,” says Barbara, “so the stove and fridge stayed in the same location. We just moved the island slightly and added a prep sink plus a small undercounter refrigerator and beverage center.”
While all too many kitchen renovations in older homes seem grating, Barbara’s has the bells and whistles of current technology but in an understated way. “I wanted an efficient kitchen, but it had to be in keeping with the rest of the house,” she says.
Stainless steel is at a minimum. Comfortable seating welcomes guests and family alike. Soft colors play off the natural warmth of wood. The Martins opted for custom-built maple cabinets highlighted with reproduction hardware, as well as appliances with integrated wood covers. Walls and island cabinets are painted sage green to relieve the visual monotony of too much wood. “My mantra was ‘gentle modern.’”

She’s been through it three times now, so Barbara has no shortage of tips on how to make your kitchen renovation a success.
Among her most important hints: “The less you move plumbing and electric, the more money you save.” She also suggests looking beyond the obvious. “Research bargains on the Internet and floor sample sales at local showrooms.” Don’t be afraid to pepper the space with your personality. For instance, introduce artwork into your kitchen. For an expensive look, display it in sophisticated, gallery-style matching frames. Most important of all, even if you’ve scrimped and saved, it’s essential to indulge yourself a little. “Splurge on one or two items, like a plasma TV or some other perk. It’ll make the sacrifices seem smaller.”

(g) In the sitting area, Barbara displays exuberant goat imagery by Helen Durant, one of many artists featured in HOME COMPANION over the years whom she has met, befriended, and collected. (h) Before the addition of wood wainscoting, furniture seemed dwarfed by the high ceilings.
(i) Golden oak wood blinds with wheat-colored woven straps lend a retro quality and gently filter light. (j) A coffee table is an old air intake cover for which Barbara commissioned a base.
(k) Bistro-style dining. (l) Pedestal table was a carryover from the previous kitchen, but Barbara softened the look by sanding and pickling the top. Collage by Clare Goddard hangs above the paneled wainscoting, which was matched to existing woodwork. Terrazzo tiles hide dirt.

REMODELING RESOURCES
All major appliances, Viking. Sinks, Elkay. Paint, Ralph Lauren Paint. Tile, Ann Sacks. Blinds, Levolor. Frames, Larson-Juhl. Sofas, Lee Furniture. Flooring, Fritztile. Cabinet hardware, Liz’s Antique Hardware. Ceiling fan, The Modern Fan Company. Jute rug, Home Decorator’s Collection. Striped rugs, Dash & Albert.

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