By Shelby Deering | Photography by Shanna Wolf
When Michael Rosenblum and Jessica Balis set out to remodel their kitchen, they had several goals in mind. They wanted a more functional, open space. They wanted some much-desired features, like a range hood fan, garbage disposal, a large, undivided sink and a secondary oven. And they wanted to shift to more environmentally-friendly appliances.
They accomplished all of this, and even have eye-catching, on-trend green cabinetry to boot. (The color is Sherwin-Williams’ Rock Garden.)
“My goal was to reflect the homeowners [in] their home,” says Jodie Amerell, NCIDQ, ASID of Mojo Home Interiors. “The look is their love of green and black, and their preference of more modern, refined lines in a pre-existing, mahogany paneled home.”
Now, the new kitchen is all about openness, which includes a sizeable island ideal for cooking and entertaining. Jessica says, “I love having a space that I had a hand in creating, that fits my aesthetic and that works so much better for us on a day-to-day basis.”
Having worked with the couple on previous projects, Amerell executed “their perfect color preferences” since she had already built a relationship with them. The result is emerald-green cabinetry and a swirling, multihued countertop that’s guaranteed to be a conversation starter.
“Not only do I enjoy having an extremely functional space, but every time I walk into the kitchen, I am blown away by the island countertop. I just love the movement and texture,” Michael says.
After the refresh, Michael says that he cooks nearly every night in their kitchen, including Middle Eastern-inspired dishes like chicken shawarma and olive oil- braised chickpeas. It’s a place that looks, and feels, just right to the couple.
Based upon the design, Amerell shares her words of wisdom: “Define what you love, and create your colors and textures around that.”