Whoever said that it’s best to avoid working for your friends has never met Jackie Newell, founder and lead designer of Basil + Tate. The owners of this Centennial home—close pals with Newell—had hired a contractor but were in need of a designer to give the project “vision” and pull it all together. “I love to design,” says Newell, “so my job rarely feels like ‘work,’ but getting to do my ‘job’ with my best friend made it even more fun.”
For this ambitious venture, the home’s entire main floor got a makeover. Newell doubled the size of the kitchen; created a large dining room for entertaining; converted a home office to double as a mudroom; and gave the laundry room, powder room and living room a facelift as well. “My clients have young kiddos and love to entertain,” says Newell, “so those became our priorities.” Newell opted for materials and finishes that can withstand crumbs and sticky fingers, adding that they also made sure to maximize open spaces and walkways to make it easier to host large gatherings.
When it comes to choosing favorites, Newell says the breakfast nook is one of her top spaces. “I love that the table and chairs get their own space and the open shelving above the bar allowed us to place accessories that made the space feel personal to their style.” The client’s father is a talented carpenter and did most of the millwork himself as well as building cubbies for the mudroom. “I have never seen such impeccable craftsmanship,” says Newell.
Early to Rise
The breakfast nook is one of the designer’s favorite areas of the finished project. The dark wood of the Rembrandt table from Lamps Plus and black Windsor dining chairs from Target offer a counterpoint to the light colors throughout the kitchen. Newell says, “I’m also a sucker for pillows, so I couldn’t resist adding a few to the window seat.”
Light and Bright
Light streaming into the kitchen is amplified by clean-lined StarMark cabinets from HTI Granite & Cabinetry in the palest gray shade (Dove) for the perimeter with a dark gray (Peppercorn) counterpoint on the island. Cool undertones grace the painted surfaces in Benjamin Moore’s Collingwood, complementing the Villa Artisan Frost ceramic subway tile of the backsplash from Floor & Decor.
Island Life
To top the island, Newell chose a maintenance- free, marblelook quartz from HTI Granite & Cabinetry. Because the client knew that the counter stools would see heavy use, they opted for wood stools from Target that could be easily wiped clean. The island is lit by Capital Lighting’s rippled glass and mango wood Transitional Pendants from Lightology.
