94 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {home & design} Previously, the hood was the most dated element in the kitchen. Given the scale of the room, we made the hood bigger and carried it all the way up to the ceiling. We also designed it to run down to the countertop but left plenty of space to prep and cook. When the scales are off, a room can actually feel smaller than it is. Adding the scallop detail around the windows to mirror the new curved profile of the plaster hood brings a softness to the space. Often, clients have treasures buried in their pantries that are both charming and practical if left out on the counter. swapped the lighting, countertops, backsplash and hardware, then updated the hood. Paint did the rest. A fresh coat on the walls and two tones of green for the kitchen cabinets delivered a refreshed, modern result. Cohesiveness—another principle Amanda cherishes—came into play in the small details. The curves in the stone backsplash around the windows now mimic the curves on the hood and lighting. Such nuances, Amanda says, “are all subtle but impactful. Now everything relates to each other and feels effortless, like it was always there.” The office is another example of an easy, attainable fix that makes a big difference. “When this home was purchased the study felt dated and stodgy,” Amanda says. “My client was unsure when I first told him I wanted to paint everything in here. Yet, with a mix of paint finishes, the room looks bigger, masculine and very sexy, with the new lighting and decor we swapped in.” Heavy materials like marble and wood as well as dark, moody art objects throughout set the atmosphere. Regardless of what is driving the limits, be it budget or preference, Amanda says that highlighting what clients love most about their homes can be done without a full PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF ANDREW LAFRANCE
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