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Regardless of whether black is considered a mix of all colors, as in a subtractive color mixing, or the absence of any color, as in the light spectrum, its bold hue doesn't always play well with others, especially when used in mass quantity. So when Stephanie Holmes' client approached her with an inspiration photo featuring black cabinetry combined with dark-colored brick, the Oneonta, NY designer and owner of The Working Kitchen knew she had to conduct a balancing act so all of the elements could shine in this new-construction kitchen in nearby Milford. "I have worked with this family for years," says Holmes. "This is our fourth project togeth- er, and she always knows what she wants. In this kitchen, it is black and brick combined with white to bring rustic elegance to the space." DARK ELEMENTS 'Dark' elements of the kitchen – which was installed by VSH Contractors – include custom Wood-Mode cabinets sheathed with a rich heirloom black fnish and espresso glaze, which were then distressed. Traditional-style doors and drawers are accented with brass hardware from House of Antique Hardware, adding to the space's historical undertones. Brass is repeated at each sink – both stainless steel models from Elkay – with antique brass faucets from Whitehaus Collections' Vintage collec- tion. "Brass has been coming back for a while," says Holmes. "But the homeowner has been us- ing it all along, not just because it's a trend. She likes its classic, timeless appeal, and now there are so many more choices." A 'freestanding' island, with its founda- tion of black cabinetry, anchors the kitchen, while in the adjacent dining room, two towers of hutch-style cabinets – connected to each other by a window seat topped with black walnut from Craft Art – echo the banks of kitchen cabinetry. The backsplash is crafted from handmade brick veneer that matches full-size brick used on a woodstove in the living room into which the kitchen opens. A faux chimney, faced in brick veneer, eases the transition between dark and light walls. "It adds some depth and makes the design work better," she says. LIGHTEN UP 'Light' elements include just about everything else in the open-concept kitchen/dining/living room area. "We needed to keep everything else light," she says. An abundance of natural light fowing into the space from three windows above the main sink takes the lead. "I love this entire wall – with the tall countertop cabinets fanking the windows," she says. "When you walk into the Kitchen Blends Light & Dark BY KIM BERNDTSON Black cabinetry contrasted with brass hardware adds a bold element to a new-construction kitchen in Milford, NY. In the dining room, two towers of hutch-style cabinets – connected to each other by a window seat topped with black walnut from The Craft Art Co. – echo the banks of cabinetry in the kitchen. An abundance of natural light fows into the kitchen from three windows above the main sink. Traditional-style doors and drawers are accented with brass hardware, adding to the space's historical undertones. Brass is repeated at the sink with antique brass faucets. A walk-in pantry satisfes the majority of storage needs, but specialized storage in the kitchen, such as a pull-out spice drawer and blind corner unit, helps keep everything organized. 36 Kitchen & Bath Design News • March 2016 PROJECT CASE STUDY SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVE, PROBLEM-SOLVING KITCHENS AND BATHS