DESIGN by MEGAN PISANO
PHOTOGRAPHY by MEGHAN BALCOM PHOTOGRAPHY
TEXT by NAYDA RONDON
In 2021, when Amy and Michael Pollack and their two young kids moved from New York City to their 3,800-square-foot Spanish colonial in Summit, they delighted in all the space—five bedrooms, 4 1⁄2 bathrooms, a two-car garage, a patio and a deck—and the qualities of their new home. “Built in 1910, it has lots of original charm and character,” Amy says.
Not everything was perfect, though. Take the kitchen, for instance. Dated and with an awkward layout, that small space lacked organizational flow, functionality and the roominess to entertain in style.
Having already tapped Megan Pisano of Chatham-based Megan Pisano Design to renovate their bathrooms, the homeowners confidently entrusted the designer with a bigger task: a first-floor addition comprising not only an expanded kitchen, but a new eating area, pantry, bar zone and mudroom as well.
Taking nearly all of 2023 to complete, the project was a total gut and redesign, involving collaboration between Pisano and teams at Rosen Kelly Conway Architecture & Design, R. Keller Construction, Cabri Inc., Atlas Marble & Granite and Painting Professionals. All existing pieces were eliminated to make way for an entirely new layout, design and color scheme.
“We were aiming for a modern, warm vibe reflective of the homeowner’s style,” Pisano says. “I had previously designed for her and was familiar with the aesthetic she likes best—edgy and moody yet warm, with pops of black and gold.”
Pisano’s process, she explains, is “kind of like design therapy. Especially after having worked with them, you start to understand what they like. We form a relationship; they give me a little direction and I roll with it and do my thing.”
Pisano’s “thing” was to create a fresh and dramatic look that was classy, timeless and neutral. Warm walnut and bold black accents add refined depth to the kitchen and bar areas while Spanish hexagon tiles, a nod to the home’s exterior style, enliven the pantry. The mudroom—with black-and-gold hardware and light fixtures—plays into the kitchen’s overall theme.
Keeping it simple and sophisticated, Pisano went with a palette of white, black and gray. The wall paint is Classic Gray and the ceiling’s is Chantilly Lace, both from Benjamin Moore. The countertops and backsplash are white quartz with light gray veining. The maple wood cabinetry, painted a Nordic White Opaque, keeps the mood clean, crisp and airy. Modern pieces such as the McGee & Co.’s Moore island stools, CB2 Chiaro clear acrylic/black dining chairs and Patricia Round chandelier by Made Goods provide bold punctuations, as do the sleek and sexy Emtek contemporary hardware fixtures.
“It’s so much more functional and open,” Amy says of the final renovation. “We have multiple spaces to eat, and it’s easier to entertain here. It’s also bright, with the windows surrounding the table, and we now have easy access to the patio, which we didn’t have before.”
Pisano doesn’t disagree. “Whether it’s eating, doing homework or just hanging out, this is the place to be,” she says. “It’s comfortable, large and functional; perfect for a busy family.”
“Family and friends are in awe when they come into the new space,” Amy says. “They don’t understand how the space we had before transformed into our new kitchen. It’s a completely different footprint and so much more beautiful. Our old kitchen was a space where you came to eat, but not necessarily gather. Our new kitchen is a space you don’t want to leave.”
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