HouzzTV “Small Kitchen Gets Big Kitchen Style” featuring Toni Sabatino
Creating dream kitchens for single family palaces is a good portion of my work. Giving that expansive feel to a smaller footprint is a challenge I enjoy as well. To do that I really need to feel how you function. I want to feel how you live and interact. I want to create a space that has room for kids’ art, pet bowls, Costco runs, phone chargers, PTA calendars and still suits all your entertaining needs. I want to know who is cooking what and when so we have a tv for the morning news or easy access to the outdoor bar-b-q. I want to know if wine storage is important or if a built-in coffee system would really make your kitchen special and keep you from running out to Starbucks in your yellow fuzzy robe! Feeding our family and friends really feeds our soul and makes us happy. I want to help you outfit your kitchen to make the most of home celebrations and everyday living.
So, here I am with Ellen, talking about how we made her kitchen function for her specific needs.
My great appreciation for the work of Rick Spence and deepest thanks to the team at Houzz.com for featuring me in this promotional video.
Celebration Style
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a wedding celebration. The attention to detail was amazing, as can be seen by the hand sown ribbon tablecloth pictured. This reminded me of a few years back when my lovely daughter was planning her wedding celebration. The dress shopping, the table settings and most of all the cake! I remember pulling out my tape measure and explaining to the baker that a five foot cake was as big as she was! Style has be personal and comfortable. People with great style wear their lives like they wear their clothes. There is a casual grace because it all just fits. Here is some ELISE SABATINO style. http://thebridescafe.com/index.cfm?q=elise+and+giovanni Enjoy!! Photos by Sara France Photography.
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Thanks to K+BB for recognizing my work!
I am thrilled to be on page 72 of the K+BB Magazine April 2013 KBIS editiion! The recognition means so much after designing over a thousand kitchens over the years, in everything from local firehouse to some single family palaces. I love kitchens! The kitchen is where the action is. Friends are celebrated with food and drink. Firemen share stories over a pot of spaghetti and meatballs. Intimate news of love, life and true confessions are all shared at the sink during cleanup after a holiday meal. Interior Design is truly my passion and I love to start with the kitchen to transform a shelter dwelling to a stylish, comfortable home. Thanks again to Janet Groeber at K+BB Magazine for giving me the platform to share my love for design. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/kbb_201304/index.php#/74
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Inspiration….. when to go custom……..
I love texture and I love shine…….I am looking forward to posting about this kitchen renovation project when it is done but just had to offer a peek of what is in store……
This custom waterjet glass tile created by Ray Bernard of Finishing Touches in Huntington, NY, is just what we needed to put this kitchen over the top. Sure there are all sorts of inlays and herringbones to do in a backsplash but this art deco inspired glass pattern is clean, shiny and truly out of the ordinary….
JUST LOVE!
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Glitterati…………
Glitz, Glam, love it all!
These pieces
will be starring in an apartment renovation on the East Side……..Supported by lush fabrics and carpets……..sure to be a hit.
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisab.com
516-972-5455
Are You A Guest In Your Own Life?
Okay, so you walk in your door and are surrounded by your physical home environment. As you look around, do you find that home on your kindle says more about who you really are than what you see? Even a beautiful, professionally decorated house can feel like a hotel lobby if it isn’t personal. Having your home show your style is key to leading an authentic, fulfilling life and really provides a true sense of comfort. So how do you get there? Creating your own personal visual rhyme that makes you want to sing when you walk through the door….. That’s what I am all about…….
TONI SABATINO 516-972-5455 toni@tonisabatinostyle.com
Hamptons Casual…….
There is something dreamy about the ride out to the Hamptons…. Conjuring up memories of driving my ’87 560SL up to the Mercedes tent at the Polo fields with a ballsy girlfriend and no tickets…..sipping champagne under the same tent as Ralph Lauren……
The Hamptons has that coveted high end, laid back style that you just can’t buy…..you have to feel it.
I really enjoyed creating this dining space for a family that loves living and lives loving in this sprawling summer home. Simple casual living at it’s finest…….
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Thanks HOUZZ………Best Of 2013 for Customer Satisfaction
TONI SABATINO STYLE of New York Receives
Houzz’s 2013 ‘Best Of Remodeling’ Award
Annual Survey and Analysis of 11 Million Monthly Users
Reveals Top-Rated U.S. Professionals
Long Island, New York — January 21, 2013 – Toni Sabatino of Long Island, New York, has been awarded “Best Of Remodeling” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design. Toni Sabatino, an Interior Designer, who’s new firm Toni Sabatino Style specializes in Kitchen Design and Architectural Detailing, was chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.
The Houzz “Best Of Remodeling” award for 2013 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the community of 11 million monthly users, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 124 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.
“I find Houzz to be such a brilliant concept and was thrilled to meet owner, innovator, CEO and self described ‘design junkie’ Adi Tatarko at an event in NYC,” says Sabatino. “This site is not only an online magazine but a community, a forum for learning, sharing your knowledge and exposing your work to the worldwide masses. I am thrilled to be recognized with the “Best Of Remodeling” 2013 by Houzz and to be a part of the HOUZZ community.”
