Sometimes Mother Nature provides an unexpected push in the right direction. When Superstorm Sandy destroyed a Massapequa home, a gut job was inevitable, making it the perfect time for a complete renovation.

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The homeowners of this oversized split level style house are avid home cooks with a passion for entertaining. They wanted to reconfigure the three existing rooms on the main floor (that included a long, hard-to-work-in kitchen) into one large, seamless space. Michael Rosenberg of Showcase Kitchens South in Massapequa was called upon to design a streamlined floor plan that would give the homeowners the top-of-the-line kitchen of their dreams.

“The breadth of the space was a concern,” Rosenberg said, “but one we tackled enthusiastically.” His solution: create a show stopping, custom-made center island to anchor the room. The island would also maximize the waterfront home’s limited wall space by housing state-of-the-art appliances. “They wanted an open-concept party environment for their ground floor, with the kitchen, dining area and family room as one contiguous space. Hence the addition of the wine and beverage coolers—as well as the ice machine—in the center island.”

The palette of black magna granite, with textured, leather finishes used for the backsplash and perimeter countertops balances the white cabinetry.

Creating the bright and open space required a few architectural embellishments. A coffered ceiling extending from the oven wall to the end of the dining room added a sense of length as well as height. An ornamental barrel ceiling was also installed over the kitchen’s white country-style farmhouse sink, which sits in front of a picture window overlooking the canal. Rosenberg included a decorative archway in the entrance from the foyer to enhance the grandiosity of the space. “Not only did this create a sense of height, but also added tremendous visual interest.”

Lighting is also essential in maximizing the floor plan. Three large chandeliers were hung strategically above the home’s farmhouse sink and dining room table, as well as in the living room. The addition of the chandeliers help the vertical proportions of the room by drawing the eyes upward as well as creating individual pools of light that delineate separate areas.

The white cabinetry has beaded inset doors that complement the dark kitchen island anchoring the room. / A prep sink featuring stainless steel faucets by Kohler makes efficient use of the kitchen space.

Use of texture and unexpected materials are hallmarks of Rosenberg’s “transitional country” design, thus “a great deal of time was spent sourcing surfaces that exude a visually artistic appearance.” For the perimeter countertop and backsplash, Rosenberg chose a palette of black magna granite with textured, leather finishes that complement the white cabinetry as well as the porcelain wood-look floor.

The island’s extra chunky posts add drama to its black, distressed finish. And its countertop is not wood, but poured concrete embedded with fiber optic lights that change colors. “Using the poured concrete allowed us flexibility with the size needed for the expansive countertop. The island is in the center of the room. It is a striking element that enhances all of the decorative choices of the whole kitchen.”