Small changes can have a huge impact. The photos of the “before” and “after” of the kitchen of this Ohlin Lane Cape prove that to be true.

I met Bob and Margie Smetana, the owners of this home, at the Harvard Schools Trust Gala last March. They had recently returned to Harvard from Virginia. They lead very busy lives and needed to get the house ready for the move quickly and simply. Before the move, they had all of the walls and trim painted white. The family felt the home lacked warmth and character.

The original kitchen needed updating of surfaces and appliances. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)

The kitchen now has granite countertops and new appliances.

These candleholders were transformed into windowsill cactus planters.

We had our first meeting last spring to first go over the Smetanas’ wish list. After I made my design recommendations, we made a plan to implement the changes. Our plan was to do the renovations while the family vacationed in June so as to have the least impact upon their daily lives.

The architectural design of this house gives it a very interesting floor plan, designed for today’s casual living. Instead of the staircase to the second floor being located in the front hall, as is traditional, it is located in the kitchen. The kitchen, located behind double French doors that lead from the main entry foyer, is the first thing visitors see upon entering through the front door. Whether people enter from the front door, garage door, second floor, or deck, all passageways lead to the kitchen, the hub of the home. The Smetanas attest to this being the heart of the house, the place where everyone ends up congregating whenever there is a gathering. It was the first room that needed change. Because the kitchen is the first thing you see upon entering and it is so centrally located, Margie wanted it to have the appearance of fine furnishings rather than of a typical kitchen. Ease of use, durability, and good design were the main requirements.

The kitchen has some great features. It is open, with a good traffic flow, light and bright, with lots of windows; and it has good quality raised-panel cherry cabinets. There is a ceramic tile floor. A wonderful summer dining room is located just off the kitchen on the large deck. The downside of the kitchen is that the great features were lost behind the boring almond-colored Formica cabinets and the dated almond-colored appliances. When walking into the home, one got the impression that it was unfinished and uninspired.

Throughout the home, one of the main color threads is black. It is a color that is striking yet neutral, and it lends itself to the Shaker style, with a contemporary edge that Margie loves. We carried the black into the kitchen. The Formica countertops were replaced with three-centimeter-thick honed Absolute Black granite. The honed granite is polished, yet the polishing stops at the point of a matte gloss, rather than the highly polished, reflective quality of so many of the granites we are used to seeing. The matte finish is being used more and more, but it is still a unique look, something the homeowners were striving to achieve. They wanted an easy-to-live-with solution that was also cutting edge.

Absolute Black granite is the blackest of all the granites. It is usually mined in North Africa or China. The granite molecules are so densely packed that the granite appears to be all of one color until you look very closely. You can see little specks of dark greys throughout the stone. The closely-packed molecules of this stone also make it very heavy and hard. It is one of the most durable of stones. Because Absolute Black is becoming increasingly rare, care must be taken when choosing a stone dealer. Some unethical dealers are treating their stone with chemicals to make it appear to be black. After several months of exposure to sunlight, the chemicals wear off and the stone turns grey and blotchy.

Another change that we made, which was simple but had a dramatic effect, was the faucet and cabinet hardware. Going from brass to brushed stainless steel gave this room a cleaner edge. The appliances were changed to stainless steel. The stove has a stainless-steel front with a black glass top. It is located in the center island and now offers a seamless look. The sink, too, is black granite. The stone allows the maximum durability with no signs of scratches or discoloration.

The project has been such a success that a personal relationship has been formed with the owners, which is a very easy thing to imagine if you know the Smetanas. Margie and I will team up to be co-hosts for next year’s Harvard Schools Trust Gala, in celebration of this design project. I have the dinnerware and linens; Margie has a dining table that seats a minimum of 14. If you want to see this design project in person, be sure to request 11 Ohlin Lane for the Gala.