“Houzz provides homeowners with an in-depth, 360-degree view of building, remodeling and design professionals through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly in the Houzz community,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community. “We’re delighted to recognize Toni Sabatino among our “Best Of” professionals for exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”
With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like Toni Sabatino, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.
About Toni Sabatino of Toni Sabatino Style
My design aesthetic comes from many years of appreciating the New York experience and ALL it has to offer. From the old time grandeur of the tea room at the New York Palace, to the Art Deco beauty of the Chrysler building to the cutting edge style of the triangle atop the Citibank Building at 53rd and Lex, New York has it all. I like to create spaces with contrasting elements and color, rich in architectural themes that invoke a mood of playful sophistication and intimacy. Like my favorite city, within each space is a blend of elements. With an eye for visual array, I place each element to complement the whole and create a context for the life within. I love design and the challenge each space brings. Be it a home in the Hamptons, an office in Las Vegas, a Palm Beach golf house, a mountaintop retreat or a Manhattan apartment, I truly love it all.
About Houzz
Houzz (www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, ‘advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.5 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality. @houzz_inc
New Year…..same old stuff?
I love display. (definition: to present or hold up to view)…and I love to arrange the display…. The actual arrangement makes each one of a group or collection special. Looking through your stuff and invigorating a room by creating a display area is a great way to celebrate your life and the New Year. Select the items and then create an array that draws the eye by varying the height and color and make something visually interesting. Artful arrangements of books, photos, momentos of travels, musical instruments, trophies, sculptures, teapots or even antique iron doorstops can be an effective way to give a space an air of intimacy and truly make it personal and inviting. Here is a collection of objects I have had the pleasure to display in a bookshelf I felt would add warmth and declutter a family room mantle. I hope you are inspired to go up to the attic or down to the basement and pull out that stuff you secretly love but have no idea what to do with………
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Because We Need a Little Christmas, Right This Very Minute…….
Decorating this grand and stylish home for the Holidays each year has become part of my Christmas tradition. The Christmas tree, in particular, is always so special. When we started, 10 years ago, the tree had a grand, department store look, with huge, gold dipped pine cones, bows of ribbon and sparkly, red garland. As the years have passed, the addition of paper angels and stars, class pictures attached to paper trees, and the like, have adorned the tree and given it an intimate family feel. The pride and joy seen in the eyes of the child artisans as I climb the ladder and hang their wares in places of importance, really warms my heart. So go ahead! Hang up those paper wreaths made with love and “Have yourself a merry little Christmas NOW!”
Red Accents
I love red! The warm, vibrant, spicy feel of red can make such a dramatic difference in a room. Faced with a tall viually imposing wall, I chose to add molding details and touches of red to add visual interest. The pattern on the wall creates relevance and balance by framing the art work and sconces. This staircase had started with an ordinary brown oak and black iron railing. Removing the wood tops of the ballisters and adding decorative glass balls added some whimsical detail to the railing and the red paint with some metallic accenting really give it a custom feel. Repeating this vibrant accent color creates a relationship with the other red accents in the space giving the open floorplan a visual flow.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
HOUZZ.COM ……SLIDE SHOW
In an earlier post, I noted that HOUZZ.COM is not just a website, but an interactive community dedicated to decorating, design and remodeling. I am thrilled to share this slide show widget. I created my first HOUZZ "ideabook" of ventilation ideas as the area above the range is often a kitchen focal point. It is a collection of kitchens I have done featuring various ideas for what we commonly call hoods. Use the arrow tab to see each of my ideabooks. Some are my work and one is photos I enjoyed so much, I saved them in an idea book I called "FUN STUFF", followed by other groups of products for future reference. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired to create your own idea books. Happy HOUZZING!!!! It is truly addicting.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
Subtle Sparkle…..Kitchen Addition
Working with this client was wonderful. She came to me through an architect friend to create her dream kitchen. My client has wonderful taste, preferring soft subtle hues and rich texture and detail. She wanted a pallette of soft greys with dark wood and white for contrast. An addition would give us the space we needed but marrying ceiling heights and choosing and locating windows to create something truly special was the challenge. I created a kitchen “L” as a work triangle, a large island and a window wall incorporating a table height counter and long glass cabinets to showcase the windows and frame the view to the yard. The creation of a contemporary “mantle hood” with sheetrock structure and stainless and tile detail give an up to date but unique feel. The glass backsplash and hood detail add that “subtle sparkle” that makes the room really special. Dream kitchen…….and dream client!
516-972-5455
DESIGN On LINE…e.Magazine…HOUZZ.COM….
