A Black and White Modern Farmhouse Kitchen That’s Anything But Boring

“Quirky Quaker” is how Katrina Hernandez describes the modern farmhouse aesthetic of her weekend home in Water Mill, New York, which she and her husband, James, recently revived. “We wanted to walk this fine line of modernizing the necessary parts but keeping the simplicity of the existing architecture,” she explains.

The Colonial Revival home had strong bones, but much of it hadn’t been touched since it was built in the 1930s. For renovation guidance, Hernandez turned to her business partner, Josh Greene (with whom she launched a design studio after working together on projects in New York City and the Hamptons), as well as architect Anderson Kenny.

One of the first rooms they tackled was the kitchen, reconfiguring the layout to maximize all the available space with Bosch appliances for cooking and entertaining. The yellow linoleum countertops were swiftly replaced with black antique petit granite. “It’s very durable and feels great to the touch,” says Hernandez of the material. “You can see all the natural fossils embedded in the slabs.”

In this image: Countertops: Antique Petit Granit, ABC Worldwide Stone; Walls: Offset Brick Glass Mosaic.

When using darker shades, “honor the architecture of the space,” suggests Hernandez. Here are some of her favorite products and tips for bringing black into your home.

Streamline Surfaces

“The black concrete apron sink helps to not break the counter line while offering a hint of country aesthetic,” says Hernandez, who finished the look with a matte black faucet and exposed shelving made with iron piping.

In this image top: Bosch Panel Ready Dishwasher, $1,899; Farmhouse Kitchen Sink, Native Trails, $1,698; Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze, Newport Brass, $1,039. 

Strike a Balance

“I knew by keeping the cabinetry and walls light in color that the dark surfaces would not make the kitchen feel dark overall,” explains Hernandez. She chose wheat-hued oak to seamlessly integrate the Bosch appliances and glossy milk-white

subway tile

to reflect as much natural light as possible from the south-facing windows.

In this image: Bosch Drawer Microwave 800 Series in Stainless Steel, $1,399; Bosch Single Wall Oven 800 Series in Stainless Steel, $2,299; Bosch 5-Burner Gas Cooktop in Stainless Steel $1,099; Orb Sconce in Blackened Ash, Allied Maker, $480.

Coordinate Accessories

Smaller details, such as the forged steel cutlery, ebony ceramics, and black-rimmed baskets, complement the sparse palette. “The accessories have a utilitarian vibe but are still chic enough to set out for a dinner party,” says Hernandez.

In this image: 20-piece Flatware Set by CB2, $60; Pinstripe Napkin, CB2 $5; Splattered Enamelware Slotted Spoon, Leif, $12.

Get the look:

Large Positive Rocks Bowl, Recreation Center Shop, $150 Sur fabric, Kufri El Rais fabric, Zak + Fox Small Grid Container by Workaday Handmade, General Store, $75 Lydia Appliance Pull in Oil Rubbed Bronze, Top Nobs Decor, $122 Native Cement Tile in Navajo Zebra by Commune, Exquisite Surfaces Cement Tile in Plaster And Black by Erica Tanov, Cle Tile, from $8 Plus Grinder by Muuto & Norway Says, A+R Store, $75

Read more from the summer issue:

How to Turn Your Backyard Into an Open-Air Movie TheaterA Local’s Guide To Coastal ItalyThis Designer Has Mastered the Modern Boho Style