Harnessing a sense of hominess and warmth is a challenge in newly built homes, but even more so when tasked with a quintessentially modern design. In this Watermill, New York Home, Bakes & Kropp engages its Soft Modern design to deliver a contemporary design curbed by its complementary, classic elements. Under the design vision of Bob Bakes, our Head of Design, our Overlay Emerson and Canterbury cabinetry is hand-painted in semi-gloss Bakes White and Bristle Walnut finishes to accentuate its modern lines and silhouettes.

The rich, natural grain of the walnut strikes a key balance against the reflective semi-gloss finish, while polished nickel hardware transcends the classic and contemporary styles as a timeless accent. Walnut open shelving and open front cabinetry layers another, more subtle, element of warmth in creating a polished visual break within the largely white cabinetry. At the kitchen’s center, a white waterfall island gets a walnut inlay with reinforced modern lines to mirror the custom Bakes & Kropp range hood with nickel base band accents.