Inspiration from award-winning designer Peter Salerno
A range replete with a double oven and six burners, a center island with seating for the whole family, hanging lights over butcher-block counters—whatever your pleasure, your very own dream kitchen is within reach. Yes, a kitchen remodel can be a big task, but it also has the best return on investment as far as home improvement projects go. You’ll get the best bang for your buck whether your kitchen redo is large or small, whether your style is more Renaissance or Retro.
If you’re a fan of bright, airy color, you don’t have to dread hitting the “refresh” button on your kitchen design this year, according to local high-end home designer Peter Salerno. Bursts of fresh, natural color are finding their way back into home design, and, says Salerno, the old notion that a dark kitchen has to be filled with dark appliances, black counters, and cold metallic finishes is a thing of the past. “Greens, blues, pinks, and yellows have joined whites, taupes, and neutrals on the design palette for 2017,” Salerno says. “It brings a little outdoors to the indoors and provides a breath of fresh air to home design.”
Salerno knows what he’s talking about. He ‘s been in business since 1997, when he and his wife Tracy opened Peter Salerno Inc. {511 Goffle Road, Wyckoff; 201.251.6608; petersalernoinc.com}. They recently opened a second showroom on Main Street in Mendham, but even in the earliest years, the firm was one of the most sought-after design teams in the area, if not the country. Since 2002, Salerno and staff have earned more than 30 national awards—a natural step for someone who spent countless hours in his father’s cabinet shop as a kid.
Now, Peter and Tracy’s own children, Anthony and Gabrielle, have joined the business in a third generation design legacy. Says Salerno about their mission: “We focus on creating luxurious and functional spaces that complement your lifestyle. Whether it’s a kitchen, master bath, or wine cellar, we incorporate your personality, passions, and hobbies into our design to create a finely tailored living space for you and your family.” Salerno and his team have the goods to back up that statement. “We are the leader in kitchen design because all of our designers are required to learn to cook or bake on a serious level,” Salerno affirms. Indeed, Peter and Anthony both take numerous classes at the Culinary Institute of America each year. They take their cooking so seriously that Anthony designed and released a line of USA-produced, handmade kitchen cutlery and cookware.
As for trends in kitchen design? Open floor plans still reign, as do specialty state-of-the-art gadgets, from steam ovens to synced appliances. Unique back splashes are also a nice touch. (Check out the beautiful glass mosaic backsplash in Salerno’s “Farm Meets City Sleek” project.)
Whether you know exactly what you want for your dream kitchen or you just have a vague idea, it’s always best to work with a designer who can help you turn your thoughts into functional spaces. “The client should play an instrumental role in the creative process by sharing ideas to help realize their own unique design,” says Salerno. “Creativity and personalization are key factors in our design process.”
Study these projects—some of Salerno’s best—to help you re-imagine the most important room in your home.
Farm Meets City Sleek
This Peter Salerno Inc. transitional kitchen design evokes the feeling of upscale “farm-to-table” dining, with its touch of countryside charm melded into truly modern kitchen design. The kitchen is bathed in white and ambient light, a nod to the recent kitchen design trend of whites and neutrals as the primary focus of an overall color scheme. The room is also adorned with white, from the custom Maestro Rosolino cabinetry (a trademark of Peter Salerno Inc.) to the kitchen island base. Notes of gray and neutrals complement the white, from the custom range hood and counter to the island countertop and wood flooring. One of Salerno’s favorite aspects of this kitchen design is the mixed metal and glass mosaic backsplash over the range, created by the team at Stratta, the Tile Boutique.
Clean and Sophisticated
Radiance describes this kitchen design in which large swaths of crisp white are accented by warm taupes and rich, dark neutrals like hazelnut—all adorned with bright, ambient light that shines through a trio of large windows above the sink and countertop. The design extends to a lounge area that includes a door to the patio area, bringing in even more daylight. Clean sophistication is everywhere—from the fireplace in the lounge to the Maestro Rosolino custom cabinetry, island countertop, and custom range hood in the kitchen.
By Judy Grover