This GREEN ‘BADGE” is linked to my profile and photos at WWW.HOUZZ.COM a newish online magazine. I find this to be such a brilliant concept and was thrilled to meet owner, innovator, CEO-ess and self described “design junkie” Adi Tatarko at an event in NYC recently. I see people like my successful 26 year old daughter sit and swipe with an ipad and really have no need for printed magazines. This site is not only an online magazine but a community, a forum for learning, sharing your knowledge and exposing your work to the worldwide masses. I am thrilled to be a part of the HOUZZ community and wish Adi and her team continued success as her venture derived from personal passion becomes a worldwide phenomenon.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
Click the green badge to visit my HOUZZ profile and view some of my projects…….
Dreaming of Delft…………
Delft, with stunning cobalt blue and white, was the dream of my client whenever she thought about remodeling her kitchen. The crisp, blue and white motif were in every photo she showed me during our initial consultation. We put together a set of sample materials that came together beautifully with rich, dark, cherry cabinetry, carrera marble counters, terra cotta floor tiles with cobalt blue accents and……….yes, her beloved Delft accenting the blue and white ceramic tile backsplash. Our plan included providing generous space for the family kitchen table and a place for TV and electronics, as well as built in microwave, wood hood for the ventilation system and an appliance garage for those everyday must have kitchen items that generally clutter up the counter. Our complete project has a homey but crisp, sophistocated look in keeping with the center hall colonial style of the architecture and suits the lifestyle and kitchen dreams of my lovely client.
Renovation alterations and installation by CUMMINGS AND SONS.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
Kitchen Cohesiveness
I like to think of decorating as creating an outfit for a room. Of course, it does have to be an outfit you will not mind wearing for a good, long while. Seriously, though, the care one takes to coordinate an outfit is quite similar to room decorating. Just because you “like it” doesn’t means it works! Too many accessories, more than one large bold pattern and colors that are not complimentary will take down even the best of the individual items being used. Cohesive design where each item has not only a purpose but is in proper scale and has a good relationship with the other items in the room, will make a room inviting no matter what the style. The selection of flooring, cabinetry, counters, backsplash, and wall color can really be done in any order as long as each element builds upon the last. Take into account colors and themes from adjoining rooms as well. This will help to create a flow in the home that really shows off a sense of style. Kitchens require special attention as plumbing and electric codes as well as appliance clearances all have to be taken into account while creating a visually pleasing, functional space. It is my opinion that a good ” kitchen designer” will guide you to find your style and showcase your unique treasures while creating that cohesion that makes a room really special.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
The pallette to the left incorporates soothing neutral tones of cream for walls, tile flooring and cabinetry, while adding color and texture with the gold stone for the counters and stone and glass linear mosiac for the backsplash.
Color Specialist
Masterful color specialist, Tami, also owner of the Harborview Salon, of Northport, New York, requested my assistance in updating her space and creating some badly needed additional storage. We chose to create some espresso colored cabinetry with mirrored inserts to be installed over the washing stations. Next came the Benjamin Moore classic color pallette. We chose a two tone theme in warm hues that complement most skin tones, much like the current trend for two tone hair. Truly, Tami has been doing two tone hair for almost a decade now and has always been ahead of her time. After the paint came some inserts of grasscloth look vinyl wallpaper to update the existing beech colored laminated cabinetry and reception and a few pieces of fabulous art from the Lamantia Gallery and the masterful colorist is surrounded by masterful color.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
R & R…..A Reading Room
Amazingly, this entire library was built and prefinished by a “factory custom” cabinet manufacturer some 2000 miles away from it’s suburban New York location. On this project, I was working in the capacity of designer, salesperson and project coordinator at delivery and installation. After the initial approval of the design concept (furniture placement, closed storage capacity, book display, lighting and panel detail), by the homeowners came measuring, measuring and more measuring, as well as tight factory communication and verification. Every piece of millwork floor to ceiling, including window sill and door, had to fit together like a New York Times crossword puzzle. Even the electrical outlet covers were crafted in matching glazed maple wood. We pressed the “factory custom” mentality of Dura Supreme Cabinets to manufacture something special for us by creating our own custom pieces to coordinate with the facory standards. The result is an American made, warranteed, cost effective piece of design and a happy, relaxed homeowner.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
Component “Cupboards”….Family Media Center
Cabinets, cupboards…………Isn’t it all really just built in furniture?
The coordination of audio-visual equiptment to be integrated into a “smart house” system requires some serious forethought as well as good communication by all represented parties. Aside from the components there was also a massive amount of programming to create the full experience desired by the client. To do justice to this commitment, the cabinetry, or in this case, built in furniture, had to be beautiful, practical and versatile. Working with size, weight, wiring and ventilation requirements for the various components involved, this media center was designed to hold the audio-visual “rack system”, (with two empty spots for future technological advances), speakers, cd’s and dvd’s, games and controllers, and display space with room to spare for other storage. The clean lines and glazed maple wood give this family room warmth and style as well as fantastic storage so it always looks clutter free.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
STYLE……………It’s all about the CONTEXT (surrounding conditions, the circumstances or events that form the environment within which something exists or takes place). Whether dressing yourself, furnishing a room or creating a meal, everything should be complimentary. If everything and everyone complimented everything and everyone the world would be a well organized, beautiful and happy place!
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
tonisab 