Crisp Connecticut Kitchen

Interior designer Susan Helie had drawn sketches of her dream home on the water, and she and her husband, Peter, set out to find a site for it in Stonington, Connecticut. Across the harbor from the village of Stonington, with views of the Long Island Sound and the Watch Hill lighthouse and with dock potential (it was just steps from a little beach), they found a shingled 1980s gambrel set upon her dream site. Assuming she’d tear it down and bring her sketches to life, she didn’t even want to set foot in the house. “But my frugal husband insisted we at least go in, and I had to admit that the house had great bones,” she says. “My husband made me realize it was my dream house, but just a little smaller.”

While the floor plan and quality of the architecture were pretty close to her vision, the 1980s track lights and Formica were not. “I wanted it a little more contemporary, a little yacht-like and a little island-ish all rolled into one,” she says. Here’s a look at how she made her dream home out of the sweet gambrel home, embracing its original spirit as well.

Kitchen at a Glance

Who lives here: Susan and Peter Helie

Location: Stonington, Connecticut

Size: About 140 square feet (about 13 square meters)

The coastal location inspired crisp and contemporary marine touches in the kitchen. “On the cabinets I used the whitest white I could find,” Helie says (it’s Benjamin Moore’s 01 White). Accentuating the bright cabinets and Caesarstone countertops, she covered the range wall in blue glass tiles. “Because it’s the only plain wall without windows, I knew it really needed to pop,” she explains.

The holly and teak floor looks as though it came straight off a yacht. So does the custom hardware, which is composed of boat handrail stanchions and teak dowels. (Inspired by some very pricey hardware, Helie found the stanchions at a boating supply store, and her woodworker added the dowels for a fraction of the cost of the pricey hardware). The cabinetry conceals the refrigerator (near right) and the dishwasher (to the right of the sink — the plain lower cabinet).

Tiles: Royal, Waterworks; range: Wolf; countertops: Caesarestone; Biz pendant lights: Tech Lighting; paint: 01 White, Benjamin Moore

CT Kitchen 1: Warren Jagger, original photo on Houzz

Start Your Kitchen Remodel With a New Dishwasher

The galley-style kitchen allows for big views of Stonington Harbor across the dining area. Part of the renovation included widening the front hallway, opening up the basement staircase and removing a bookcase to reveal the water views from the moment one walks through the front door.

Now all of the main living spaces look right out at Stonington Harbor. Here you can see how the kitchen (right), dining area and living room relate to one another. Because the space is so open, the kitchen feels larger than a typical galley kitchen.

Warren Jagger, original photo on Houzz

Helie added the window seat bench as the prime spot for enjoying the view. She had the original floors refinished with Zar teak seal so that they work well with the yacht-like floor in the kitchen.

In addition to the marine touches, Helie brought in elements like glass shelves, a stainless steel vent hood and pendant lights, which give the kitchen a contemporary edge.

Warren Jagger, original photo on Houzz

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Built-in cabinetry provides plenty of room for storage and displaying favorite items in the dining area. The teak hardware and cobalt blue glassware connect the space to the adjacent kitchen. To the right of the built-in, you can catch a glimpse of the pantry storage behind it.

Helie added a coffered board ceiling. The recessed lights in the ceiling are square, in keeping with the rest of its geometry.

It just didn’t feel right to show you just one peek of the living room, which has nautical and global flair. Helie had the coffee table, throw pillows and stools made in Bali; the leather sling chairs are from Italy; and the rugs are Gabbeh rugs, made in the mountains of Iran.

Warren Jagger, original photo on Houzz

While the fireplace was existing, the fieldstone surround is new. Helie also wanted one long stone to serve as the hearth. Because the original opening was off center on the wall, she added the log storage area on the left for balance. A vibrant print adds color atop the stone, while a model sailboat winks at the kitchen inspired by its details.

Warren Jagger, original photo on Houzz

Sofa: custom, Susan Helie Designs

Her husband is retired, but Helie’s design business continues, and the two now split their time between Florida and Connecticut. Their son, daughter and grandchildren all have a ball gathering at the welcoming house on the water.